Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
PART III – REQUIRED PROGRAM INFORMATION
Fund Code: 530
GRANT CATEGORIES
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) has established three separate funding categories for the Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-School Time
(ASOST-Q) grant program.
An applicant may apply for funds in ONE of the following categories.
Please see the RFP for additional details about each of these categories.
Category B: Category C:
Category A:
Quality Enhancements
Regional/Statewide
Professional
STEM Service-Learning
Curriculum Development
Development
Primary
Purpose
To support program quality enhancement activities related to the quality criteria areas established by ESE and the Department of Early
Education and Care
(EEC).
To support regional networks of out-of-school time (OST*) providers, particularly those selected to receive funding in
Category A (ASOST-Q grantees), in enhancing program quality through professional development.
To support partnerships working with ESE to improve OST program quality by developing, piloting, documenting and sharing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) servicelearning (SL) curricula for
OST.
Maximum Grant
Request
For FY15
$20,000
$10,000 $50,000
Expected continuation eligibility in
FY16*
*for funded FY15 applicants
Up to $20,000 to support continuous program improvement in FY16 at the same program site(s)
Up to $10,000 to support professional development and networking activities in
FY16
Up to $50,000 to support the development, piloting and documentation of an additional new STEM SL curricula in FY16 at the same or new program sites.
Approximate % of available funds to be awarded
80% 5% 15%
Applicable
Part III pages to complete*
*applicants may delete the pages for the categories that are not applicable
2-11 12-14 16-19
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR COMPLETING THIS APPLICATION:
T he term “ OST ” in this document refers to currently existing programs/services provided during out-ofschool time (including after-school, vacations, weekends, before-school and summer) , regardless of whether or not those programs/services are/were supported with a Fund Code (FC) 530 ASOST-Q grant in this current or previous fiscal years .
Category A applicants that currently receive an FY14 FC 530 ASOST-Q grant, must propose new quality enhancements to programming. Quality enhancements implemented during 9/1/2013 – 8/31/2014 should be described in the applicable “Current Activities” section(s). If proposing quality enhancements to the same criteria area(s) in this application, it must be clear in the respective “Proposed Enhancements” section that these activities are new enhancements, and are not simply a continuation of the same activities previously funded.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Category A: Quality Enhancements
FISCAL YEAR 2015 PROGRAM COVER SHEET
(Applicants for this category must complete pages 2-11.)
School Year
Amount Requested
($20,000 maximum): $ $
Fund Code:
Summer
530
Applicant Agency:
Program Coordinator Name/Title:
Address:
Phone: Email:
PROGRAM ENROLLMENT
Total number of children/youth projected to be served at sites to be enhanced by this grant:
School Year
2014-2015 Summer 2015
Grade Level(s)to be served: (check all that apply) K-5 6-8 9-12
Targeted Population(s): For each category below, indicate the approximate percentage of children/youth who will be served at sites to be enhanced by this grant.
% Low-Income: % Students with IEPs: % English Language Learners:
Total number of sites to be enhanced by this grant:
Please list each site to be enhanced through this grant below: ( add rows if needed)
Site City/Town Site City/Town
Will quality enhancements be implemented in a school or in partnership with a school(s) designated as Level
3, 4, or 5 under Massachusetts' District and School Accountability and Assistance System
Yes Please list school(s):
No
Which of the following applies to your program with respect to licensing?
EEC Licensed License Exempt
Public School Operated Other Community Based Organization
Which of the following partners will be involved in implementing/supporting proposed quality enhancements?
public school(s) Please list:
non-public school(s) Please list:
community-based organization(s): Please list:
Does your program receive contracts and/or vouchers from EEC? No Yes
If applicable, do any of your partner sites receive contracts and/or vouchers from EEC? No Yes
Does your program charge tuition for participation in program activities?*
No Yes – IF YES, how much do you charge?
Do you have a sliding scale for families who may not be able to afford tuition? Yes No
*Please note that funded programs are required to ensure that scholarships, sliding scale fees, or other resources are available for families who may not be able to afford tuition.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Fund Code: 530
Responses to the questions 1-7 must be completed within this document, and cannot exceed 20 pages and must maintain the existing margins, question text, and font style and size.
Note: Applicants should be deliberate in connecting requested information specifically to the Department ’s
District Standards and Indicators and the Department’s Priorities for increasing student performance.
