Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2024: OpenSciEd Middle School Implementation Support

Fund Code: 601

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 and has met expectations for high quality as identified by EdReports. Massachusetts has been a partner state in the development of the OpenSciEd Middle School science curriculum that provides a rigorous, grade-level, phenomena-driven experience to students. The science curriculum is available through the OpenSciEd website along with certified partners for classroom materials and professional learning.

The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide funding support for districts that are in their second year or beyond of implementing the OpenSciEd middle school curriculum. This grant is available to any district that has already adopted OpenSciEd and that is not eligible for other OpenSciEd implementation grants.

Priorities:

DESE seeks to award OpenSciEd Middle School Implementation Support grants to districts that:

Have implemented OpenSciEd in middle school for at least one year
Are not eligible for other grant funding or financial support for OpenSciEd
Demonstrate a commitment to continue OpenSciEd implementation through the grant year and beyond
Articulate a plan to support sustainable professional learning and support for teachers to successfully implement OpenSciEd in the middle school

Competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.

Eligibility:

Any district that is in their second year or beyond of implementing the OpenSciEd middle school curriculum. Districts must include information about the number of years that they have been using OpenSciEd in middle school, affirm that they have not received additional outside funding to support middle school implementation (e.g. grant support from OEI/Boston College), and that they commit to implementing OpenSciEd in middle school for the duration of the grant period.

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 webpage.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.425 Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs - Federal Grant Programs

Funding:

Approximately $400,000 is available for this grant.

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 601 funds toward the direct support of implementation, including.

costs of classroom science materials needed (e.g. student books, teacher guides, and kits) to implement the curriculum
costs related to providing professional development, substitutes or stipends for participating teachers to attend OpenSciEd trainings
- professional development may include formal workshops, coaching sessions, professional learning communities, and/or other supports for teacher learning related to OpenSciEd
additional material costs must be approved prior to expenditure.

Project Duration:

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

Funding may continue into FY25, in a continuation grant from Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2024) – 9/30/2024 — 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 FC601 OpenSciEd Middle School Implementation Support grant recipients will be eligible to apply for the continuation grant. The funding source for this grant ends 9/30/24 and additional funding will not be offered after 9/30/24.

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Casandra Gonzalez

Date Due:

Friday, May 19, 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 received 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 casandra.gonzalez@mass.gov by April 15^th, 2023. A link to Questions and Answers will be posted on the OpenSciEd in Massachusetts page under "Middle School Adoption and Implementation Support" no later than April 20^th, 2023.

Submission Instructions:

Submit the completed application packet via email directly to Casandra Gonzalez .

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 5:00 pm Eastern on the due date. Please use the provided original Word or Excel formats, with the exception of the signed Part I which should be converted to PDF.

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 1, 2023