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Race to the Top (RTTT): Early Learning Challenge Grant (ELCG) Project 5.3:

FY2013 Early Education Partnerships: Birth to Grade Three Strategy

FY2013 EEC Grant Fund Code 802

Bidder’s Conference

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EEC is focused on strengthening the system of early education and care in Massachusetts as a critical element of the education pipeline from cradle to career. 

The child outcomes that we are trying to achieve require investment in four critical areas:  1. teacher quality; 2. program quality; 3. screening and assessment; and 4. engagement of communities and families. 

The FY2013 Early Education Partnerships: Birth to Grade Three Strategy Grant funding focuses on, and aligns with, each of the four areas above.

Overview: A System of Early Education and Care

What Does the PreK-3 System Look Like in Massachusetts?A coordinated and collaborative approach

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Mechanisms forCross-Sector

Alignment

Teacher Quality &Capacity

Transitions and Pathways

Administrators &Leadership

Quality

Engaged Families

InstructionalEnvironment

(school andClassroom)

Data andAssessment

InstructionalTools and Practices

Cross AgencyCollaboration

on P-3

Mechanisms for Cross-Sector Alignment (Governance, strategic plans)

Administrators and Leadership Quality (Leadership is inclusive/facilitative and focused on instruction)

Teacher Quality and Capacity (Focus on credentials and professional development; professional dispositions; professional community)

Instructional Tools and Practices (Curriculum content; alignment of standards and curricula; pedagogical methods)

Instructional Environment (Student-centered learning culture (classroom and school))

Data and Assessments (Data and assessment used to improve instruction)

Engaged Families (Families and communities engaged in student learning)

Transitions and Pathways (Focus on children’s movement through the continuum)

1 Kauerz, Kristie (2011). Sustaining Your Work: PreK-3 rd Implementation and Evaluation Framework; a presentation to ESE PK-3 grantees. Harvard University: Cambridge, MA.

P-3 Elements1

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Overview: Brain Building in Progress

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The work of (EEC) is steeped in the notion that brain building is in progress for young children in enriching environments with caring adults and meaningful and engaging interactions.

EEC is focused on strengthening the system of early education and care in MA as a critical element of the education pipeline from cradle to career.  The system EEC is building includes all children, not just those who are subsidized or in formal care.

The latest science shows that earliest experiences are especially important because building the human brain begins even before birth; a strong foundation in early years greatly increases the chance of positive outcomes.

MA estimates that as many as 135,000 children from birth to age 5 face 1 or more risk factors each day that could lead to toxic stress, with as many as 20,000 (15%) facing 3 or more - without intervention these are likely to lead to developmental delays[1].

[1] National Center for Children in Poverty. Young Child Risk Calculator. Retrieved from http://www.nccp.org/tools/risk/.

Grant TimelineDue Date

Application Posted July 2, 2012

Bidder’s Conference July 9, 10, 11, 2012

Intent to Bid July 16, 2012by 4:00 PM

Written Questions Due July 20, 2012 by 4:00 PM

Responses Posted July 30, 2012

Application Due August 17, 2012 by 4:00 PM

Notification of Awards August 27, 2012 (estimated)

Grant Start September 1, 2012

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Eligibility

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All communities are eligible to apply

EEC will prioritize high need communities that are defined as:Gateway Communities, District with Level 4 Schools, and/or Home Visiting Communities

See Appendix B for a list of these communities.

ELCG Project 5.3: Purpose The purpose of this competitive grant program is to

provide support to local communities to enhance their integrated and coordinated Birth to Grade Three alignment. 

Through this application process EEC is seeking grantees that have demonstrated successful engagement in specific collaborative community wide activities to bring greater alignment to the Birth to Grade Three population in their communities. 

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Community Collaboration

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All grant activities should be developed and implemented in partnership with all applicable local community stakeholders.