For community-based organizations (CBOs): When considering connections to the District Standards and
Indicators, please do so in the context of the partnership with the schools/districts with which you are working to provide OST* programming for children/youth that supports improved outcomes.
1. Program Description: a. Existing OST* Programming: Please provide a one-paragraph, general description of existing
OST program services offered. ( Note: This could be the description used to promote your program to families.) b. Proposed Quality Enhancements: Please provide a one-paragraph summary of the proposed quality enhancements to be implemented using this grant funding . This description may be used to highlight grant program activities on the Department’s website should the applicant be awarded funds.
2. Program Type: Which of the following best describe(s) the program that will be enhanced through this grant?
Comprehensive Program for which students enroll for a set number of days for the semester or the year. These programs provide a structured, formal program that includes a variety of activities for both academics and enrichment.
Specialized Program for which students enroll for a set number of days for the semester or the year. These programs’ services are limited to a specialized activity. (For example, an arts organization offering a drama club two days/week.)
Drop-in Program for which students enroll, but are not necessarily expected to be in attendance every day or for a set number of days each week.
Other (Please describe):
NOTE: Activities supported by this grant must be enhancing programming that takes place outside of the regularly scheduled school day.
3. Typical Day: (1 page maximum) Please provide a narrative summarizing what a typical experience in the OST* program will look like as a result of the proposed quality enhancements.
4. Quality Enhancements: The quality criteria areas below have been established by the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) in partnership with the Department of Early
Education and Care (EEC) to guide collaborative statewide system-building efforts for OST* services that will help children and youth in the Commonwealth to be productive and contributing citizens. (See related document in the RFP’s Additional Information section for more details.) These quality criteria encompass many of the elements measured through EEC’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), and both programs have as a main goal to improve the quality of OST programming. Applicants that are also part of QRIS are encouraged to propose quality enhancement activities that support advancement through the QRIS levels.
Applicants must describe current implementation of activities in each of the six quality criteria areas, and
must propose activities to enhance at least one of the five quality criteria areas listed below. (Note: All funded applicants will participate in common evaluation enhancement activities.) Proposing enhancements in multiple areas is allowable, but is not required, and will not necessarily result in a stronger application.
For which quality criteria area are you proposing to implement enhancements? (check all that apply)
A. Comprehensive Academic and Non-Academic Programming
B. Partnerships
C. Serving Special Populations
D. Family Involvement
E. Highly Qualified Staff
*Reminder: OST refers to any out-of-school time programming (after-school, before-school, weekends, vacations, summer), regardless of how that programming is funded.
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Applicants must describe current activities under each quality criteria. Quality Enhancement activities are required in at least one quality criteria area.
A. Comprehensive Academic and Non-Academic Programming: Programs provide a balance of academic and non-academic services, with a focus on one or more of the Department's Curriculum Frameworks (including those on the Arts, Comprehensive Health, and English Language Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes for English Language Learners). The combination of academic and non-academic services is coordinated through local partnerships that include the schools and the OST programs. The continuum provides meaningful and engaging connections for the student from school day to OST.
Comprehensive academic and nonacademic services include making the link between children’s and youth’s academic success and their overall development, including their healthy social-emotional development.
Activities in this criteria area may serve to increase/expand comprehensive OST programming to children and youth during the school year and summer, including through 21 st
Century Community
Learning Centers (CCLC) Programs. Activities may include but not be limited to extending a program's before- and/or after-school hours/days; extending a summer program's weeks of duration or hours per day; or adding a summer program to a school year design.
Current Activities that support this criteria:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe current program activities that reflect a balance of academic and non-academic programming.
Proposed Enhancements related to this criteria:
(required only if proposing grant supported program enhancements in this area)
Describe planned activities, supported by this grant that will enhance existing activities/programming in this quality criteria area. Please specify what will happen, who will do it and when.
Need for Enhancements:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the identified need that the proposed enhancements will help to address in current programming.
Anticipated Outcomes
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the expected results from your proposed enhancements: what they will be, how they will be measured and when they will occur.
Please Note: Grantees should set interim target outcomes for year one. (Continuation grants will require that funded applicants set both interim and final outcomes.)
Budget Justification:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe how requested grants funds will support the proposed program enhancement activities in this area.
Note: Applicants requesting funding to support existing staff costs must provide a clear justification for the allocation of these costs to the proposed enhancements.
Professional Development Needs:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe any specific topics related to this quality criteria in which you would like to see professional development offerings.
