Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2023: Early Literacy Universal Screening Assessment (K–3)

Fund Code: 586

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive Early Literacy Universal Screening Assessment Grant is to provide LEAs with funding to improve support for students and comply with the amendment to Special Education Regulations on School District Administration and Personnel, 603 CMR 28.03 (1), requires that beginning July 2023, local education agencies (LEAs) must administer a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)-approved early literacy universal screening assessment at least twice per year to students in grades K-3. The Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines state, "screening students for risk of dyslexia and other reading disabilities is one essential process in preventing reading difficulties" (MA Dyslexia Guidelines, pg. 22 ).

This grant will provide funding to purchase and implement an approved early literacy universal screening assessment that Meets Expectations in grades K–3. The grant also provides funding to purchase initial professional development which focuses on administration and using results to make data-based instructional decisions for students in grades K–3.

Priorities:

This funding opportunity is intended for LEAs that have already engaged in a thoughtful review process and have identified a DESE-approved early literacy universal screening assessment that Meets Expectations for purchase.

Competitive priority will be given to LEAs based upon demonstrating one or more of the following:

at least one participating elementary school identified as requiring assistance in the state accountability system based upon 2019 data
a school or district in the Strategic Transformation Region
a majority of participating K–3 classrooms are currently using high-quality core curricular materials for ELA/Literacy, as defined by a rating of "Partially Meets Expectations" or "Meets Expectations" on EdReports or CURATE

To receive this funding, LEAs will commit to:

Identify the name of the approved early literacy universal screening assessment- Meets Expectations they intend to purchase.
Provide grant-funded, initial training to K–3 educators to support both the implementation of the universal screener and use of the assessment's data to make instructional decisions no later than June 30, 2023.
Assess all students in grades 1–3 in the participating schools using the approved early literacy universal screening assessment-Meets; Expectations no later than October 20, 2023; Kindergarten students should be assessed before the end of December 2023.
Make this early literacy universal screening assessment a permanent piece of the participating schools' early literacy program.
Participate in future research and data collection efforts. See "Additional Information" below for more details.

Eligibility:

Public school districts, charter schools, collaboratives, and approved special education programs that serve students in grades K–3 are eligible to apply. LEAs may determine the number of schools, and which schools, within the district will participate.

This funding opportunity is available to LEAs that do not have an approved screener as well as LEAs currently using an approved/previously approved screener wanting to transition to a different approved screener

Curriculum Data must be up to date on DESE District Profiles for K–8 ELA/Literacy, K–12 math, and 6–8 Science by the time of the grant due date. 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 at Curriculum Data Collection.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

A total of approximately $500,000 is projected to be available and will be distributed based on the number of quality proposals submitted and the total cost of the training and support packages chosen. LEAs must identify which early literacy universal screener will be purchased as well as which schools would participate in receiving funding in their proposal. The maximum award for any LEA is $100,000.

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:

Using funding from this grant, LEAs may purchase one of the approved early literacy universal screening assessments (Meets Expectations) and a training/support package (professional development) for educators who will be using the assessment. Please note for this grant opportunity, LEAs may only purchase early literacy universal screeners that MEET Expectations. Early literacy universal screeners that are approved and partially meet expectations are not eligible for purchase through this funding opportunity.

Funds may be used to purchase:

materials for an approved early literacy universal screening assessment (MEETS Expectations) including site licenses, for use with all K–3 students in participating schools. **
initial training and support package from the assessment vendor, which may include introductory training for staff and ongoing consultation and support throughout the first year of assessment use. Please note that all PD/training and support funded by this grant must be concluded by June 30, 2023.
In the case of DIBELS, LEAs may use funds from this grant to purchase use of the DIBELS Data System provided by Amplify.

** If the materials are digital, a two-year subscription may be purchased.

Funding substitutes and stipends is not allowable under this grant.
Funds may not be used to purchase technology (e.g., iPads, headphones), or instructional resources (e.g., instructional materials, student activity materials).

Project Duration:

Upon Approval through 6/30/2023

Future funding opportunities will be targeted for LEAs planning to engage in a comprehensive selection process over the coming months to identify an approved early literacy universal screening assessment that Meets Expectations for purchase later in the 2022-23 school year, and prior to June 30, 2023.

Program Unit:

Office of Literacy and Humanities
Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Dr. Mary L. Brown

Date Due:

Complete proposals are due by Monday, December 21, 2022*.

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due. A confirmation of receipt will be sent. Applicants may submit proposals before the grant deadline.

*All responses must be received by the due date listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not submitted on time will not be reviewed. Applicants applying after the due date may be notified their application was received late and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

Required Forms:

Budget Specifics:

LEAs should provide budget information on Part II. Current costs for approved early literacy universal screeners and professional development are included on the At-a-Glance document on the Early Literacy Universal Screening webpage. The cost of assessments for participating students should be listed on the Part II form in section 7, Supplies and Materials and costs for Professional Development should be listed in section 6, Contractual Services. Please note there are no funding allowances for stipends, salaries, or equipment.

Additional Information:

Universal screening and dyslexia

An approved early literacy screener will measure students' risk for experiencing reading challenges, including but not limited to their risk of dyslexia, as referenced in Chapter 272 of 2018. The Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines cites the following definition of Dyslexia from the U.S. National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 2002:

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge (pg. 6).

Universal screening assessments are not intended to determine eligibility for specific learning disabilities including dyslexia. Rather, they inform instructional planning at the Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 levels.

Participation in future research

LEAs receiving this award will be required to participate in future research efforts related to early literacy assessment, including:

Providing student-level assessment data from the early literacy screening assessment acquired under this grant program to DESE on an ongoing basis for research purposes. Analyses will only be reported in the aggregate (e.g., by grade-level, region, etc.) 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.
Participating in DESE's future research efforts to understand early literacy assessment, achievement, and instructional practices, which may involve surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with LEA and school staff, including, but not restricted to district and school leaders, literacy and reading specialists, and classroom teachers.
Designating an individual to be responsible for data submission and to serve as a liaison between the LEA and DESE for communication about data collection and evaluation efforts.

DESE is working with early literacy universal screener publishers to set consistent reporting formats and schedules for submitting student-level assessment data. For data analysis, typically, DESE contracts with third-party, independent researchers selected as part of an open competitive bidding process. In some cases, Department staff conducts research directly. It is possible that Department research staff may access and analyze submitted data.

Submission Instructions:

Any grant related questions must be emailed to Mary.l.brown@mass.gov . Questions and Answers will be posted to the Early Literacy Screening Assessments webpage as direct responses are not permitted.

Please email the required documents as listed above, attached to a single email, to CISgrants@mass.gov using the subject line FY23 EARLY LITERACY SCREENING GRANT FC576. Please use the provided filetypes (word and excel). Signature pages should be sent as word or pdf documents.

Applicants will receive a confirmation when the materials are received. Early submission is strongly encouraged to ensure the complete application is received and confirmed by 5pm Eastern on the due date.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: November 25, 2022