Assessment/Accountability
School and District Accountability and Assistance

Summary of Level 4 School Funding Opportunities

In May 2010, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) formally declared 35 schools as Level 4 ("underperforming") schools*; in November 2011, ESE named an additional 6 schools were named. These designations were based on a statewide analysis to identify which schools required the most significant intervention to improve academic outcomes for students. An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap, signed by the Governor in January 2010, redefined the responsibility of ESE and school districts to intervene in Level 4 schools, but did not specify the allocation of additional financial resources districts should expect in order to rapidly improve the academic performance in the schools. The following is a description of the funding opportunities available to districts with Level 4 schools.

Federal School Redesign Grants

In February 2010, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) finalized regulations for the use of competitive grants to intervene in each state's lowest performing schools. Each district is eligible to apply for an average of $500,000 per year for up to three years on behalf of each of its Level 4 schools. A district applying for a School Redesign Grant will be required to choose one of four federally-prescribed intervention models and demonstrate its capacity to implement that model effectively over three years. Details of the grant application can be found at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sda/turnaround/.

School Redesign Grant applications require that districts develop extremely rigorous Redesign Plans for each school that will be assessed against three sets of criteria:

1. The extent to which the district and school(s) demonstrates the capacity and commitment to support and implement the proposed strategies;
2. The extent to which the plans are based on a detailed analysis of current, accurate and precise data; and
3. The extent to which the plans display a strategic and actionable approach that will lead to rapid and sustainable improvement in targeted schools.

Level 4 schools named in 2011 and Level 4 school name in 2010 that have not received School Redesign Grant funds are eligible to apply for funds for the 2012-13 school year. Applications will be available early in 2012, with decisions expected by spring 2012. There is currently enough funding ($8 million) for approximately 6 new schools to receive new School Redesign Grant awards this year. Based on federal projections, there may be additional funding for future grants.

Schools that are awarded School Redesign Grant funds will receive their year one funds in September 2012. The School Redesign Grant application includes the opportunity to apply for pre-implementation funds that can be used in July and August 2012.

Level 4 Schools 'Bridge Funding'

For Level 4 schools identified in 2011, ESE will be making available Bridge Funding in the amount of $30,000 per school to be used for costs incurred in turnaround planning efforts during the 2011-12 school year. These funds are expected to be available by December 2011 and run through June 2012.

* One school has subsequently closed.