FY2023: Massachusetts Public K–12 Educator Diversification

Fund Code: 242

Purpose:

The competitive Massachusetts Public K–12 Educator Diversification RFP is designed to support non-profit organizations and institutes of higher education efforts to diversify the Massachusetts educator workforce.

Through the use of state funds, grant recipients will develop and implement thoughtful, high-impact strategies intended to both increase the recruitment and retention of effective racially and ethnically diverse Massachusetts educators.

Strategies must be evidence-based and informed by qualitative and quantitative data related to diverse educator recruitment and retention efforts. In addition, identified strategies must be aligned to the organization's strategic plan.

Applicants may propose to use grant funds to strengthen existing teacher recruitment and retention programs in one or more of the following ways.

Option A: Existing Programs
Grant funds may be used to enhance and expand the organizations existing programs designed to increase the recruitment and retention of effective racial and ethnically diverse Massachusetts public K–12 educators.

Option B: New Programs
Grant funds may be used to support the development of new programs designed to increase the recruitment and retention of effective racial and ethnically diverse Massachusetts public K–12 educators.

Option C: School and District Partnerships
Grant funds may be used to develop new partnerships between the organization and Massachusetts public schools and districts (traditional public schools, districts, charter schools, career vocational technical education schools, approved private special education schools, and regional collaboratives). The partnerships must be designed to increase the school or district's diverse educator recruitment and retention efforts.

In an effort to ensure this RFP supports the Department's priority to create a more diverse and culturally responsive Massachusetts educator workforce, organizations must describe how cultural proficiency training needs for prospective educators will be determined and provided.

Priorities:

Competitive priorities for this grant will be given to:

1. Organizations that support education-specific pathways for high school students.
2. Organizations with established teacher recruitment and retention programs, which include, but are not limited to: paraprofessional-to-teacher programs.
3. Organizations that partner with schools and districts designated as chronically underperforming in the state accountability system.

Eligibility:

This grant is open to non-profit organizations and Massachusetts institutes of higher education.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $1,750,000 will be awarded to non-profit organizations and institutes of higher education.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding is to become available it will be distributed under the same guideline as listed in the initial RFP document.

The total allocation per grant will be determined by financial needs articulated by eligible schools and districts and may be modified by the Department. The requested amount should be appropriate and reasonable for the size and scope of the proposed program.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used to support Massachusetts efforts to create a more diverse and culturally responsive public K–12 educator workforce. Activities must be reasonable, appropriate, and consistent with all applicable state and federal requirements.

Project Duration:

Upon approval – 6/30/2023

A report on grant funded activities and outcomes will be required. Additional details will be provided to grant-funded schools and districts.

Program Unit:

Center for Strategic Initiatives

Contact:

CSI@mass.gov

Date Due:

Friday, September 30, 2022

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

• Part II — Budget Workbook

• Part III — Required Program Information Form

• Part IV — Grant Assurances

Copies of the non-profit organization or Massachusetts institute of higher education's strategic plan which demonstrates a focus on educator diversification.

Submission Instructions:

Email all required forms in their original Word or Excel formats (e.g., not converted to a PDF; with the exception of the signed Part I documents which should be converted to PDF), to CSI@mass.gov . Note: Electronic signatures are required on the emailed versions.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter all required forms in EdGrants. In addition State Colleges will need to provide:

• FY2023: ISA Crosswalk Federal & State — State Agencies & Correctional Facilities

Additional Information for Colleges

The information below is intended for state entities that require ISAs as part of their grant award process. Not intended for Private or Community Based Organizations.

1. ISA process timeline
2. MA Expenditure Classification Handbook
3. MA Comptroller's Office Fringe Information
4. ISA and EdGrants Amendment Requirements
5. Federal Grants Cost Allocation

Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: July 29, 2022