Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

Funding Priorities

1. Significant funding priority is given to applicants providing services to students in high schools with high percentages of students who have yet to meet the Competency Determination.

2. Funding priority will be given to school-to-career connecting activities work and learning programs that connect structured internships to targeted academic instruction for eligible students.

Program Parameters

1. Proposed programs at the high school level may only serve students in the Classes of 2003 - 2009 who have not yet passed the 10^th grade MCAS and subsequent re-test(s) in English language arts and/or mathematics.

2. Preference should be given to students who must make significant progress in order to meet state graduation requirements. These students should include those scoring at 216 and under on the 10^th grade MCAS, students with limited English proficiency, and students who are homeless, in alternative programs, or with disabilities.

3. Programs must provide identified students with intensive, small-group instruction, or one-on-one tutoring that addresses identified gaps in their acquisition of knowledge and skills in English language arts and/or mathematics as described in the students' Individual Student Success Plans.

4. Proposed programs are required to provide internships for all participating students and use the Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plan as a tool to structure students' learning and productivity on the job.

5. Programs must use innovative, research-based practices and supports designed to engage and instruct identified students.

6. Partnerships between outside organizations and individual high schools or groups of high schools should be considered to design and implement program models that improve the academic success for the identified students.

7. Supplemental instruction may be offered before school and/or after school, and/or during weekends, school vacations, the summer, and/or the school day.

• Subject to appropriation, grant awards will be based on the quality of programs proposed and the number of students to be served. Applicants should estimate a reasonable per pupil cost.

• Efforts will be made to ensure funds are awarded to a range of geographic regions within the Commonwealth.

Funds may be used for:

• salaries for qualified teachers of mathematics or English language arts;

• stipends to support direct services, planning, and program coordination;

• consultant and contract fees to provide program-related professional development;

• supplies;

• tutorial software;

• incentives for students that remove barriers for participation;

• incentives to attract and support qualified staff to optimize services to students; and

• necessary student transportation.

In-kind contributions and other funds to support this grant program are encouraged greatly. No more than 15% of the total amount of the grant may be budgeted for supplies. No more than 20% may be budgeted for coordination of the program. Not more than 20% of the total amount of funding available may be used in contractual services for licenses related to computer software.

Funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, existing programs and activities. Funds may not be used for direct stipends to students.

School Year Programs (596) Upon Approval - 6/30/2008

Summer Programs (597) 7/1/2008 - 8/31/2008

Friday, July 27, 2007

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

To apply for funding, submit a grant application that includes all of the required elements.

		Application for Competitive Academic Support Services - Work and Learning Programs. If applying for both Fund Codes, submit separate applications for Fund Code: 596 (School Year) and Fund Code: 597 (Summer) programs.
		Fund Code: 596 School Year Program - Program Unit Signature Page (Part I - General: Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
		Fund Code: 597 Summer Program - Program Unit Signature Page (Part I - General: Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants) Note: A separate signature page must be attached to each set of budget pages.
		Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages) - Instructions If applying for both Fund Code: 596 (School Year) and for Fund Code: 597 (Summer), submit separate budget pages for each.
		Schedule C - Statement of Participation and Support
		Budget Narrative detailing expenditures in the Budget Detail Pages If applying for both Fund Code: 596 (School Year) and for Fund Code: 597 (Summer), submit separate budget narratives for each. PLEASE NOTE: Funds used to provide services to students who do not meet the eligibility requirements of this grant constitute grounds for a request of return of funds for those students. Additionally, those applicants enrolling significantly fewer students than proposed will be requested to return unused funds for redistribution.

• Grant Award Decisions

  Decisions are expected to be made by the end of August and recipients and amounts will be posted to the Department's Grants Pages by August 30, 2007. (http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/Grants/).

•   Evaluation Guidelines (Narrative)

  The Evaluation Guidelines must be used in preparing narrative reports addressing the overall effectiveness of the program (due by July 31, 2008 for School Year programs and by September 30, 2008 for Summer programs).

• Required Student Data Submissions

  Individual Student Data Information is required to be submitted through the Department's Security Portal. Due dates are July 31, 2008 for School Year programs and September 30, 2008 for Summer programs. Details and instructions will be provided by the Department to all grant recipients and will be posted to the Academic Support Data Collection web pages - http://www.doe.mass.edu/as/data/.

• Professional Development/Technical Assistance SessionsGrantees are expected to have personnel (coordinators, data entry staff, instructors, etc.) attend appropriate Academic Support professional development workshop and data training sessions. We welcome your input and feedback on the workshops. A schedule of sessions will be sent to grantees and posted on the Department's Academic Support web pages (http://www.doe.mass.edu/as/pd/).

• Scoring Rubrics

  Available upon request (See Contact information above.)

Submit four (4) sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director. Mail to:

Keith Westrich
Student Support
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023