See below for information on the following playful learning related resources:
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE/Department) Early Learning Team has launched a Playful Learning Institute (PLI) pilot initiative. Please read below for more information regarding the PLI.
The Institute is designed for district and school administrators, PK–3 inclusive classroom educators, and Out-of-School Time (OST) program staff and administrators. Participants gain tools and strategies to intentionally design and embed playful learning instructional strategies across the course of the day. Playful learning supports deep dives into content, creates equitable access to learning for all children, and creates varied opportunities for authentic assessment, particularly during instructional blocks across the content areas.
The Department released a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) (through Fund Code 347) in early January 2023 and five school teams/districts representing 7 early childhood/elementary schools were awarded the grant to participate in the pilot of the Institute. Each school team consisted of district and school administrators as well as two educators from each grade (PK–3) from the selected schools. The Institute consisted of professional development (PD) for the school teams, some of which took place in-person and some of which took place asynchronously. District educators and leaders created an action plan for each team that is focused on the implementation of the playful learning/instructional practices.
For the 2023-2024 school year, coaches worked with educators, preschool through 3rd grade, for 3–5 hours per month, as well as coach district/school leaders for 1–2 hours per month. This in-classroom/school coaching model is aligned with and supports implementation of the action plan created by the district/school team.
Additionally, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago has been evaluating the PLI pilot. The evaluation plan includes tools to (1) support improvements to the PLI; (2) understand the implementation experience; and (3) inform decisions about possible replication of the PLI and future DESE support for playful learning.
FY2025 Fund Code 0350: Playful Learning Institute, Preschool through 3rd Grade — Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs
The Department is currently accepting applications for a second cohort of district/school teams to participate in the Playful Learning Institute, Preschool through 3rd Grade. Grant applications are due on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. in GEM$. A Bidder's Conference will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024 — one at 8:00 a.m. and one at 11:00 a.m. Please register online if you are interested in joining one of the Bidder's Conference sessions, or a Drop-In Question and Answer session — one scheduled on November 25, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. and one on December 3, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Bidders Conference PowerPoint Slides
Question and Answer Document
The Early Learning Team partnered with the Boston Public Schools Early Childhood Department to develop the PLI pilot. Resources, guides, and other helpful documents will be shared as they become available. Please check this section frequently for additional materials.
1 References in this document to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporate name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by DESE. Our office is not responsible for and does not in any way guarantee the accuracy of information on other sites accessible through links herein. DESE may supplement this list with other services and products that meet the specified criteria. For more information, contact: achievement@mass.gov or 781-338-3010.
Last Updated: December 27, 2024