FY2025: Student Opportunity Act Evidence-Based Practice Grant

Fund Code: 0117

Purpose:

The purpose of this last of a three-year grant is to address persistent disparities in achievement among specific student groups, improve educational opportunities for all students, share best practices for improving classroom learning and support efficiencies within and across school districts (Student Opportunity Act, 21^st Century Education Program, Section 16A).

Priorities:

This is a continuation grant available to districts awarded fund code 117-225B in FY23 and fund code 117 in FY24 (see "Eligibility" below). With a commitment to improving equity and addressing disparities, this grant prioritizes the adoption and implementation of evidence-based programs that have shown to improve educational opportunities for all students. This grant will support the continued development, enhancement, and refinement of district efforts to implement the following Evidence-Based Program (EBP) areas:

1. Co-teaching / inclusion for students with disabilities and English learners
2. Research-based early literacy programs in pre-kindergarten and early elementary grades
3. Strategies to recruit and retain educators/administrators in hard-to-staff schools and positions,
4. Implement Expanded Learning Time (ELT) in the form of a longer school day or year

For reference, see DESE's Evidence-Based Program Areas document.

Funding will support districts in their continued work related to the same EBP selected by them in the FY23 Student Opportunity Act — Evidence-Based Practice Grant (117/225B).

See Appendix A in the RFP for recommended strategies related to these evidence-based programs.

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

Eligibility:

Recipients of the FY23 Student Opportunity Act Evidence-Based Practice Grant (Fund Codes 117/225B) are eligible to apply for this non-competitive continuation grant.

Funding Type:

Trust 7010-2100
Federal CFDA 84.010
Federal grant funds must adhere to:

• UGG (2 CFR 200)
• EDGAR As Applicable
• EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

Funding:

Approximately $6,000,000 is available.

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 is provided through the Student Opportunity Act, 21^st Century Education Program.

Fund Use:

Funds may be used to support programming costs including staff salaries, stipends, staff planning time as it relates to the grant, contracts, high quality instructional materials, costs related to professional development and training activities, and other expenses associated with implementing grant funded programming. Funds must be used as described in the Part III that is submitted to Moira Connolly at Moira.Connolly@mass.gov in the Center for District and School Partnership.

Unallowable Expenditures:
Out-of-State travel, food, overhead or other facilities costs, current transportation costs or other currently funded costs, or any expenditures not directly related to grant activities

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – June 30, 2025

* 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 District and School Partnership

Contact:

Moira Connolly

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3525

Date Due:

Friday June 21, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.

Additional Information:

Districts submitting a budget with an Indirect Cost Rate must use Indirect Cost District Rate 2024 to confirm the maximum FY2024 approved indirect cost rate allowed and must fill out Indirect Cost Rate Calculation Worksheet .

Submission Instructions:

The FY25 Fund Code 0117 Student Opportunity Act Evidence-Based Practice Grant will be submitted in our new GEM$ system GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

The Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved Step allows for the organization lead to review and approve the grant application. Removing the requirement for the Part I Standard Contract Form, this step signifies Superintendent /Chief Executive sign off. Any grant budget changes requiring signature will re-execute this step when amended signifying the organization lead is approving these changes.

Please Note: Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, maintained at the LEA level or sent in to the DESE RFP contact as described on the individual forms. The user guidance documents and forms are found on the GEM$ homepage under DESE Resources. These form can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Last Updated: June 13, 2024