FY2024: Higher Education Faculty Participation in Early Literacy Professional Learning Community

Fund Code: 584

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted grant program is to fund Sponsoring Organizations' participation in an Early Literacy Professional Learning Community designed to support faculty in aligning Elementary, Early Childhood, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 licensure programs to the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria.

Priorities:

This grant is intended to support education preparation faculty from MA Sponsoring Organizations with Early Childhood, Elementary, and Moderate Disabilities PK–8 licensure programs to engage in a professional learning community focused on evidence-based early literacy instruction. The professional learning community will provide faculty with an opportunity to assess programmatic alignment to the Early Literacy Program Approval Criteria as well as supports and resources to begin continuous improvement efforts in accordance with their assessment outcomes.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, sponsoring organizations must have:

• An approved Early Childhood PK–2, Elementary 1–6, or Moderate Disabilities PK–8 licensure program. (List of Sponsoring Organizations with relevant programs )

• At least one faculty members who plans to attend all sessions of the Spring 2024 Professional Learning Community

Funding:

Up to approximately $100,000 is available.

Eligible sponsoring organizations may apply for a $1,000 stipend per participating faculty member (up to $5,000 total).

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

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.

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7010-0033

Fund Use:

Funds must be used to support faculty participation in 75% of the professional learning community sessions. "Participation" will be defined and tracked by the facilitators of the PLC and reported back to DESE.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – 6/30/2024

* 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:

Office of Educator Effectiveness
Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Siobhan Allen

Date Due:

Monday, March 18, 2024

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 and Narrative Responses

• Part IV — Grant Assurances from each participating faculty member in the Early Literacy Professional Learning Community

Note on Budget Details.
Please use the provided Budget template to calculate each budget. This budget will allow us to determine the number of grants that may be awarded. This does not necessarily represent your final award amount. Recipients will be able to seek budget amendments after award to reflect accurate costs.

Required forms for State Colleges/State Agencies Only:

In addition to the above documents, Required in EdGrants:

• FY2024: ISA Crosswalk Federal & State — State Colleges and Universities

• State Agencies with ISAs: Waiver filed with ANF to reduce the amount of indirect charged to these grant funds in MMARS. It is the responsibility of the applying entity that is a state agency to file an indirect waiver request with ANF and send a copy of the approved request to CTR. DESE cannot request indirect waivers on behalf of state agencies. (See Fund Use section for more info; See Additional Information for Colleges/State Agencies section for the ANF Waiver Request Form)

Additional Information for Colleges/State Agencies:
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

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants

If you do not know your Applicant Number (LEA code/District code/Applicant code) or have never received DESE funding before, please contact Siobhan Allen immediately to begin EdGrants registration.

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 584 Applicant 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: March 13, 2024