FY2020: Assessment Audit

Fund Code: 570

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant is to gather feedback on an assessment audit protocol developed by the department. This grant will support a select group of districts in conducting the assessment audit, and to provide feedback to the department on the process.

Priorities:

Supporting districts make decisions about classroom assessments. The goal is that classroom assessments should:

• have a clear purpose;

• Be well aligned to curricular materials and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

• Provide actionable information to classroom teachers that directly informs teaching practice

• Be communicated clearly to stakeholders, including students, parents, and school leaders.

Eligibility:

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

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $30,000 will be awarded to the six districts.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding is to become available it will be distributed under the same guideline as listed in the initial RFP document.

Fund Use:

Grant recipients can use funds to conduct any aspect of the assessment audit. This may include the following assessment audit activities:

• Review of specific assessments

• Collecting and reviewing student Work Samples

• Focus Groups

• Surveys of stakeholders (including potentially, students, teachers, parents, administrators)

• Other data collection activities.

DESE will participate in initial meetings as the work begins and in final meetings as results are complete and shared with audit developer. In addition, DESE will work with the six districts to collect feedback.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval - 6/30/2020

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Craig Waterman

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3244

Date Due:

Complete Proposals are due by Friday, March 6 2020

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

Required Forms:

FY2020: Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

FY2020: Part II - Budget Template (This is a budget template for the applicant to use as part of planning discussions in order to prepare for officially entering it into EdGrants. The actual final budget will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.)

Part III — Information about your district's readiness to complete the Assessment Audit.

Additional Information:

DESE Assessment Audit tool will be to provide to grant recipients for use, and is currently in the development process.

Any grant related questions must be emailed to cwaterman@doe.mass.edu. Responses will be posted to this website.

Submission Instructions:

Email one (1) complete set of all required documents (Part I, Part II and Part III) to: Craig Waterman no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget in EdGrants and upload required documents. Once selected, grant recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: February 14, 2020