FY2024: METCO

Fund Code: 317

Purpose:

The purpose of the state-funded METCO Program is to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation by permitting students in Boston and Springfield to attend public schools in other communities that have agreed to participate. The METCO program provides students of participating school districts the opportunity to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse setting.

Priorities:

The priorities of this fund source are to provide Boston and Springfield students further opportunities to achieve at high levels the learning standards of the state curriculum frameworks and enrich both the urban and suburban communities by providing opportunities and support for cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

Applicants for this grant opportunity should be deliberate and intentional in the use of grant funds to support the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) standards and priorities. Specifically, this program may include, but not be limited to, the following priorities:

1. Curriculum and Instruction
   1. Culturally responsive curriculum
   2. Strong instructional leadership and effective instruction
   3. Sufficient instructional time
2. Human Resources and Professional Development
   1. Staff recruitment, selection, and assignment
   2. Professional development
3. Student Support
   1. Academic support
   2. Services and partnerships to support learning

Eligibility:

School districts participating currently in the METCO Program are eligible to continue their participation in the program. These districts are Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Braintree, Brookline, Cohasset, Concord, Dover, East Longmeadow, Foxborough, Hingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Longmeadow, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Melrose, Natick, Needham, Newton, Reading, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Springfield, Sudbury, Swampscott, Wakefield, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Concord Carlisle, Dover Sherborn, Hampden Wilbraham, Lincoln Sudbury, Southwick Tolland Granville.

Funding Type:

State 7010-0012

Funding:

A total of approximately $26,200,295 is available.

FY24 METCO Preliminary Allocations

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability and state line-item appropriations. All dollar amounts listed in the FY24 allocations are level funded from FY23 and are considered estimates/approximates that are subject to change based on the final state budget. Increase or decrease adjustments to the allocations may be required in accordance with final state budget funding.

Boston and Springfield Metco districts seeking to expand their program either by grade and/or available student seats must contact DESE and obtain approval before doing so.

Fund Use:

Funds may be used for local district costs incurred as a result of the participation of METCO students, METCO transportation costs, and for supplemental services that will contribute in a measurable way to enhanced educational opportunity and academic achievement, as well as enrichment.

In the area of enhanced educational opportunity and academic achievement, services may include, but are not limited to, regular day and after-school tutoring and mentoring programs, staff professional development geared towards understanding and addressing the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students, and other programs and services such as providing ways for parents to support their children's learning.

In the area of diversity enrichment, services may include training, in-school and after-school activities, incentives programs, etc. that contribute to increased cross-cultural and racial understanding.

Grant funds must prioritize transportation, including before and after school, and staffing support so that METCO students are able to access programming at the same level as in-district students.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2023)* – 6/30/24

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Center for Strategic Initiatives

Contact:

Sylvia Lam , Strategic Initiatives Specialist

Phone:

(781) 338-3567

Date Due:

Friday, June 23, 2023

Required Forms:

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

• Part II — Budget (districts will enter budget directly into EdGrants)

• Part III — Required Program Information

• Part IV — Grant Assurances Form

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants

In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

• FY24 317 METCO [District Name]

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as Schedule A form, if applicable to your district. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: October 30, 2023