| Purpose: | The purpose of the state-funded Transition to Full-Day Kindergarten grant is to encourage the voluntary expansion of high-quality, full-day kindergarten across Massachusetts. This grant is intended for districts ready to implement full-day kindergarten (FDK) in September of 2007. Recipients of the grant will be eligible for a Quality Full-Day Kindergarten grant (Fund Code: 701) for FY2008 contingent upon state appropriation and an approved grant application. Refer to the 701 RFP for further information at: http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/grants/.
The larger purpose of the state-funded Kindergarten Development Grant program is to enhance the educational experience of children by: increasing the number of full-day kindergarten classrooms; improving overall quality and curriculum; increasing inclusion; promoting continuity of curriculum from preschool (PreK) to third grade; and developing other program components. The program will help to achieve the goal of preventing the achievement gap from starting. |
| Priorities: |
First priority will be given to districts with high percentages of students scoring in the Warning and Needs Improvement categories on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams (3rd grade reading and mathematics and 4th grade English language arts and mathematics).
Second priority will be given to districts that can demonstrate the need for full-day kindergarten based on other criteria of need (e.g., an individual school that meets the criteria above; low graduation and/or high drop-out rates; a particular population that is, or is at-risk of, not performing adequately; problems related to rural or isolated locations, etc.).
Third priority will be given to districts with particularly strong proposals that include high quality and/or innovative elements (e.g., curriculum) and creative solutions to funding and other challenges.
All proposals will be evaluated based on well-designed plans that demonstrate support and capacity to make a successful transition to full-day kindergarten and achieve the priorities of the Quality Full-Day Kindergarten grant program (Fund Code: 701). (See Appendix A for more information on the Quality grant.)
Proposals should include:
a clear picture of the current kindergarten program (part-time and full-day) and community support for full-day kindergarten; a plan for developing curriculum for a full-day schedule, assessment, increasing inclusion, and other elements of quality full-day programs based on best practices and research in child development and early education, and that align with the 701 grant priorities; a discussion of the current state and work of the required committees:
accomplishments and challenges to school readiness in the community/district and how the School Readiness Committee would contribute to this work and address challenges; and strategies that the Early Childhood/Early Elementary Curriculum Committee and district staff would use to adapt, adopt, and/or develop curriculum for the full-day program and promote continuity and alignment of curriculum and assessment from preschool through third grade; and
a realistic appraisal of existing facilities and space needs to implement full-day kindergarten and cost estimates.
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| Eligibility: | Districts seeking to transition part-time to full-day kindergarten classrooms in September 2007 are eligible to apply, including districts that have a Quality Full-Day Kindergarten grant (Fund Code: 701) and wish to transition existing part-time classes to full-day classrooms. Districts that applied in FY2006 and that meet the priorities and eligibility requirements must update their grant proposals based on this RFP. |
| Funding: | A total of $2,000,000 is available for these competitive grants. Funds will be awarded to eligible districts based on the following amount per classroom:
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| Fund Use: | Funds may be used for activities related to meeting the grant priorities. Refer to Appendix A: Additional Program Information for more detail on specific grant activities.
Funds may not be used for screening instruments or personnel to identify special education needs or other costs associated with specific children's Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). |
Project
Duration: | This grant has two cycles.
FY2007 School Year Program: Upon Approval - 6/30/2007 FY2008 Summer Program: 7/1/2007 - 8/31/2007
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| Program Unit: | Office of Elementary School Support |
| Contact: | Emily Caille ecaille@doe.mass.edu |
| Phone Number: | 781-338-6355 |
Date Due
for Letter
of Intent
to Apply: | By Friday, November 3, 2006, email the letter of intent to apply to ecaille@doe.mass.edu or mail to:
Emily Caille
Office of Elementary School Support
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
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Date Due for
Proposals: | Friday, November 17, 2006 Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due. |
| Required Forms: |
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FY2007 School Year Program: Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Applications for Program Grants)
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FY2008 Summer Program: Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Applications for Program Grants)
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Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages) - Instructions
Budget Narrative - to be designed by applicants (See Part III - G.)
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Part III - Required Program Information
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Attachment A - Kindergarten Curriculum and Assessment Survey
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Letter of Assurance (See Part III - H.)
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| Note: | Applicants can choose to apply for funds to cover services during the School Year only or both School Year and Summer services. Applicants wishing to include School Year and Summer services must submit two Standard Contract Forms, two Budget Detail Pages, and two Budget Narratives. The first set will be for services to be rendered between the award of the funds and June 30, 2007. The second set should reflect dates and costs associated with services to be provided between July 1, 2007 and August 31, 2007. |
Additional
Information: |
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Appendix A - Additional 701 and 702 Program Information
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Appendix B - Tuition Policy for Full-Day Kindergarten
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A scoring rubric is available upon request. A report on the progress of 702 grant activities will be due on April 13, 2007. For additional information, please contact either Emily Caille (Contact information above) or Alice Barton at 781-338-6354 abarton@doe.mass.edu and Min-hua Chen at 781-338-6351 mchen@doe.mass.edu. |
Proposal
Submission
Instructions: |
Submit three (3) sets of the proposal, each with an original signature of the Superintendent. Mail to:
Emily Caille
Office of Elementary School Support
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
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