Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

The partners will continue to plan, develop, and pilot model inclusive education practices and programs in IHEs for students with disabilities, ages 18-22, who are considered to have severe disabilities and have been unable to achieve the Competency Determination necessary for high school graduation (by passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam).

These practices and programs should:

1. be designed to promote and enhance academic, social, functional, and employment skills and outcomes;

2. provide opportunities for the inclusion of students with severe disabilities in courses with their non-disabled peers; and

3. promote participation in the student life of the college community.

Students will participate in inclusive learning opportunities in IHEs that will promote the development of:

1. self-advocacy and self-determination skills;

2. career planning and employment skills; and

3. improved academic, social, and functional skills.

In addition to the inclusive coursework, partnerships may elect to design their programs to include community-based integrated employment opportunities for participating students that relate directly to course selection and career goals.

Technical assistance and mentoring opportunities on promising inclusive practices will be provided to further develop the skills of faculty and staff in state public institutions of higher education and personnel in public school districts.

Outreach and technical assistance will be provided to family members and students in each of the partnerships.

The evaluation of this grant program will provide information for the planning and development of future inclusive concurrent enrollment programs across the Commonwealth.

Upon Approval - 8/31/2008

1. A total of $1,500,000 is available for FY2008.

2. This is the second year of a five-year grant program. Awards for FY2009-2011 are contingent upon appropriation of funds and successful completion of grant activities.

3. Partnerships must include students who meet the FY2008 eligibility criteria. Students who participated during FY2007 are eligible to participate again in FY2008 if they have been unable to achieve the Competency Determination necessary for high school graduation (by passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam). Applications will be reviewed and funded based upon the types of services and the number of students participating in the program. The following ranges are to be used as guidance when determining proposal amounts:

   1. Small programs with the capacity to serve 1-5 students are recommended to apply for up to $110,000;

   2. Medium programs with the capacity to serve 6-10 students are recommended to apply for up to $190,000; and

   3. Large programs with the capacity to serve 11+ students are recommended to apply for up to $300,000.

4. Proposals with an in-kind contribution will be given priority.

Funds may be used for:

1. student transportation costs (over and above preexisting transportation fees);

2. textbooks, materials, and other associated costs to support the student coursework and participation on the college campus;

3. tuition/fees for students;

4. consultants (e.g., parent consultants and youth leaders);

5. stipends/salaries and fringe benefits for project personnel;

6. assistive technology (the necessary technology to ensure full access to the curriculum);

7. mentoring and technical assistance to support the development and implementation of the proposed model;

8. training supplies, including site costs;

9. in-state travel costs;

10. indirect costs for school districts at the Department rate; and

11. indirect costs for the IHEs at the approved Department rate or maximum of 11%.

Funds may not be used for:

1. pre-existing student transportation costs;

2. equipment;

3. out-of-state travel; and

4. conference registration fees.

Madeline Levine mlevine@doe.mass.edu

William Blackwell wblackwell@doe.mass.edu

Thursday, August 16, 2007

In order to ensure the timely provision of funds, proposals are recommended to be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

		Appendix A - Eligible Applicants
		Evaluation Criteria Scorecard

Participating agencies must agree to work with personnel from the Institute for Community Inclusion (http://www.communityinclusion.org/) on evaluation, training, and technical assistance activities. Training and technical assistance activities will include, but are not limited to:

1. two face-to-face meetings of all participants;

2. assistance with establishing and/or enhancing each partnership's structures for collaboration, resource mapping, and planning for sustainability;

3. online modules (e.g., career development and employment, youth development, universal course design) and threaded discussions; and

4. onsite, online, and telephone technical assistance.

Applicant agencies will be required to submit to the Department of Education the following reports:

1. a report at the beginning of each semester providing the following: the names and mailing addresses of students participating in the program; the courses in which the students are enrolled; and the enrollment status of each student; and

2. a report at the end of each semester providing the following: course outcomes for each student participating in the program; a brief description of the inclusive opportunities provided to participating students; and a summary of expenditures to date.

The above information will be used for purposes of evaluation and continuation of funding.

Submit three (3) hard-copy sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/ Executive Director/IHE President, and one (1) electronic copy on a CD. Mail to:

Lassity Cauley
Special Education Planning and Policy Development
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023