Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

The purpose of this state-funded competitive grant program is to help school districts establish or expand significantly 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/or

2. at-risk of educational failure due to truancy or dropping out of school.

Funding priority will be given to districts (or schools):

1. with graduation rates at or below the state average; and

2. proposing a new program or proposing to expand significantly or enhance an existing program.

Grants will be awarded to districts that propose activities that address the following priorities:

1. educate students using the same academic standards and curriculum frameworks as used with all students;

2. provide an opportunity for students to earn a high school diploma (for high school programs);

3. use small class sizes that use engaging instruction, address individual learning styles, and provide a supportive environment;

4. use flexible scheduling;

5. use existing resources in school districts, educational collaboratives, community colleges, other agencies, service providers, and community-based organizations;

6. 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;

7. assist students and teachers during students' transition back to general education classrooms;

8. 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

9. use pre- and post-evaluative data in program development and assessment of program outcomes.

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.

• Year One (competitive RFP) single-district applicants may apply for 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. Note: programs accepting students under school choice does not equate to inter-district collaboration.

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.

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.

Jenny Caldwell

Email: jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu

Phone: (781) 338-6839

Friday, July 6, 2007

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

• 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 Caldwell at jcaldwell@doe.mass.edu to request a copy.

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
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906