Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

The purpose of this federal Learn and Serve America grant program is to:

1. increase the practice of Community Service-Learning (CSL) as a methodology for implementing the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, K-12; (See the definition of high-quality service-learning in Additional Information below.)

2. strengthen school/community partnerships across the Commonwealth and support mutually beneficial relationships that maximize CSL opportunities both in school and during out-of-school time;

3. improve the quality of CSL initiatives;

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

5. support the institutionalization of CSL district-wide;

6. provide an opportunity for youth to take on leadership roles in making changes and improving their communities;

7. increase the capacity of communities to support CSL and other youth programming during in-school and out-of-school time; and

8. increase civic engagement among participants.

Funding priority will be given to districts:

1. with percentages of low-income students at or above the state average, as reflected by the number of students eligible for free/reduced price meals;

2. with dropout rates at or above the state average;

3. that propose programs to involve at-risk students as participants;

4. that propose CSL projects that aim to reduce risky behaviors among youth;

5. that demonstrate plans for integration of CSL activities with other educational initiatives (e.g., academic support, alternative education, etc.); and/or

6. that are new (fewer than two years of funding from the Department) to CSL.

Districts must propose activities that address the following priorities:

1. identify and work with a minimum of one community partner to build a mutually beneficial relationship that supports CSL practice in the community;

2. develop a plan and take action to institutionalize/sustain CSL practice in a community by connecting to the district and community partner's mission, policies, and practices;

3. share resources with community partner(s) to support the implementation of CSL activities that meet the needs of the local community;

4. provide professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, and staff of community partners needed to implement high-quality CSL activities;

5. implement and align classroom-based CSL activities with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks;

6. identify and engage at-risk students in service-learning activities; and

7. implement CSL projects that meet needs that have been identified jointly by school personnel, community partners, and youth participants in the broader community.

A total of $60,000 is available, subject to appropriation. The Department reserves the right to alter the award to each funded school district.

Applicants may apply for up to $20,000.

• A minimum of 20% of the grant award must be shared with a community partner (identified in Part III - Required Program Information as well as in Schedule C).

• Budget forms that must be completed include Budget Detail Pages, Schedule B, and the Budget Narrative Form. (See the Required Forms section.)

  • Applicants must demonstrate they can meet a 100% cost share. Community partners may contribute to this match requirement. Complete Schedule B to document the 100% in-kind and cash match.

  • The Budget Narrative Form should describe both the grant request and the proposed in-kind/cash match.

• Grantees will be eligible to apply for one year of subsequent continuation funding (for a slightly decreased amount) based on successful completion of the grant and an increased match commitment.

Funds may be used for stipends or salaries for staff to coordinate the CSL initiative, curriculum development, teacher stipends, consultants, substitutes, transportation of student participants, travel, conferences, purchase of materials and supplies, printing, and reproduction of materials.

Funds may not be used for the purchase of computer/audio visual hardware, copiers, or vehicles. Funds may not be used to pay student participants. Funds from this grant may not be used to support indirect/overhead costs; however, applicants may show indirect/overhead costs of up to 10% of the total grant as a match, provided that these costs are documented and in accordance with the district's approved indirect cost rate.

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 America provisions in the Additional Information section below for grant spending requirements.

Letters of Intent to Apply - To be developed by applicants.

Letters of Intent are encouraged strongly, though not required, and should be submitted by Monday, May 7, 2007.

E-mail Letters to kmckinnon@doe.mass.edu.

Friday, June 1, 2007

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

• Summary of Grant Priorities (See Priorities for additional information.)

The Massachusetts Department of Education, in partnership with the Massachusetts Service Alliance, the Massachusetts Campus Compact, and Brandeis University, secured federal funds from Learn and Serve America to build and improve partnerships among schools and community-based organizations that enhance and sustain community service-learning.

The following needs have been identified as a priority by the Department CSL program:

• increasing opportunities for all youth to take a leadership role in identifying and addressing community challenges;

• reducing risky behaviors among youth; and

• facilitating and strengthening school/community partnerships.

To accomplish these goals, the Department will focus CSL efforts on addressing local community needs that have been identified with youth input.

• Definition of Community Service-Learning

  In 1990, the Corporation for National and Community Service said that service-learning:

  • promotes learning through active participation in service experiences;

  • provides structured time for students to reflect by thinking, discussing, and/or writing about their service experience;

  • provides an opportunity for students to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations;

  • extends learning beyond the classroom and into the community; and

  • 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."

• Key Elements of High-Quality Community Service-Learning

  • Service that meets a community need

  • Explicit, authentic, and guided learning

  • Youth decision-making

  • Analytic reflection

• Required Program Evaluation Activities

  All grant recipients are required to participate in the following evaluation activities. The program evaluation will be conducted by Brandeis University.

  • Student Surveys: pre- and post-program, of both participants and non-participants in CSL activities. Districts should plan to have a participant and comparison classroom at each school involved in service-learning through this initiative.

  • End of Year Teacher Cover Sheet: one-page cover sheet to accompany student surveys. The cover sheet asks teachers questions regarding classroom practice and projects.

  • End of Year Teacher Survey: (web-based) for all teachers who are running projects under the umbrella of the grant.

  • End of Year Partner Survey: (web-based) for partner organizations working with project classrooms to gather information on community impacts, including changes in services, attitudes, and relationships within the partner organization and between the partner organization and schools.

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