FY2021: Teacher Externship Summer Program Grant

Fund Code: 404

Purpose:

The purpose of this grant opportunity is to continue the role of serving as administrator for a summer Teacher Externship Program designed for 35-39 teachers placed in externships at mainly virtual employer sites for a minimum of 50 hours, supporting the integration of instructional practices by exposing them to "All Aspects of Industry." The program will enable participating teachers to experience new and emerging technologies to ensure more rigor and relevance in their program curricula and instructional teaching methods. The Teacher Externship Program is designed for selected academic and technical high school teachers (8-12) who deliver instruction to students enrolled in districts that receive Perkins funding. MassHire Workforce Boards will identify the teachers and employer sites that will participate in this summer program through a planning phase that will be finalized by early June. The workforce boards will mainly select employer sites experiencing the skill gaps identified via the Commonwealth's "Regional Blueprint" process, which addresses labor market needs across the Commonwealth.

Priorities:

The Administrator of the Teacher Externship program will:

• Provide overall management and oversight of the program.
• Convene an initial meeting with all teachers in the Externship Cohort prior to placement at the virtual worksite to communicate program expectations.
• Provide support for all teachers during their externships. This includes but is not limited to a) offering support with the required work of the externship, b) supporting teachers in the development of high quality virtual lessons that they are required to produce and deliver to their students in FY21.
• Collect and disseminate all unit plans developed by teachers and organize a process for teachers to share their units more broadly.
• Develop and document a payment system for participating teachers and MassHire Workforce Boards to receive financial compensation and ensure that all stipends earned are remitted to participating teachers and MassHire Workforce Boards no later than August 31, 2020. Teachers will receive stipends of $7,000 each. MassHire Workforce Boards will receive $4000 each.
• Create a system to document and issue professional development points and/or credits to participants.
• Convene a final meeting with all teachers in the externship cohort to share lessons learned and notable experiences and discuss program goals and outcomes, including the identification of "All Aspects of Industry," including but not limited to: safety, equipment, software technologies, facility, entrepreneurship, and career readiness.

Eligibility:

Fitchburg State University, the selected awardee for the competitive bid in FY20, is eligible.

Funding:

A total of up to $400,000 will be available through federal Perkins funds.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.048

Fund Use:

$272,000 of the Perkins dollars must be set aside for teacher stipends. $64,000 in Perkins funds must be set aside to compensate MassHire Workforce Boards. The remaining $64,000 may be used to provide required services and program administration.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 8/31/2020 (no earlier than 7/1/2020 start date)
This is the second summer program renewal out of three. Renewal and continued funding in year three (FY22, summer) will be contingent upon implementation of grant-required activities, satisfactory performance, the appropriation of federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation.

Program Unit:

College, Career, and Technical Education

Contact:

Jennifer Gwatkin or (781) 338-3954

Date Due:

Friday, June 19, 2020

Required Forms:

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

 

Part II — Budget (entered directly in EdGrants)

Part III — Required Program Information

Additional Information:

Massachusetts Perkins IV Manual and Perkins Act

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:
FY21 404 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: June 10, 2020