| Purpose: | The purpose of this state-funded competitive grant program is to help school districts establish and expand middle school and high school level district and inter-district Alternative Education programs that service students who are:
suspended or expelled from school; and/or at-risk of educational failure due to truancy or dropping out of school. |
| Priorities: | Priority will be given to programs with designs based upon empirically validated interventions (science/research-based strategies with proven effectiveness) that:
educate students using the same academic standards and curriculum frameworks as used with all students;
at the secondary school level, provide an opportunity for students to earn a high school diploma;
use small class sizes that use engaging instruction, address individual learning styles, and provide a supportive environment;
use flexible scheduling;
use existing resources in school districts, educational collaboratives, community colleges, other agencies, service providers, and community-based organizations;
use family-based approaches and self-improvement, behavior management, and life skills training to help provide students with tools to better manage their lives and attitudes;
assist students and teachers during students' transition back to general education classrooms;
provide a comprehensive array of social services to support students with issues that can cause school failure, excessive absenteeism, truancy, and dropping out of school; and
use pre- and post-evaluative data in program development and assessment of program outcomes. |
| Eligibility: | Public school districts, including charter schools, may apply for this grant. School districts may coordinate efforts to establish/expand an inter-district regional Alternative Education program or to establish/expand district-based Alternative Education programs. If applying on behalf of an established Alternative Education program, the online Alternative Education survey must be completed. (See http://www.doe.mass.edu/alted/survey/.) |
| Funding: | Subject to budget appropriation, meeting grant requirements, and submission of required documents, Fund Code: 790 grants will be awarded on a five-year cycle with continuation grant award amounts being reduced by 20 percent each year.
Year One (competitive RFP) single-district applicants may apply for a grant up to $75,000. Year One (competitive RFP) inter-district collaborative applications may apply for a maximum of $100,000 and must identify the lead district that will be administering the award. The number of grants awarded in FY2007 will be subject to final appropriation for this program activity. The Department reserves the right to alter the award to each funded school district. |
| Fund Use: | Grant funds may be used to:
provide a range of approaches to address behavior issues, such as behavior specialists, in-school suspension rooms, and crisis centers, in addition to out-of-school alternative settings; use technology in alternative education programs; and/or
start new programs or expand existing programs.
These funds may not be used for programs serving exclusively students with disabilities or to supplant existing alternative education programs. |
Project
Duration: | Upon approval - 6/30/2007 |
| Program Unit: | Student and Secondary Support |
| Contact: | Jenny Caldwell Email: jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu
Phone: (781) 338-6839 |
| Date Due: | Friday, June 23, 2006 Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due. |
| Required Forms: |
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Additional
Information: | Grant evaluation rubrics are available by request. Please contact Jenny Caldwell at (781) 338-6839 or jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu to request a copy. |
Submission
Instructions: | Submit three (3) sets of the completed application, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director. Mail to:
Jenny Caldwell
Student and Secondary Support
Massachusetts Department of Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
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State Government · State Services 