Anticipated Outcome(s) (and how measured) Baseline (# or %) Target (# or %) By when
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Applicants must describe current activities under each quality criteria. Quality Enhancement activities are required in at least one quality criteria area.
B. Partnerships: Programs work collaboratively to build on community strengths to deliver effective services that provide continuity for students between the school-day and after-school programs. Local connections exist between programs supported by local, state, and federal funds that allow for collaboration, program coordination, and continuity of services. The local connections may include but are not limited to Memoranda of Understanding, agreements with the local schools, and use of the EEC school-age wait list when enrolling students.
In addition, programs in a community collaborate to provide families with choice and access to effective and affordable OST services that meet the needs of the student and the family. Community support for these efforts can be demonstrated in a number of ways, including but not limited to matching funds, donations, or volunteer services.
Current Activities that support this criteria:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe current partners, their respective roles, and other current activities related to quality partnerships.
Proposed Enhancements related to this criteria:
(required only if proposing grant supported program enhancements in this area)
Describe planned activities, supported by this grant that will enhance existing activities/programming in this quality criteria area. Please specify what will happen, who will do it and when.
Need for Enhancements:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the identified need that the proposed enhancements will help to address in current programming.
Anticipated Outcomes
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the expected results from your proposed enhancements: what they will be, how they will be measured and when they will occur.
Please Note: Grantees should set interim target outcomes for year one. (Continuation grants will require that funded applicants set both interim and final outcomes.)
Budget Justification:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe how requested grants funds will support the proposed program enhancement activities in this area.
Note: Applicants requesting funding to support existing staff costs must provide a clear justification for the allocation of these costs to the proposed enhancements.
Professional Development Needs:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe any specific topics related to this quality criteria in which you would like to see professional development offerings.
Anticipated Outcome(s) (and how measured) Baseline (# or %) Target (# or %) By when
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Applicants must describe current activities under each quality criteria. Quality Enhancement activities are required in at least one quality criteria area.
C. Serving Special Populations: a. Students with Disabilities – Programs serve and support students with disabilities so that they may participate in OST programs and activities with their same-aged non-disabled peers.
b. English Language Learners – Programs serve and support students who are English language learners in OST programs that provide them opportunities to practice and develop their English language skills with proficient English speaking peers while developing other skills and knowledge.
Current Activities that support this criteria:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe current activities and services that support the inclusion of students with disabilities and English language learners in programming.
Proposed Enhancements related to this criteria:
(required only if proposing grant supported program enhancements in this area)
Describe planned activities, supported by this grant that will enhance existing activities/programming in this quality criteria area. Please specify what will happen, who will do it and when.
Need for Enhancements:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the identified need that the proposed enhancements will help to address in current programming.
Anticipated Outcomes
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the expected results from your proposed enhancements: what they will be, how they will be measured and when they will occur.
Please Note: Grantees should set interim target outcomes for year one. (Continuation grants will require that funded applicants set both interim and final outcomes.)
Budget Justification:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe how requested grants funds will support the proposed program enhancement activities in this area.
Note: Applicants requesting funding to support existing staff costs must provide a clear justification for the allocation of these costs to the proposed enhancements.
Professional Development Needs:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe any specific topics related to this quality criteria in which you would like to see professional development offerings.
Anticipated Outcome(s) (and how measured) Baseline (# or %) Target (# or %) By when
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Applicants must describe current activities under each quality criteria. Quality Enhancement activities are required in at least one quality criteria area.
D. Family Involvement: Programs provide many and varied opportunities for families to be involved in their child’s OST program, regardless of program setting
(school, community-based organization) and schedule, including but not limited to: parent/guardian orientation; new parent mentoring programs; communication systems where information and feedback are shared with families as well as received from families; parenting education; continuing education; ESL support; advisory committees; etc.
Current Activities that support this criteria:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe current activities that support family involvement in their child’s after-school programming.
Proposed Enhancements related to this criteria:
(required only if proposing grant supported program enhancements in this area)
Describe planned activities, supported by this grant that will enhance existing activities/programming in this quality criteria area. Please specify what will happen, who will do it and when.
Need for Enhancements:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the identified need that the proposed enhancements will help to address in current programming.
Anticipated Outcomes
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the expected results from your proposed enhancements: what they will be, how they will be measured and when they will occur.
Please Note: Grantees should set interim target outcomes for year one. (Continuation grants will require that funded applicants set both interim and final outcomes.)
