Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2023: Reading Recovery

Fund Code: 574

Purpose:

This state-funded competitive grant program provides funds to support training of Reading Recovery teachers.

Priorities:

This grant supports the training of Reading Recovery teachers and teacher leaders. Through Reading Recovery training sites that are recognized by the Reading Recovery Council of North America, Reading Recovery teachers and teacher leaders receive training in the Reading Recovery method in order to provide Reading Recovery intervention services to students in first grade.

Competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.

Eligibility:

Districts and educational collaboratives may apply. Only Reading Recovery Training Sites that are recognized by the Reading Recovery Council of North America are eligible. To be considered eligible, applicants must assure that they will comply with DESE's evaluation of this grant's impact. See "Additional Information" below for details.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $600,000 is available through state funds.
Funds will be allocated to Reading Recovery training sites, with priority given based on the number of Reading Recovery teachers and schools that will be impacted at the given site.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used for professional development for Reading Recovery teachers. In addition, funds may be purchased to use the DIBELS data system if needed to comply with grant evaluation requirements.

Regional training sites may use funds for training teacher leaders, teacher leader affiliation fees, and teacher leader travel to professional development.

If funds are intended for teacher leader training, before submitting a grant proposal, an application must be on file with the Massachusetts Teacher Leader Training Site.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2023

7010-0033 is a PAC account and if needed funds may PAC in FY24.

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Katherine Tarca

Phone Number:

(781) 338-6239

Date Due:

Monday, October 31, 2022

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

Required Forms:

Additional Information:

Recipients of this grant must comply with DESE's evaluation procedures as outlined below. Recipients are required to:

Provide information to DESE by Dec. 1, 2022 and an update by June 1, 2023 about the number and role of all teachers and teacher leaders who receive support and/or professional development funded by this grant (hereafter called "grant teachers") and the number of students served by those teachers.
Provide access to DIBELS materials and training, if needed, to all grant teachers or other teachers who are responsible for assessing the students with DIBELS. Free resources, including full testing materials and recorded trainings, are available on the DIBELS website.
Ensure that all grant teachers assess all their Reading Recovery students (1) at the time of grant award or at the time services begin, whichever is first, and (2) after completion of services or by June 16, 2023, whichever is first. Any student receiving services from a grant teacher during the grant period must be assessed twice (pre-services and post-services) with DIBELS.
Purchase or renew a subscription to the DIBELS data system offered by Amplify. Note: Reading Recovery sites may share a subscription to the DIBELS Data System in order to reduce costs.
Ensure that demographic information for each student served by a grant teacher is complete in the data system. This includes:
- SASID
  - You may also choose to enter a local student ID number (LASID); however, SASIDs are required
- Grade level
- District name and/or district code where test was administered
- School name and/or 8-digit code where test was administered
- Name of Reading Recovery teacher
Enter pre-services and post-services assessment data for all students receiving services from a grant teacher during the grant period into the DIBELS data system. The data for each student must include all DIBELS 8th edition grade 1 subtests (PSF, NWF, WRF, ORF).
Submit exports from the DIBELS data system to DESE by June 30, 2022. Detailed data submission instructions will be provided to recipients.

Submitted data will be compared to measurable goals and benchmarks established by DESE, as required by law. In some cases, DESE contracts with third-party, independent researchers selected as part of an open competitive bidding process to analyze data collected from grant recipients. In some cases, Department staff conducts research directly. Department research staff may access and analyze submitted data. In any case, all reported analyses will protect the identities of students, educators, schools, and districts. Analyses will be reported in the aggregate to meet state and federal confidentiality laws. Identities of districts and schools will not be reported.

Submission Instructions:

Please email the required forms as listed above, attached to a single email, to instructionalsupport@mass.gov Please use the subject line:
Reading Recovery Grant — Fund Code 574 — [Entity Name]

Please use the provided file types (word and excel). Please do not send .jpgs or other file types. Signature pages may be sent as .pdf documents.

Applicants will receive a confirmation when the materials are received. If you do not receive a confirmation within 2 business days, please contact us to confirm receipt. Early submission is strongly encouraged to ensure the complete application is received and confirmed by 5pm on the due date. Late and/or incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: June 28, 2023