Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

The state-funded School Redesign: Expanding Learning Time to Support Student Success - Planning Grant program is intended to support districts' planning activities to use longer school days/years as part of their redesign strategy to raise student achievement. The grants provide resources for districts to plan for innovative redesign in selected schools that will offer all students more time for challenging, research-based, and varied learning experiences.

Districts will plan to expand the hours and/or days of operation in schools by adding no less than 300 more hours to the current schedule for all students than is standard for the applying districts. The increased time is intended to:

1. provide substantially more instructional opportunities in mathematics, literacy, science, and other core subjects to support student achievement;

2. integrate enrichment and applied learning opportunities into the school day to motivate and engage students; and

3. provide educators with increased opportunities to plan together and participate in professional development with other teachers and in collaboration with their partnering community-based organizations.

The Planning Grants provide districts with the funds to engage in the analysis and planning needed to develop Implementation Plans for redesigned schools with Expanded Learning Time to better meet student, school, and district goals. (See Attachment C for Required Components of Implementation Plans.) The redesign will likely include changes in instruction and curriculum, student assignment and schedules, teacher schedules, staffing, transportation, as well as, coordination with partner organizations in order to capitalize upon an expanded school schedule.

Districts may choose to conduct the planning for either a September 2008 or September 2009 start for Expanded Learning Time schools. (For more details, see the "Funding" section below and Attachment B - Timetable For Planning Year.)

NOTE: Funding for planning activities is available until June 30, 2008, regardless of whether districts are intending to expand their school day/year beginning in September 2008 or September 2009.

NOTE: Planning grants are available for districts that received a planning grant in FY2007 and chose the longer-term planning timeframe of a September 2008 start-up. These grants will allow the district to continue the planning work in the fall of 2007.

Priorities are to:

1. enable districts to explore the feasibility of school redesign by assessing the need, interest, readiness, and capacity of specific schools to increase the school schedule by adding no less than 300 hours to the current schedule;

2. prepare a design for Expanded Learning Time in the identified schools by offering additional instructional and integrated enrichment opportunities for students as well as increased opportunities for teachers' professional learning time and professional development; and

3. engage, as appropriate, in the design and implementation of the Expanded Learning Time initiative, including the following entities: teachers; collective bargaining representatives; parents; community-based organizations; school-aged childcare agencies, including after school programs; and universities and colleges.

Not less than 60% of the grants will be awarded to districts with 25% or more students eligible for free or reduced price meals. Other districts are eligible to apply; preference will be given to districts:

1. that have high percentages of students performing in the failing/warning or needs improvement performance categories on the MCAS;

2. with high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced price meals;

3. with plans that have the greatest potential for district-wide impact; and

4. with intentional plans to work with outside organizations, such as: community-based agencies; school aged childcare organizations; institutions of higher education, etc.

$250,000 is available for Expanded Learning Time planning grants.

Group A - For districts that have not received previously planning grants or districts that are seeking to start planning activities at new schools within their district, the anticipated range is $7,500-$15,000.

Group B - For districts that received an FY2007 planning grant, selected the September 2008 start-up date, and are seeking additional funds to continue planning at the same schools, the anticipated range is $1,000 - $2,500

Upon Approval - 6/30/2008

(Extension available for July 1, 2008 - August 31, 2008) Districts that intend to use funds during this time (7/1/2008 - 8/31/2008) must submit a separate budget with a narrative explaining the summer activities.

Friday, September 28, 2007

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

Submit 3 signature pages, each with an original signature of the Superintendent by mail to:

Diane Beck
School and District Intervention
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023

NOTE: The remaining forms and narrative pieces should be submitted electronically to dbeck@doe.mass.edu.