Budget Justification:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe how requested grants funds will support the proposed program enhancement activities in this area.
Note: Applicants requesting funding to support existing staff costs must provide a clear justification for the allocation of these costs to the proposed enhancements.
Professional Development Needs:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe any specific topics related to this quality criteria in which you would like to see professional development offerings.
Anticipated Outcome(s) (and how measured) Baseline (# or %) Target (# or %) By when
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Applicants must describe current activities under each quality criteria. Quality Enhancement activities are required in at least one quality criteria area.
E. Highly Qualified Staff: Programs hire staff with high academic qualifications and experience. Programs have staff available with training or education that
addresses working with English language learners and/or students with disabilities. Programs collaborate to provide professional development opportunities that include public school, non-public school, and community-based organization staff. Professional development plans address topics and issues related to strengthening the quality of OST programs, including but not limited to training on the Department's curriculum frameworks, leadership and partnership development, and working with a diverse student population.
Current Activities that support this criteria:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe current activities that support and ensure highly qualified staff in your program(s).
Proposed Enhancements related to this criteria:
(required only if proposing grant supported program enhancements in this area.)
Describe planned activities, supported by this grant that will enhance existing activities/programming in this quality criteria area. Please specify what will happen, who will do it and when.
Need for Enhancements:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the identified need that the proposed enhancements will help to address in current programming.
Anticipated Outcomes
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe the expected results from your proposed enhancements: what they will be, how they will be measured and when they will occur.
Please Note: Grantees should set interim target outcomes for year one. (Continuation grants will require that funded applicants set both interim and final outcomes.)
Budget Justification:
(required only if proposing enhancements to this criteria)
Describe how requested grants funds will support the proposed program enhancement activities in this area.
Note: Applicants requesting funding to support existing staff costs must provide a clear justification for the allocation of these costs to the proposed enhancements.
Professional Development Needs:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe any specific topics related to this quality criteria in which you would like to see professional development offerings.
Anticipated Outcome(s) (and how measured) Baseline (# or %) Target (# or %) By when
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Applicants must describe current activities under the Evaluation Systems quality criteria area. All funded programs will participate in common evaluation enhancement activities.
F. Evaluation Systems: Programs have designed and implemented a comprehensive evaluation system that assesses the effect of all of its programs and services. Programmatic and student-level outcomes are realistic and aligned with the goals and structure of the program. Evaluation data collected through this system are used to inform program improvements.
Current Activities that support this criteria:
(REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS)
Describe current activities that support the use of a comprehensive evaluation system to assess and improve the effectiveness of OST programs and services.
PLEASE NOTE:
The goal of this state funded grant program is to enhance the quality of OST programs and services to improve the academic, physical, social, and emotional wellness of public and non-public school-age youth during the school year and the summer months. Awarded applicants will participate in common statewide program evaluation activities. The following are required program evaluation activities that will guide program enhancement efforts: a. Attend a Department-sponsored training on APAS * (A Program Assessment System) tools, in the Fall (2014). b. Gather baseline data about your program using tools from the APAS, including the APT-O and APT-Q. c. Consider utilizing the APAS SAYO tools (or another research-based tool) to gather additional data about program impact and outcomes.
Programs are encouraged to continue to implement existing comprehensive program evaluation activities, however, these activities should not be supported with these grant funds.
*The APT-O and APT-Q are tools that are also used as part of the EEC’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Fund Code: 530
5. Addressing Barriers to Participation: Describe current or planned activities that serve to address programmatic issues related to facilitating student participation, including but not limited to: providing transportation; promoting effective student outreach activities; and/or adding program services for particular age groups, K-12, that are not being served currently by the program.
6. Total Funding to Support OST Programming in FY15: Please complete the chart below describing all funds that will support the OST programming provided by the lead applicant and partners. Please indicate the amount of funding, and in the “Detail” column list the sources. Please note: The amounts reflected here should, at minimum, reflect support for the operation of the existing OST programming that is being enhanced.
Please do not include the amount you are requesting from this proposal.
(include 21 st CCLC here)
(include EEC subsidy funds here)
(include foundation grants, private donations, etc.)
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Fund Code: 530
7. District Standards/Department Priorities: Please indicate (with an x) which of the following standards and strategies are deliberately and intentionally supported through the activities proposed in this grant application.
