| Purpose: | The purpose of this state-funded continuation grant program is to help school districts continue or expand middle school and high school level district and inter-district Alternative Education programs that service students who are: 1. suspended or expelled from school; and/or2. at-risk of educational failure due to truancy or dropping out of school. |
| Priorities: | Grants will be awarded to districts that propose 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; provide an opportunity for students to earn a high school diploma (for high school programs); 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, that received a Fund Code: 790 (A or B) grant in FY2007 are eligible to apply. |
| Funding: | Subject to budget appropriation, meeting grant requirements, and submission of required documents, Fund Code: 790 grants will be awarded for up to five-years with continuation grant award eligibility amounts being reduced by an estimated 20 percent each year. For FY2008:
Year Two applicants (received first grant in FY2007) may apply for a grant of up to 80 percent of the award amount received in FY2007. Year Three applicants (received a grant in FY2006) may apply for a grant of up to 60 percent of the award received in FY2006.
Note: See Attachment A for a list of list of eligible continuation grant applicants and the maximum grant amount that may be applied for in FY2008.
The number of grants awarded in FY2008 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 for salaries for staff to coordinate the program, curriculum development, teacher stipends, consultants, substitutes, a range of approaches to address behavior issues, technology, travel, conferences, purchase of materials and supplies, printing, and reproduction of materials. These funds may not be used for programs serving exclusively students with disabilities or to supplant existing alternative education programs (not previously funded through Fund Code: 790). |
| Project Duration: | 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 (subject to appropriation) |
| Program Unit: | Student and Secondary Support |
| Contact: | Jenny Caldwell Email: jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu
Phone: (781) 338-6839 |
| Date Due: | Friday, July 6, 2007 Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due. |
| Required Forms: |
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Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
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Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages) - Instructions
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Part III - Required Program Information
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Grant Assurances
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Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with partner(s). Attach as an appendix (no Department form - to be developed by applicant).
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Schedule C - Statement of Participation and Support
(To be completed if the applicant agency proposes to operate a grant project that will be a collaborative effort among a number of agencies.)
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Additional
Information: |
Attachment A - list of eligible continuation grant applicants and the maximum grant amount that may be applied for in FY2008.
Grant evaluation rubrics are available by request. Please contact Jenny Caldwell at jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu to request a copy. The grant evaluation tool, which is required to be completed by all grant recipients at the end of the grant period, is available upon request. Please contact Jenny at jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu to request a copy.
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Submission
Instructions: | Submit two (2) 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
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
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State Government · State Services 