Applicants are encouraged to engage all applicable community stakeholders in this effort to ensure streamlined alignment as outlined below.

private early education and care programs (center based, family child care and out of school time programs) (Mandatory)

public school pre-K to Grade 3 programs (Mandatory) Community Family and Community Engagement Grantee (Mandatory) Educator and Provider Support Grantee (Mandatory) Head Start/Early Head Start parents the business community pediatricians higher education local foundations public libraries Parent -Child Home Program Early Intervention Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R’s) Mental Health Consultation Grant Program Children with Disabilities (Parent or agency) Local Museum (if applicable) Children’s Librarian Family Literacy Program (if applicable) Higher Education Department of Children and Families area office Social Service Agency Business Community Faith-Based Organization Health Care Provider Mental Health Care Provider City/Town Official Other

Community Collaboration: MOU Requirement

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be required for each community partner participating in the grant.

A MOU document for each grant partner must minimally include (this document is to be created by the applicant):

the name and contact information for each party, an outline of the agreement between

parties regarding the components of work each party agrees to, and

a signature from both parties

ELCG Project 5.3: Demonstrating Success in Achieving Activities

Successful community applicants must:

demonstrate that they are already engaged in the prescribed activities listed in this grant, and

provide a plan in the Proposal Narrative response to use these grant funds to enhance their current infrastructure to align services and supports for children birth to grade 3 in their community.

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ELCG Project 5.3: ActivitiesThe activities supported by this funding fallinto the following categories*: Resources for Cross Sector Work Administrator and Leadership Quality Teacher / Educator Quality Instructional Tools Learning Environment Data Driven Improvement Family Engagement Access, Transitions and Pathways

*Adapted from: Kauerz, Kristie (2011). Sustaining Your Work: PreK-3rd Implementation and Evaluation Framework; a presentation to ESE PK-3 grantees. Harvard University: Cambridge, MA.

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ELCG Project 5.3: Activities Examples of activities supported by this funding include the enhancement of:

• Strategic planning which demonstrates mutual responsibility Birth to Grade 3, and commitment to improving outcomes for children;

• Opportunities for teachers/educators to collaborate to ensure effective instruction at each grade level and across the Birth to Pre-K to Grade 3 continuum; 

• Shared professional development opportunities that focuses on supporting language, math and social emotional development across the

Birth to Pre-K to Grade 3 continuum;

• Use of a formative  evidenced  based assessment system that tracks what students know and can do in various subject areas and informs teaching and individual learning;

CONTINUED ON NEXT SLIDE

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ELCG Project 5.3: Activities Examples of activities supported by this funding include the enhancement of:

• Classrooms and learning environments that support quality instruction and offer diverse opportunities to supports all learners;

• Integration of numerous sources of child based and classroom based data to facilitate identification of achievement gaps and to inform

instructional improvement;

• Families, along with educators and administrators, being responsible for engaging children with the goal of educational success;

• Policies to support the transition and continuity of children through the Birth to Pre-K to Grade 3 continuum.

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ELCG Project 5.3: Program Match Requirement

A program match is required of all applicants. The “program match” can be cash or in-kind

matching funds. In-kind funds from the lead applicant and/or the

community partners are acceptable to fulfill this requirement.

The match must be a minimum of 25% of the total grant funding received and must serve to enhance the activities listed in the “Required Services” section of the grant.

The In-Kind funds must be entered into the Budget document provided by EEC.

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ELCG Project 5.3: Funding and Grant TermGrant Term Year 1: September 1, 2012 – August 31, 2013 Year 2: September 1, 2013 – August 31, 2014

Funding Approximately $2,000,000 over two years to support

approximately 10 grantees Maximum $100,000 per grantee for required services

provided in year one of the grant and $100,000 per grantee for year two activities.

EEC may issue a separate competitive Grant Application for FY’s 15 and 16 seeking an additional group of ten grantees to provide similar allocation amounts and required services to those outlined in this Grant Application.