For community-based organizations (CBOs): When considering connections to the district standards and indicators, please do so in the context of partnership with the schools/districts with which you are working to provide
OST programming for children/youth that supports improved outcomes. a. Select District Standards and Indicators :
Curriculum and Instruction
Aligned, consistently delivered, and continuously improving curriculum
Sufficient instructional time
Assessment
Data collection and dissemination
Data-based decision-making
Student assessment
Human Resources and Professional Development
Professional development
Student Support
Academic support
Access and equity
Educational continuity and student participation
Services and partnerships to support learning b. Department Priorities:
PRIMARY GOAL: Prepare all students for success after high school
FOUR MAJOR STRATEGIES: o Strengthen curriculum, instruction, and assessment o Improve educator effectiveness o
Turn around the lowest performing districts and schools o
Use data and technology to support student performance o
(ALL APPLICANTS THAT ARE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS OTHER THAN A SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT,
CITY, OR TOWN, please provide a response to Question 8)
The response to this question will not be counted in the 20-page limit and should only contain the response to part a. below. The response should not exceed one page, maintaining the existing margins question text, and font style and size.
8. Program Capacity: Applicants that are agencies and organizations other than a school, school district, city, or town must provide the following additional information.
a. Describe the agency/organization’s previous experience with similar amounts of funding at state, federal, or local levels through government, foundation, or private grants. b. Append to this application proof of fiscal responsibility, for example, a copy of the most recent annual audit letter (the entire audit need not be attached.)
END OF REQUIRED PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS IN Category A.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Fund Code: 530
Category B: Regional or Statewide Professional Development
Requested
($10,000 maximum):
FISCAL YEAR 2015 PROGRAM COVER SHEET
(Applicants for this category must complete pages 12-14.)
Total Amount of Grant Funds
School Year (through 6/30/15) Summer (7/1/15-8/31/15)
$ $
Applicant Agency:
Program Coordinator
Name/Title:
Address:
Phone: Email:
Proposed number of educators to be engaged in professional development through this grant:
Regional or Statewide: Please indicate the region(s) in which proposed professional development and networking will occur. The Department’s District and School Assistance Centers regions will be used as a framework to determine regions. Schools/programs in Commissioner ’s Districts will be considered part of the region in which the city/town where they are located lies.
Statewide (To be considered for “Statewide” implementation, applicant must propose professional development
(which includes opportunities for networking) for all regions listed below. Opportunities offered may be virtual.
AND/OR
Boston
Central
Greater Boston
Northeast
Southeast
West (Includes “Berkshires” and “Pioneer Valley”)
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of- School Time (ASOST-Q) Fund Code: 530
Responses to the following questions must be completed within this document, and cannot exceed 10 pages and must maintain the existing margins, question text, and font style and size.
2. Quality Criteria Areas :
The quality enhancement criteria areas below have been established by the Department in partnership with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to guide collaborative statewide system-building efforts for OST services that will help children and youth in the Commonwealth to be productive and contributing citizens.
Professional development (PD) activities must meet the Massachusetts Standards for PD and include opportunities for networking. PD may include training/webinar series.
Programs applying for funds in this category must propose to offer PD in one or more of these criteria areas. Applicants should describe tentative offerings that they may offer. Upon award, funded applicants will work with ESE to evaluate the needs of the ASOST-Q, Category A grantees and ensure that PD offerings are aligned with that need.
For which quality criteria areas are you proposing PD? (check all that apply)
A. Comprehensive Academic and Non-Academic Programming
B. Partnerships
D. Family Involvement
E. Highly Qualified Staff
C. Serving Special Populations F. Evaluation Systems
3. Experience: Please describe current or previous experience providing professional development for OST programs. Include specific experience in providing these opportunities related to the quality criteria selected above.
4. Proposed Activities and Timeline: Please use the chart below to provide a description of the proposed PD to be provided using this grant funding . Add rows as needed. Note: ESE will work with all funded applicants to finalize PD schedules during Fall 2014, to ensure alignment with ASOSTQ grantees’ needs, and to send out notification to ASOST-Q grantees in the respective regions.
Title Description
Timeframe
(provide dates if known)
Session
Hours
Audience
(e.g. OST direct staff, coordinators, etc.)
Session format(s)
(e.g. face-to-face, webinar)
Estimated capacity
(# of participants)
Criteria Area
Addressed
Note: All costs associated with offering proposed opportunities should be supported with the grant request and/or through in-kind/matching sources.
