Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2024: OpenSciEd Elementary Field Test

Fund Code: 599

Purpose:

OpenSciEd is a complete set of robust, research-based, open-source, K–12 science instructional materials that are aligned and designed to meet the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Over the last several years, Massachusetts has field tested the middle and high school materials and is now seeking schools/districts to participate in the elementary (K–5) field test to pilot and provide feedback on the materials.

This competitive grant is intended to provide funding support for schools/districts that will pilot the OpenSciEd Elementary science curriculum in school year's 2023-24 and 2024-25 as part of the Massachusetts Field Test. Eligible districts may apply.

Interested districts may identify up to two schools with a grade span of k–2, 3–5, or k–5 teachers to participate in the field test in 2023-24 and 2024-2025. At least one teacher per grade level per grade span from a school must commit to participate to be eligible for this opportunity. Each school that participates must commit to full implementation.

Full implementation for school year 2023-24 includes:

Piloting 2 units at each grade level participating during the field test windows. Each unit takes approximately 6–10 weeks to implement and addresses 2–6 standards.
Field Test unit implementation schedule.
- Unit 1 field test window: Fall 2023
- Unit 2 field test window: Spring 2024
Attending all professional learning experiences.
- Unit Trainings: 2 unit specific, in-person, trainings will be provided to educators to learn and experience the unit that they will them implement in the classroom.
  - Summer 2023 professional learning: Three days of in-person professional learning scheduled for the week of August 14–16, 2023. Educators participating in the field test must be available to attend the summer professional learning to qualify for the grant. Location TBD.
  - Winter 2024 (January or February) professional learning: Two days of in-person professional learning
- Support during the implementation of each unit: 3 interactive, professional learning sessions (2 hours each, either in-person or virtual) will be offered to support unit implementation.
Providing feedback to the curriculum developers and researchers on the units for improvements and modifications.
Full commitment and support of the field test by building and district administrators.

Full implementation for school year 2024-25 includes:

Piloting 2 units at each grade level participating during the field test windows. Each unit takes approximately 6–10 weeks to implement and addresses 2–6 standards.
Field Test unit implementation schedule.
- Unit 3 field test window: Fall 2024
- Unit 4 field test window: Spring 2025
Attending all professional learning experiences.
- Unit Trainings: 2 unit specific, in-person, trainings will be provided to educators to learn and experience the unit that they will them implement in the classroom.
  - Summer 2024 professional learning: Two days of in-person professional learning
  - Winter 2025 (January or February) professional learning: Two days of in-person professional learning
- Support during the implementation of each unit: 3 interactive, professional learning sessions (2 hours each, either in-person or online) will be offered to support unit implementation.
Providing feedback to the curriculum developers and researchers on the units for improvements and modifications.
Full commitment and support of the field test by building and district administrators.

For full details about pilot participation, including the time window to pilot units, visit the DESE OpenSciEd webpage.

Priorities:

DESE seeks to support districts who are committed to and cognizant of the work involved with adopting a new curriculum that is still in pilot form, and who are eager to take on an active role in making the OpenSciEd elementary materials as strong as possible when they are released publicly. To this end, DESE will prioritize districts whose proposal illustrates that they:

Have a science instructional vision that supports high quality science teaching and learning.
Have a schedule that allows for the necessary amount of science instructional time to implement the units as designed each year.
Can ensure systems and structures for attending professional learning and professional collaboration opportunities among pilot teachers, and between pilot teachers and support staff (e.g. inclusion teachers and ELL specialists).
Will have all pilot teachers (as well as any interested leaders) participate in ALL professional learning in the field test.
Will fully implement units in all grade levels participating and provide feedback to curriculum developers.

Competitive priority in the scoring process will be given to:

districts that have adopted OpenSciEd in middle school (grades 6–8)
proposals that include at least two teachers per grade level per grade span
proposals in which at least one school applying to the pilot is identified as requiring assistance according to the state accountability system

Eligibility:

All Massachusetts Local Education Agencies (districts, charter schools, and Collaboratives) are eligible to apply.

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, Friday, April 21, 2023. 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 webpage.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.425 Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs - Federal Grant Programs

Funding:

Approximately $700,000 is available for FY24. Please use the budget calculator to determine the maximum amount that can be requested for both FY24 and FY25 based on the number of pilot teachers in the applicant LEA. The budget tab in the budget workbook will only calculate eligible FY24 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:

Districts can use fund code 599 funds toward the direct support of the field test, including.

costs of classroom science materials needed (e.g. student books, teacher guides, and kits) to pilot the curriculum
costs related to attending professional development, travel, substitutes or stipends for participating teachers to attend OpenSciEd trainings
additional material costs must be approved prior to expenditure.

Project Duration:

FY24 Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2023) – 6/30/2024

Funding will continue into FY25: Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025, — pending availability of budget appropriation, submission of required documents, successful utilization of prior funding, and awarding of funds after a continuation grant process. Only prior FY24 FC599 OpenSciEd Elementary Field Test grant recipients will be eligible to apply for the continuation grant.

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Alex Jones

Date Due:

Friday, April 21, 2023*

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

*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:

Additional Information:

Please submit all questions to Alex Jones by Monday April 3, 2023. A link to Questions and Answers will be posted on the OpenSciEd in Massachusetts page under "Elementary Field Test" no later than Friday April 7, 2023.

Participation in Reporting Grant Activities
LEAs receiving this award will be required to assign an individual to be responsible for providing required data to the Department to evaluate the effectiveness of grant funds and activities. LEAs are required to provide evidence of fund use through the following:

Completing a DESE provided LEA Attestation Form which affirms grant participation and identifies how funds were utilized
Administering a DESE-developed survey to teachers and administrators (results will be shared with the LEA)

Submission Instructions:

Complete and submit all grant forms and materials:

Email one (1) complete set of all required documents, attached to a single email to cisgrants@mass.gov by Friday April 21, 2023, at 5:00 PM.

Subject line: District Name, FC 599 OpenSciEd Elementary Grant.

Please use the provided filetypes (word and excel).
Signature pages should be sent 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 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: March 31, 2023