FY2021: Expanded Learning Time

Fund Code: 225

Purpose:

This targeted state funded grant program (funded through line item 7061-9412) provides financial assistance to local school districts with schools that have approved Expanded Learning Time (ELT) implementation plans. We ask that you use your FY2021 ELT allocation to address learning and access loss that students have experienced as the result of the pandemic. Schools must provide students with learning support opportunities (possibly in the form of intervention, tutoring, acceleration academy vacation learning programs in February and/or April, and/or in summer programming), engage teachers in additional professional development and focused collaboration time, and build/enhance necessary partnerships and/or plan engaging enrichment programming for students for use by the close of the current school year or to prepare for the next academic year. Funds could also be used to strategize a new approach to expanded time for the 2021-2022 academic year based on lessons learned, best practices, and with an eye to sustainability.

Priorities:

To provide resources that provide intervention and/or SEL support to students and the strategic planning and refinement of expanded time delivery in school year 2021-2022 in currently implementing schools. Encouraged activities include:

1. strategize ways to scale best practices through a refined approach to ELT that is more effective, efficient, and financially sustainable;
2. design instructional supports to address learning gaps that may occur due to disruptions in learning caused by COVID-19 and other factors and plan instructional opportunities in mathematics, literacy, science, and other core subjects to support student achievement and address any increased need for intervention in school year 2021-2022;
3. plan engaging enrichment programming and/or strengthen current or seek new partnerships to support increased student learning experiences;
4. provide adults with increased opportunities to plan and participate in professional development and collaboration activities related to ELT.

Eligibility:

Districts with schools with approved ELT implementation plans awarded FY2020 Expanded Learning Time Implementation Grants (Fund Code 225) are eligible.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $9,300,000 is available. Districts are expected to reserve funds to support learning loss recovery in 2021 (such as tutoring opportunities, vacation/summer programming, etc.), provided the delivery of instruction is live or in-person, with preference to in-person instruction. Funds will be allocated on a per pupil basis based on average SIMS data (derived from October 2019 and March 2020) and adjusted, if needed, to accommodate in-person instruction.

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:

Salaries, stipends, contracts, instructional materials, transportation for students to attend programming (summer and vacation) and other expenses associated with operating and planning for a renewed expanded school schedule and addressing learning loss.

Funds must be used in alignment with the purpose and priorities outlined and as described in a budget, budget narrative, and required program information that is submitted to the Department's Office of Effective Practices in Turnaround.

Important Note: Students being served by these funds during the school year, or in learning loss recovery programming, cannot be charged to participate. Additionally, funds cannot be used to pay students to participate.

Project Duration:

School Year: Upon Approval – 6/30/2021 (for school year programming)
Summer: 7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021 (for summer programming)

Program Unit:

Statewide Systems of Support — Office of Effective Practices in Turnaround

Contact:

Moira Connolly

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3525

Date Due:

Friday, February 26, 2021

Required Forms:

FY2021 Part I (School Year) General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

FY2022 Part I (Summer) General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

 

FY2021 Part II (School Year) Budget Template (This is a budget template for the applicant to utilize while working through their final budget request in order to prepare for entering it into EdGrants. Please feel free to use this template when preparing for Application Submission. This Is Not the Budget. The actual final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.)

FY2022 Part II (Summer) Budget Workbook. This budget must be uploaded in EdGrants in the Attachments formlet of the application submission.

Part III — Required Program Information

ELT Grant Assurances Document

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants.

Important Note on School Year (FY2021) and Summer (FY2022) funds:
Applicants must complete the Application Submission in EdGrants by entering the School Year (FY2021) budget and attach all other required forms listed in this RFP to the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission.

These applicants must also attach the Summer (FY2021) proposed budget in the Attachments List. Applicants will be notified in Spring of 2021 when to enter in the Summer (FY2022) portion of the budget

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

• FY21 225 Expanded Learning Time Implementation Grant (District Name)

All required forms should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of FY2021 and FY2022 Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as FY2022 Summer Budget, Part III and ELT Grant Assurances.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

Please note: It the district's responsibility to designate and add all 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.

If you should have any questions regarding submissions, please contact Moira Connolly.

Last Updated: January 11, 2021