The Department will not provide any additional funding for space or materials. Fees may not be charged to participants for these opportunities.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Fund Code: 530
(ALL APPLICANTS THAT ARE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS OTHER THAN A SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT,
CITY, OR TOWN, please provide a response to Question 5)
*Note: The response to this question will not be counted in the 10-page limit and this document should only contain the response to part a. below. The response should not exceed one page maintaining the existing margins question text, and font style and size.
5. Program Capacity: Applicants that are agencies and organizations other than a school, school district, city, or town must provide the following additional information.
a. Describe the agency/organization’s previous experience with similar amounts of funding at state, federal, or local levels through government, foundation, or private grants. b. Append to this application proof of fiscal responsibility, for example, a copy of the most recent annual audit letter (The entire audit need not be attached.)
END OF REQUIRED PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS IN CATEGORY B
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Fund Code: 530
Category C: STEM-SL Curriculum Development
FISCAL YEAR 2015 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
(Applicants for this category must complete pages 16-19.)
Service-Learning (SL) is a teaching and learning methodology that engages students in identifying, researching, proposing and implementing solutions to real needs and problems in their school or community as part of their curriculum.
A May 2013 study by the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) at the Education Commission of the States found t hat “high-quality service-learning has a clear, positive, and statistically significant relationship with students’ STEM content interest and abilities and STEM career interest.”
Priorities for this grant are to:
1. Support out-of-school time (OST) staff to better understand new Science standards. (Please see the MA Draft
Revised Science and Technology/Engineering Standards .)
2. Help OST staff better understand how students learn these concepts.
3. Develop related high-quality summer science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) SL projects that will help to decrease summer learning loss and increase students’ understanding of science concepts.
Funded applicants and their partners will receive professional development (PD) and coaching from, and work with the
Department to develop STEM-SL curricula to be implemented during an existing summer program.
Funded applicants will identify a team, including representatives from the participating OST programs and partners, which will:
Participate in Department-provided PD sessions and coaching (up to 7 days, including two on-site at the program(s) – see below for more details);
Implement a summer STEM-SL project that engages youth in the project for a minimum of 25 hours over a minimum of 4 weeks. (This project may be one component of a bigger summer program, and may include additional hours/weeks as determined by the applicant.); and
Work with the Department to document and submit curriculum materials developed to serve as examples for other summer programs. The Department and its partners will provide a template for the curriculum and lesson plans, and will also support the publication of developed curricula. Note: The curriculum materials developed may not include copy-written resources and must be in a format for other OST programs to replicate free of charge.
Applicant teams must include the following representation:
A project coordinator (lead applicant);
Up to two staff from each OST site (total of 4); and
At least one science teacher (with grade-level experience aligned with the proposed targeted student population)
Teams are required to participate in Department-sponsored PD and coaching, which will tentatively include:
Fall 2014: 2-day Kickoff and Service-Learning Training; 1-day Science Curriculum Topic Study Training and
Planning
Winter: (January – March 2015) Coaching Visits (1 day per grantee on-site); 1-day Lesson Sharing, Feedback and Planning
Spring 2015: planning on own as teams (Department staff and partners will be available as needed for technical assistance)
Summer 2015: Program visit / Documentation support (1-day per grantee on-site); 1-day Reflective Practice
Session
Unless noted as “on-site,” the sessions above will bring together all teams (likely at a central location).
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-
School Time (ASOST-Q)
Category C: STEM-SL Curriculum Development
FISCAL YEAR 2015 PROGRAM COVER SHEET
(Applicants for this category must complete pages 16-19.)
Total Amount of Grant Funds Requested
($50,000 maximum):
School Year
(through 6/30/15)
$
Fund Code: 530
Summer
(7/1/15-8/31/15)
$
Lead Applicant Agency:
Address:
Grant Contact/Coordinator Name/Title:
Email:
Phone:
OST Site Partner 1*
School (and District) or Organization:
Site Contact Name/Title:
Program Type (e.g. school, CBO, etc.)
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Students to be served: Please provide the following information about the projected number of students who will engage in the summer STEM-SL project at Site 1.
Grade-level
K-5
6-8
Total
# of students Sub-groups
Low-Income
English Language Learners
Students with Disabilities
OST Site Partner 2
% of students
School (and District) or Organization:
Site Contact Name/Title:
Program Type (e.g. school, CBO, etc.)
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Students to be served: Please provide the following information about the projected number of students who will engage in the summer STEM-SL project at Site 2.
