Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2009

The purpose of these federal Learn and Serve America funds is to:

1. enable experienced school districts to share their Community Service-Learning (CSL) expertise with other districts;

2. support the institutionalization and sustainability of CSL throughout the Commonwealth;

3. increase the practice of CSL as a methodology for implementing the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, K-12 (See the definition of high-quality CSL in the Additional Information section below.);

4. improve the quality of CSL initiatives;

5. provide more opportunities for low-income students to engage in CSL; and

6. identify and address significant barriers to student achievement and implement solutions to those barriers through CSL and other activities.

The grant priorities are to support district-based CSL Regional Mentoring Centers that provide leadership for and training in:

1. institutionalizing CSL practice through ongoing professional development; including CSL in the district's mission, developing policies, and practices that support CSL; and integrating CSL with other educational initiatives (e.g., academic support, alternative education, special education, etc.);

2. implementing and aligning classroom-based CSL activities with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks;

3. providing teachers and administrators with the professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities needed to implement high-quality community CSL;

4. demonstrating a commitment to networking with other districts to share best practices in CSL implementation and institutionalization;

5. using CSL program evaluation activities, particularly linked to academic achievement;

6. developing CSL program promotion strategies; and

7. implementing CSL projects that serve to reduce barriers to learning. Examples include, but are not limited to, truancy, substance abuse issues, school violence/climate, homelessness, and literacy/language barriers. (See the Needs Statement in the Additional Information section for more details.)

Public school districts/collaboratives that received a CSL School-Based Mentoring Grant (Fund Code: 354-A-3*) in FY2008 or have received CSL grants in at least eight of the past ten years (1998-2008**) are eligible to apply. Grant recipients will meet with other Regional Center grantees a minimum of two (2) times during the year and will provide technical assistance to local school districts, using various approaches such as onsite training, networking meetings, etc. Eligible applicants include:

Funds may be used for:

1. a stipend or part of a salary for a Coordinator of regional mentoring activities that include CSL training/professional development, outreach to districts in the region, developing a professional learning network, etc.;

2. travel;

3. conferences (including the national CSL conference);

4. purchase of materials and supplies;

5. development, printing, and reproduction of materials;

6. implementation of CSL in the targeted region (for example through small subgrants that fund curriculum development, teacher stipends, substitutes, transportation of student participants, travel, conferences, purchase of materials and supplies, printing, and reproduction of materials, etc.);

7. implementation of specific CSL projects in the applicant district (up to 10 percent of the budget); and

8. activities to institutionalize and sustain CSL in the applicant district.

A minimum of 50 percent of the funds must be used to support outreach, training, and support activities to other school districts in the recipient's targeted region.

Funds may not be used for the purchase of computer/audio visual hardware, copiers, or vehicles. Additionally, Indirect/overhead costs may not be paid from this grant.

Please note: In-kind and cash match must be tracked and documented as a requirement of the grant and cannot include a match from other Corporation for National and Community Service funding. See the Learn and Serve provisions in Additional Information for grant spending requirements.

Friday, July 11, 2008

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

1. Needs Statement

   The overarching need identified as a priority by the Department's CSL program is improving student achievement. To accomplish this goal, the Department will focus CSL efforts on addressing local needs identified as barriers to learning and the Department will work with schools and districts to address these needs, improve instruction, and increase student engagement through the use of CSL.

2. Definition of CSL

   In 1990, the Corporation for National and Community Service said that CSL:

   1. Promotes learning through active participation in service experiences;

   2. Provides structured time for students to reflect by thinking, discussing, and/or writing about their service experience;

   3. Provides an opportunity for students to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations;

   4. Extends learning beyond the classroom and into the community; and

   5. Fosters a sense of caring for others (as adapted from the National and Community Service Act of 1990).

   The National Commission on Service-Learning defined service-learning in 2001 as follows: "Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities."

3. Key Elements to High-Quality CSL

   1. Service that meets a community need;

   2. Explicit, authentic, and guided learning;

   3. Youth decision-making; and

   4. Analytic reflection.

•        Learn and Serve America Grant Provisions

• Scoring Rubric is available upon request.

Submit one (1) unbound complete application with the original signature of the Superintendent, as well as four (4) stapled sets.

Mail to:

Donna Pisaturo, Grants Specialist
Student Support
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023