Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2024: High-Quality Instructional Materials Implementation Continuation

Fund Code: 185

Purpose:

The High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Implementation Continuation Grant will support eligible LEAs implementing Tier 1 comprehensive core high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) in ELA/literacy and mathematics. Intended to support evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally & linguistically sustaining implementation of high-quality materials to amplify the power of those materials, this grant will provide funding and support to accelerate student learning.

This grant will support districts' HQIM implementation in the following ways:

Enactment of an equity-focused curriculum implementation plan
Strengthening of existing partnerships between districts and educator preparation programs (i.e., supporting teacher candidates with building their curriculum literacy)
Professional development for educators, coaches, and administrators to support the skillful implementation of HQIM
Customized, individualized, and systematized support from an expert implementation consultant who will provide regular guidance and coaching support throughout the duration of the grant

Priorities:

DESE seeks to award HQIM Implementation continuation grants to LEAs that:

Have successfully met the criteria of submitting an implementation plan and landscape analysis during year one of the grant
Articulate a clear approach to effectively implement high-quality core curricular materials
Speak to a plan for ensuring sustainability beyond the grant funding period
Center equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness in moving district grant goals forward
Articular a clear approach to onsite customized support that reflects the strengths and needs of the district and schools involved in FC185

Eligibility:

Only districts, charters, collaboratives, schools and grade spans currently awarded an FC185 High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Implementation grant may apply for this continuation grant.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA: 84.425 Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs - Federal Grant Programs

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

UGG (2 CFR 200)
EDGAR As Applicable
EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

Funding:

Approximately $9,081,867.00 is available.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

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:

This continuation grant will provide funding for eligible LEAs to enact FY24 activities informed by the FY23 landscape analysis and aligned to LEA's implementation plan. Following the grant period, recipients are expected to continue implementing the materials and practices supported by this grant.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 9/1/2023) * – 6/30/2024

*Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Magda.E.Harrison@mass.gov

Phone Number:

(781) 338-6243

Date Due:

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Early submission is strongly encouraged to ensure the complete application is received and confirmed on the date due. Late and/or incomplete applications cannot be reviewed.

If you need assistance with submitting your application, please send an email to HQIMImplementation@mass.gov

Required Forms:

If your district needs to cover Indirect Costs, please use this FY24 Indirect Cost Calculator .

Additional Information:

As part of this grant program, participating districts and partnered educator preparation programs will be provided an Implementation Consultant who will meet regularly with the district, with the goal of building district capacity to support sustained skillful use of HQIM beyond the funding period. Grant activities will conclude by 6/30/2024.

Participating districts and partnered educator preparation programs will also receive feedback from data collected by a third-party Implementation Evaluator. The evaluator will provide regular feedback to the implementation leadership team formative information that can be used to impact the grant activities, as well as overall feedback on the overall impact at the end of the grant.

Lastly, lessons learned about efforts to support implementation will be shared with the wider community through resources such vignettes and resources developed over the course of the grant.

Any questions about HQIM Implementation Continuation grant must be emailed to HQIMImplementation@mass.gov . Q+A will be posted to Curriculum Matters: Instructional Materials and Professional Development website.

Universal screening and dyslexia
LEAs receiving this award for ELA/Literacy will be required to participate in future research efforts related to early literacy assessment, including providing student-level assessment data from any approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in the recipient schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by June 30 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the statewide data collected for research purposes. Analyses will only be reported in the aggregate (e.g., by grade-level, region, etc.) 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.

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants. In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FC185 FY24 Implementation Grant Continuation - LEA Name

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as Schedule A form, if applicable to your district. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

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

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 application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: June 21, 2023