District/School Administration PK-16 Program Support
Academic Support

Additional Funding for Summer Academic Support Programs (FC 625-B)

Please note the following highlights regarding plans for redistributed Academic Support Funds. In particular, please pay attention to the "Anticipated Intent to Apply" email that is due by February 15, 2008.

Additional Funding Opportunity:

Summer Academic Support Enhancement Grant - Fund Code (FC) 625-B.

Funding Amounts:

Allocation amounts will be determined by early March after the initial letters of intent have been received. The anticipated amount per eligible district is approximately $3,000-7,000.

Eligible Entities:

Lead applicants for this Fund Code 625-B grant must be districts. Eligible lead applicants are districts that submitted applications and/or letters of intent for FY08 FC 632 and/or 625. Each district may be a part of only one application (either as the lead applicant or as a partner). Partners are encouraged for all fund uses. Partnering entities should be listed on a Schedule A form (provided with the application) and may include but are not limited to other districts, One Stop Career Centers, work & learning programs, institutions of higher education, and service learning alliances.

Possible Fund Uses:

1. To convene a professional learning community that ensures that local Academic Support programs have curriculum and pedagogy that encompass grade appropriate learning standards. These groups must create and pilot learning modules during existing summer programming, and refined versions are expected to be used during FY09 Academic Support Programming (September 1, 2008 - August 31, 2009).

2. To develop and pilot Educational Proficiency Plans (EPPs) for students in Classes of 2010-2012 who have not scored at the proficiency level on their most recent ELA and/or mathematics MCAS.

3. To work with partners to incorporate Community Service Learning projects into Academic Support summer programs. Districts interested in this option must (a) have staff attend a CSL 101 workshop (see bottom of email*) OR (b) partner with [or be] an existing ESE-funded CSL district (Fund Code 354 and/or Fund Code 355).

Additional Requirement:

All funded entities must develop and share electronically with the Department a product (standards-based learning module, EPP Sample Template, or CSL Academic Support project outline) by September 30, 2008.

Due Dates:

In early March, the RFP is expected to be posted and allocation amounts to be sent to eligible entities.

2/15/08 - Anticipated Intents to Apply due via email to achievement@doe.mass.edu, indicating that the district is highly likely to apply, and wishes funds to be reserved for them.

3/15/08 - Confirmed Plan to Apply due via email to achievement@doe.mass.edu, indicating that the district is definitely planning on applying for FC 625-B.

4/11/08 - FC 625B RFP proposals are due to the Department. The format is expected to be relatively simple and can be submitted on its own or as an addendum to the district's regular FC 625 grant proposal.

Questions:

Contact your Academic Support liaison: http://www.doe.mass.edu/as/grants/liaisons.html or the Student Support Unit via achievement@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3010.

*CSL Fund Use - CSL 101 Workshop Options (open to all)

These trainings, presented by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts Service Alliance are designed for teachers and practitioners who are new to using community service-learning (CSL) as a strategy to engage young people in their learning. The session will provide participants with an overview of the essential components of CSL, recent research on its benefits, and markers of a high-quality CSL program or project. Examples of CSL projects will be offered as models and participants will have the time to begin developing their own lesson plans and project ideas.

To register please visit: http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=445. Sessions are free. Each session includes an opportunity for networking and sharing resources to support CSL. For more information on CSL, please contact: Kristen McKinnon, kmckinnon@doe.mass.edu or Beth McGuinness, bmcguinness@mass-service.org.