FY2024: Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support

Fund Code: 161

Purpose:

Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Network Support targeted grants will provide funding and support for local education agencies (LEAs) participating in the 2023-24 Evaluate and Select HQIM Network to evaluate and select high-quality comprehensive core curricular materials.

Priorities:

DESE seeks to award Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials Network (HQIM) Support grants to entities that demonstrate:

• Demonstrate commitment to advance evaluation and selection work at the school/district to adopt high-quality core materials that meet localized equity priorities
• Demonstrate commitment to convening and investing a diverse coalition of stakeholders (e.g., families, staff members, administrators, school committee, and students as applicable/appropriate) to provide input, feedback, and participate in the evaluation and selection of core high-quality instructional materials.
• Demonstrate favorable conditions and the resources necessary to make and sustain a meaningful high-quality materials selection and multi-year implementation plan.
• Demonstrate a history of or plan for centering equity and inclusion in their IMplement MA process.

Eligibility:

LEAs met the Network registration deadline, have identified a content area of focus, and commit to attend all seven Network sessions during the 2023-24 school year, and advance evaluation and selection work at their school/district aligned with IMplement MA.

LEAs have reported currently used materials in the Curriculum Data Collection.

• Eligible LEAs

Note: Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM) districts participating in the Network are not eligible to apply for FC 161 funding to support evaluation and selection of ELA materials because GLEAM funding supports awarded LEAs' participation in the Evaluate and Select HQIM Network.

Funding Type:

Federal (CFDA 84.425U) ESSER III Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs - Federal Grant Programs

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

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

Funding:

There is approximately $800,000 available in FY24. Each awarded district will be eligible to receive up to $15,000 to support evaluation of HQIM.

Please note that there may be a possibility for grant increases to support some of the costs associated with purchasing or implementing a selected comprehensive core HQIM. To become eligible for grant increases, funded LEAs must notify DESE of their selection by Monday, April 1, 2024. Fund increase will be based upon available funding.

Recipients may need to provide detailed cost information to DESE to demonstrate compliance with grant priorities and approved fund uses to draw down funds over the grant period.

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.

Fund Use:

Funds may be used for the following:

1. Stipend staff to engage in HQIM evaluation and selection activities for time outside contractual hours.
2. Professional development/training to strengthen evaluation and selection team's curriculum literacy to support a strong HQIM selection
3. Acquisition and use of up to three high-quality, comprehensive core curricular materials for field testing. All field-tested materials must meet DESE's definition of high quality*

*High quality is defined as core curricular materials that are rated "meets" or "partially meets" on CURATE, or

1. ELA/Literacy: rated "Green" on EdReports' Gateways 1 and 2,
2. Math/Science: rated "Green" on EdReports' Gateway 1 and "Green" or "Yellow" on Gateway 2,
3. Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS): rated as "comprehensive curricular materials" with alignment to college-and-career-ready learning standards on the DLCS Curriculum Guide .

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.

Note that grant funds will be approved to fund only the specific activities listed.

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Woodly Pierre-Louis

Date Due:

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page

• Part II — Budget Details. Please fully read the "Instructions" tab before entering budget information on the Budget Details workbook. Final budget must be entered directly in EdGrants.

• Part III — Required Program Information

• Part IV — Schools Assurance (signed form required from each school principal)

• Part V — District Assurance

If your district needs to cover Indirect Costs, please use this FY24 Indirect Cost Calculator to do so.

Additional Information:

Using ESSER III funding, the Department expects to award $1.8 million in grants to support curriculum evaluation, selection, and launch between FY23–FY24 under the program name Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support.

The Department may seek additional information from applicants through follow-up interviews, as needed.

Grant recipients will be required to prepare and provide data requested by the Department to evaluate the effectiveness of grant funds and activities.

Curriculum Data Collection: To be eligible for this targeted grant, districts must have submitted their LEAs' Curriculum Data Collection. The data should be viewable and up to date here: Curriculum Data. Directions about the expectations and how to provide the data can be found here: Curriculum Data Collection.

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants.

In EdGrants, LEAs are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FY24 FC161 Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support

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, Part III — Required Program Information, Part IV — School Assurance (separate from required from each school principal, Part V — District Assurance as well as a 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 LEA 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: October 23, 2023