Grade-level # of students Sub-groups % of students
K-5
6-8
Low-Income
English Language Learners
Total Students with Disabilities
*REMINDER: Eligible applicants must apply in partnership with at least two existing summer OST programs, at least one of which is run by a public school.
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Responses to the following questions must be completed within this document within the indicated page limits, and must maintain the existing margins, question text, and font style and size.
A. STEM Expertise: (3 pages maximum)
Please describe the lead applicant’s experience in developing and/or delivering STEM curriculum. If known, please provide a description of the science concepts/topic(s) that may be addressed in the curriculum. NOTE: The
Department is interested in developing curricula covering science topics “ripe” for service-learning that are also areas of identified need based recent Science MCAS results. Applicants will work with the Department to finalize science topics upon award, it is not required that particular topics are selected in advance.
REMINDER: Eligibility requirements include demonstrated experience developing and implementing STEM curricula with youth.
B. FY14 Program Implementation (10 pages maximum)
1. Proposed program structure and schedule: a. Please describe the structure of the existing summer program (activities offered, population served, staffing, etc.). b. Describe how the STEM-SL curricula will be offered/integrated as part of the existing program. Indicate whether the STEM-SL program will be a separate new component of this existing program or will be integrated into existing activities. (e.g., a new STEMSL club” will be created as an offering, or the STEM-SL curricula will be used to modify or supplement an existing club.) c. Please provide the program schedule using the chart below. Insert rows as needed if program operates during different hours on different days of the week. NOTE: Programs must have a minimum of 25 hours over a minimum of 4 weeks during which the STEM-SL curricula will be implemented.
OST Partner Site 1
Start Date: End Date:
Start Time End Time
OST Partner Site 2
# Hours/day
# of
Days/week
Start Date: End Date:
Start Time End Time # Hours/day
# of
Days/week
2. Needs and targeted students: Please describe the students targeted for participation in this summer STEM-SL program, as well as the identified needs of this population that this grant will help to meet.
3. Goals/Outcomes: Please describe what will be different as a result of implementing this STEM-SL program. Include anticipated outcomes for both programming and for the participating students, as well as a brief description of how these outcomes will be measured.
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4. Planning/Implementation Team(s): Please list the team members who will participate in developing (including attending Department-provided PD sessions) and implementing the STEM-SL curriculum. Planning teams may include up to 6 members, including representation described in the Program Overview above. Depending on space available, additional members may be able to participate in PD sessions and training – please include any additional members below.
Planning Team
(Staff who will develop curricula, including participating in Department-sponsored PD.)
Name Title Organization/Affiliation Email Address
Roles/
Responsibilities
1
2
3
4
5
6
Please list below any additional team members that you would like to have participate in PD sessions if space is available. (The Department will notify the lead applicant if space becomes available.)
Name Title
Implementation Team
(Staff who will be implementing the summer STEM SL curriculum with students. Note: If staff is not yet known, describe, in general the staff types to be sought.)
Organization /
Affiliation
Email Address Roles/
Responsibilities a. If members of the Implementation Team are not also part of the Planning team, please describe plans for recruiting and training the staff who will implement the STEM-SL curricula with students.
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5. Total Funding to Support OST Programming in FY15 : Please complete the chart below describing all funds that will support the OST programming where the STEM-SL project will be implemented. Please indicate the amount of funding, and in the “Detail” column list the sources. Please do not include the amount you are requesting from this proposal.
Total Amount Detail Funding Category
Federal (include 21 st Century Community Learning Center funds here)
State (include EEC subsidies here)
Local
Private (include foundation grants, private donations, etc.)
Tuition
Other
Total Funding to Support OST Programming:
(ALL APPLICANTS THAT ARE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS OTHER THAN A SCHOOL, SCHOOL DISTRICT,
CITY, OR TOWN, please provide a response to Question 6)
*Note: The response to this question will not be counted in the 10-page limit and this document should only contain the response to part a. below. The response should not exceed one page maintaining the existing margins question text, and font style and size.
6. Program Capacity: Applicants that are agencies and organizations other than a school, school district, city, or town must provide the following additional information.
a. Describe the agency/organization’s previous experience with similar amounts of funding at state, federal, or local levels through government, foundation, or private grants. b. Append to this application proof of fiscal responsibility, for example, a copy of the most recent annual audit letter (the entire audit need not be attached.)
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