FY2024: From Research to Practice: Evidence-Based Early Literacy Continuation Grant

Fund Code: 734

Purpose:

The purpose of the FC 734 continuation grant program is to continuously improve teacher practice and student outcomes in early reading through deep professional learning on the Simple View of Reading, Culturally & Linguistically Sustaining Practices, and the Mass Literacy guide.

Each school will be funded for onsite coaching with an expert consultant. Support includes establishing and collaborating with the school-based Literacy Leadership Team, assisting in the dissemination of evidence-based, culturally responsive, early literacy practices through grade 3 that promote equity of access and academic achievement for all students, coaching individual teachers, and school-based administration, and co-facilitating after-school professional learning sessions focused on Tier I instruction.

Priorities:

Through a year of professional development on evidence-based, inclusive, culturally responsive, early literacy instruction, participating school teams agree to:

1. Administer the DIBELS, 8th edition screener to all students in grades K–3, and progress monitor students who need additional support.
2. Engage in data-driven decision-making meetings a minimum of three times per year.
3. Develop explicit, short-term, school-based goals, and lead the implementation of evidence-based, inclusive, culturally responsive early literacy practices in grades K–3.
4. Apply knowledge of and implement evidence-based, inclusive, culturally responsive, early literacy instruction in grades K–3.

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

Eligibility:

Massachusetts public schools that received funding for the Early Grades Literacy Grant (Fund Code 734a) in SY2023 are eligible to apply for an FY2024 continuation grant to continue their work. Participation in SY 2023 does not guarantee grant funding for SY 2024. Schools must demonstrate their commitment to grant requirements by completing and submitting all required grant documents.

Please note, additional funding may be requested to add a school or teachers to the grant team in districts with additional schools with K–3 programs.

Curriculum Data for the district must be up to date on DESE District Profiles for K–8 ELA/Literacy, K–12 math, and 6–8 Science by five (5) business days after the due date of this grant. To check if this information is complete, check the statewide Curriculum report. Or visit your District Profiles page via Profiles Home, and select Curriculum Data from the left-hand navigation. If the required data is not complete or up-to-date, details and directions on how to enter or update this data can be found here: Curriculum Data Collection.

Funding Source:

State Line Item 7010-0033

Funding:

A total of approximately $850,000 is projected to be available and will be distributed based on the number of quality proposals submitted and approved.

Pending funding, this continuation grant program will support selected schools, in focused, intensive work to improve student reading in grades K–3. The designated team of teachers and one school-based administrator (principal or assistant principal), representing grades K–3, will participate in a series of professional learning from experts in early literacy during the 23/24 school year.

The 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.

Fund Use:

Funds may be used for the following four categories: stipends; substitutes; evidence-based materials and screeners; and DESE-approved literacy consultants.

• Grant Team Stipends: $1,000 for each designated grant team member (up to 6 people per school) for participation in professional learning beyond contractual hours and associated travel costs, which may include:

  • Travel (mileage, parking, and/or hotel fees) for two (2) full-day statewide literacy institutes and one end-of-year Showcase meeting

  • Participation in six (6), 90-minute, after school meetings (beyond contractual hours)

• Additional stipends amounting to $400 each for additional educators, up to thirty-two (32) per school, who elect to fully participate in the six (6), 90-minute, afterschool, school-based, professional learning meetings

• Substitutes: up to $100/teacher/day for members of the school grant team (up to five [5] teachers) for three (3) days each, to attend two statewide institutes and the end-of-year showcase. The substitute budget should be based on the district's standard substitute rate, a maximum of $1,500

• Materials: up to $6,000 to continue the use of DIBELS 8th edition screening assessment (cost per student X number of students + Amplify data system per student, if wanted). In addition, up to $3,000 may be used to purchase evidence-based materials to support instruction and professional learning related to the grant program.

• Consultant: The grant-funded consultant is paid by the school for 350 hours of school-based support and 50 hours of state hours at $75/hour.

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:

Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Tracey Martineau

Phone Number:

(413) 519-8426

Date Due:

Wednesday May 31, 2023

Required Forms:

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

• Part II — Budget to be entered directly in EdGrants
  Complete the following sections of the budget. The amounts given below apply to each participating school.
  • Section 4: Stipends
    • $1,000/participant up to 6 grant team participants
    • $400/participant up to 32 additional educators per school who elect to participate in six, 90-minute, afterschool professional learning meetings
    • Note: The number of participant signatures on Part IV of the required forms must match the number of participants indicated in this section.
  • Section 6: Contractual Services:
    • school-based literacy consultant — 50 hours ($26,250)
    • non-school-based literacy consultant hours — 50 hours ($3,750) per district
    • substitutes — up to $100/day for five teachers for 3 days each (maximum of $1,500)
  • Section 7: Supplies and Materials:
    • up to $6,000 to purchase an early literacy screener, if needed. The maximum amount should equal the number of students multiplied by the cost per student plus the cost per student for the Amplify data system.
    • up to $3,000 for evidence-based instructional materials
  
  

• Part III — Grant Narrative

• Part IV — School Assurance Page

• Part V — District Assurance Page

• Part VI — Goal Setting Template

Additional Information:

LEAs receiving this award for ELA/Literacy will be required to participate in future research efforts related to early literacy assessment, including providing student-level assessment data from any approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in the recipient schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by May 31 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the statewide data collected for research purposes. Analyses will only be reported in the aggregate (e.g., by grade-level, region, etc.) in order to meet state and federal confidentiality laws. The identities of districts and schools will not be reported. All reporting will protect the identities of students, educators, schools, and districts.

Districts cannot submit a budget with an Indirect Costs Rate until the FY24 Indirect Cost Rate is approved by Audit and Compliance. To confirm the maximum FY2024 approved indirect cost amount allowed districts must fill out the "Indirect Cost Rate Calculation Worksheet ".

For Grant Management processes, including the Request for Funds, information about requesting funds beyond the initial payment, and additional details on managing your grant, see this webpage: EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

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 FC 734 EGL (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: August 6, 2024