FY2023: Massachusetts Lead for Literacy Institute Grant

Fund Code: 725

Purpose:

The Massachusetts Lead for Literacy Institute Grant will support educators and administrators to create a literacy plan aligned to the multi-tiered system of support model (MTSS) for grades K–5. Through this collaborative Network, districts will create K–5 literacy plans that include instructional leadership responsibilities, literacy priorities and goals, evidence-based instruction and intervention, assessment, and professional learning.

This competitive opportunity is targeted toward districts of 3 or fewer elementary schools. As such, district teams of 5 participating in the Network should include a total of 3 teachers, a school administrator, and a district level literacy leader, administrator, or coordinator. The entire district must participate; all elementary schools in the district must be represented on the team. Teams will attend seven Network meetings and are expected to meet independently between sessions to process materials shared and apply them to their literacy plans. All team participants will receive a stipend.

Priorities:

DESE seeks to award this opportunity to LEAs that agree to create and put in place a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)aligned literacy plan to manage all the pieces of the school's K–5 literacy program, making clear what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, what resources need to be (re)allocated, and why. Applicants agree to the following:

1. Creation of a grant team (no more than five members) including a total of 3 teachers (this can include classroom educators, reading specialists, special education teachers, English learner teachers, or literacy coaches), a school administrator, and a district level literacy leader, administrator, or coordinator. At a minimum, each team must include one teacher, one school administrator, and a district level literacy leader. All elementary schools in the district must be represented on the team.
2. Full team attendance at all 7 institute meetings (all meetings are virtual beginning in October 2022 and ending in April 2023, for a total of 17.5 hours of facilitated professional learning). In addition, teams are expected to dedicate time to meet independently for 90 minutes between sessions to process materials shared and apply them to the development of their literacy plan.
3. Development of measurable, attainable, literacy goals and action steps for assessment; instruction and intervention; scheduling, staffing, and materials; and professional learning over the course of the Institute from October through April with the support of the Institute facilitators.
4. Participate in all required DESE-funded grant evaluation requirements, including meeting surveys, pre-and post-tests of knowledge and practice, and focus groups of participants chosen randomly by DESE, a series of 3 sustainability surveys during the 23-24 school year conducted via email with district lead.
5. Plan and participate in one presentation of the team's completed literacy plan at an end of Institute showcase in April 2023.

Competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status and the Strategic Transformation Region.

Eligibility:

Public school districts, charter schools, collaboratives, and approved special education programs that serve students in grades K–5 and have 3 or fewer elementary schools are eligible to apply.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $120,000 is projected to be available and will be distributed on the number of quality proposals submitted.

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.

Approximately $12,000 is available for schools and districts in chronically underperforming status

Fund Use:

Funds may be used for stipends. $1,500 each may be budgeted for up to five grant team members for participation in professional collaboration beyond contractual hours, which includes participation in 6 (or more) planning meetings outside of school hours to process and apply professional learning between sessions and to work on the literacy plan.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2023

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support, Office of Literacy and Humanities

Contact:

Donna Goldstein

Date Due:

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

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

Required Forms:

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

• Part II — Budget Details
  Complete the following sections:
  • Section 4: Stipends
    • $1,500/participant for up to 5 grant team members
  
  

• Part III — Narrative Form

• Part IV — District Assurance

Additional Information:

Districts submitting a budget with an Indirect Cost Rate must have an FY2023 approved Indirect rate. The Indirect Cost Rate Calculation Worksheet is a tool to help ensure you are not budgeting for more than the approved rate.

For Grant Management processes, including the Request for Funds, information about requesting funds beyond the initial payment, and additional details on managing your grant, see this webpage: EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

Districts whose proposals are accepted will be required to complete PART V: School Assurance Page with all participating grant members and submit to EdGrants.

LEAs receiving this award will be required to participate in future research efforts related to early literacy assessment, including:

• Providing student-level assessment data from the early literacy screening assessment acquired under this grant program to DESE on an ongoing basis for research purposes. Analyses will only be reported in the aggregate (e.g., by grade-level, region, etc.) in order to meet state and federal confidentiality laws. The identities of districts and schools will not be reported. All reporting will protect the identities of students, educators, schools, and districts.
• Participating in DESE's future research efforts to understand early literacy assessment, achievement, and instructional practices, which may involve surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with LEA and school staff, including, but not restricted to district and school leaders, literacy and reading specialists, and classroom teachers.
• Designating an individual to be responsible for data submission and to serve as a liaison between the LEA and DESE for communication about data collection and evaluation efforts.
• DESE will work with districts and schools to set consistent reporting formats and schedules for submitting student-level assessment data. Typically, DESE contracts with third-party, independent researchers selected as part of an open competitive bidding process. In some cases, Department staff conducts research directly. It is possible that Department research staff may access and analyze submitted data. The research partner for this work is WestEd.

Submission Instructions:

Complete proposals must be received via email to instructionalsupport@mass.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, using the subject heading: [district name] MA Lead for Literacy Institute Grant proposal, Fund Code 725

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 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.

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

For information on upcoming EdGrants webinar training email EdGrants@mass.gov .

Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant applications as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district-level users.

Please sign up for the Grants Management Monthly Update mailing list to keep informed regarding various EdGrants deadlines.

Last Updated: July 28, 2022