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ELCG Project 5.3: Fund Use Funds must be used to support the grant goals, priorities, and/or

requirements contained in the Grant Application.

Grant funds may be used to pay for the following: Funds to support a Coach for alignment between community based and public

school pre-K to Grade 3 for alignment of evidenced based tools or practices; Assessment related costs; Curriculum related costs; Professional Development; Salaries and fringe benefits; Contracted consultants; Supplies and materials to implement grant activities; Printing and reproduction; Equipment; Operating costs (i.e. support staff, telephone, computer and internet access,

postage, copying, office supplies, etc.); In-state travel; and The grantee may charge indirect costs on all of its applicable direct line items (per

its federally approved IDCR letter) as well as on the first $25,000 of each contract listed on line 6 of its budget

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ELCG Project 5.3: Fund Use ContinuedGrant funds shall not be used to pay for the following: Any costs paid for by other means (to ensure no funds

are supplanted); Computer hardware; Equipment purchase, rental and/or repair; Conferences and conference fees; Out of state travel; Aide / paraprofessional staff salaries; Lobbying Expenses: Grant funds shall not be used to

cover costs incurred by employees, lobbyists, and/or consultants to influence any local, state or Federal legislation or policy.

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ELCG Project 5.3: Proposal NarrativeThe Proposal Narrative asks applicants to provide the following 5 responses for each component of the grant: Describe how your community has presently met, or is meeting, the

overall goal. Describe how your community has engaged successfully in each of

the activities listed (please provide specific details for each activity). For each activity, describe the evidence that demonstrates

fulfillment of each activity (these may come from the examples provided in the chart below or may be a justification that indicates the activity was successfully implemented).

Describe how your community would plan to use these grant funds to enhance the work done toward this goal and the additional or enhanced activities that this grant would support, within the existing framework, to build upon the existing work to align components that support children birth to grade three. Please provide specific details for each activity.

After the two years of funding for this grant expire, how will the

community continue to ensure the activities enhanced and developed through this funding will be sustained? 20

ELCG Project 5.3: Project BudgetThe Project Budget is one document that requires the completion of 7 sheets on the spreadsheet. The budget include one Budget Summary Sheet which asks for planned spending in the categories below for Project Year 1, 2 and 3 (please note three federal fiscal years are represented to align with RTTT funding); 3 Budget Narrative sheets (one for each year) and 3 In Kind Budget sheets that ask for spending by the 8 activity areas of the grant.

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1. Personnel

2. Fringe Benefits

3. Travel

4. Equipment

5. Supplies

6. Contractual

7. Training Stipends

8. Other

9. Total Direct Costs (add lines 1-8)

10. Indirect Costs*

11. Funds to be distributed to localities, Early Learning Intermediary Organizations, Participating Programs, and other partners

12. Funds set aside for participation in grantee technical assistance

13. Total Grant Funds Requested (add lines 9-11)

14. Funds from other sources used to support the State Plan

15. Total Project Budget (add lines 13-14)

ELCG Project 5.3: Required FormsTo be submitted electronically: Budget Detail, Budget Narrative and In Kind Budget Detail (one document)

To be mailed: One original and three copies of the following documents: Check List for Grant Application Signed Cover Page Proposal Narrative Budget Detail, Budget Narrative and In Kind Budget Detail (one document) A cover letter for the Memorandums of Understanding that lists each partner

(template provided) A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) document for each grant partner

(this document is to be created by the applicant and must minimally include: Copy of Indirect Cost Approval Letter (if you are claiming Indirect Cost)

Applicants must also complete and mail one original packet of the MA Standard Administrative Forms

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ELCG Project 5.3: Questions

QUESTIONS Please note: the only questions that can be

responded to will be clarifications to the RFR or related documents. All other questions will be responded to in writing by the Department and posted with the grant materials along with the Q&A document.

All written questions submitted to EEC are due by July 20, 2012 by 4:00 PM and responses will be posted by July 30, 2012.

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