REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
STEM AND HARD-TO-STAFF TEACHER INITIATIVE
First Date to Submit RFI: August 24, 2015
Last Date to Submit RFI: September 9, 2015, by 5:00 p.m.
This is a Request for Information (RFI) and does not constitute an award. If this RFI results in an
award, then the superintendent, state chartered school administrator, state–supported school
administrator will be notified by an official award letter.
Only upon receipt of an award letter, signed by Hanna Skandera, Secretary of Education, may the
district, state chartered school, state–supported school submit a Budget Adjustment Request
(BAR).
Application Checklist
Please take the time to complete the checklist below to ensure that all required information and
actions have been completed before emailing the RFI to Lesley Galyas, Director of Math and
Science Bureau, New Mexico Public Education Department at lesley.galyas@state.nm.us
1. All pages of the 2015-2016 RFI Application for STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Initiative
are completed.
_____________Cover page
__________Electronic submission STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Initiative Program
information page and spreadsheet to lesley.galyas@state.nm.us no later than 5:00
pm, September 9, 2015.
__________District Assurances page signed original hard copy mailed to Lesley Galyas to
be received no later than 5:00 pm, September 9, 2015.
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 1
Purpose
The purpose of these funds is to provide a $5,000 stipend per year to qualified STEM (grades 712), Special Education (K–12), Bilingual (K–12) or other hard-to-staff teaching positions to
serve in low performing (D/F), urban or rural schools. These funds can be used as a stipend to
recruit these hard-to-staff experts to teach in hard to staff schools or to attract and retain these
teachers in low-performing schools. The New Mexico Public Education Department’s (PED’s)
Math and Science and Licensure Bureaus are issuing this RFI to all New Mexico public school
districts, state chartered schools and state-supported schools that have been determined as “hard
to staff”.
Goals
To provide all students high-quality education in STEM (grades 7-12), Special Education (grades
K-12), Bilingual (grades K-12) and other hard to staff areas that promote 21st century skills for
college and career readiness.
Teacher Eligibility
 Teaching assignment for 2015-2016 school year is 75% composed of courses in the hardto-staff area applied for and approved by the PED. A teacher moving from one hard to
staff school to another will not be eligible for the stipend.
 Hold or be eligible for an alternative NM teaching license with a Bachelors degree or
higher in the hard-to-staff content area
OR
Hold an active NM teaching license with an appropriate endorsement AND have fulltime teaching experience in approved STEM (grades 7-12), Bilingual, Special Education
or other hard-to-staff courses with a proven track record of improving student
achievement in the hard-to-staff area demonstrated by a summative evaluation of
effective, highly effective or exemplary.
 Understanding of the knowledge, practices, and processes of New Mexico Common Core
State Standards and/or State Science Standards AND how curriculum may be organized
to best serve diverse learners.
 Understanding of and the ability to use strategies for managing, assessing and monitoring
of student learning to inform instruction.
District Eligibility
Hard to staff public school districts and state chartered schools that demonstrate a commitment to
recruit and retain qualified teachers of STEM, Special Education, Bilingual and/or other hard-tostaff area for a minimum of two years must meet the following requirements:
1. The complete RFI must be electronically generated using a minimum of 12 point font. Each
page listed below must be completed for consideration of funding:




Cover page
STEM & Hard-to-Staff Teacher Initiative Program Narrative
District Assurances (Hard Copy required)
STEM and Hard- to- Staff Teacher Spreadsheet (must be submitted electronically)
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 2
2. An electronic copy of the completed RFI and spreadsheet must be received no later than
5:00 p.m. on September 9, 2015. Facsimile copies will not be accepted. In addition to
sending the electronic copy, one single page hard copy of the District Assurances page
with original signatures must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 9, 2015.
All electronic copies should be sent to lesley.galyas@state.nm.us. Requests for an extension
of this date will not be granted. Please mail the District RFI Assurances page to:
Lesley Galyas
Math and Science Bureau
New Mexico Public Education Department
300 Don Gaspar
Santa Fe, NM 87501
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 3
COVER PAGE
School District and School
Name
Superintendent or Administrator
Name
Phone
Mailing
Address
e-mail
Principal
Name
Phone
Mailing
Address
e-mail
Business Manager
Name
Phone
Mailing
Address
e-mail
For which type of stipends are you applying for? (check all that apply)
STEM
Special Education
Bilingual
Other
A SEPARATE PLAN WILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED FOR EACH CHECKED BOX
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 4
STEM & Hard-to-Staff Teacher Initiative Program Narrative
School/
District
Name
RFI Outline
All of the items listed below must be submitted to PED as part of the RFI.
1. NEED: COMPLETE the STEM and Hard-to-Staff Spreadsheet with the information below.
Description of teacher needs in STEM (grades 7-12), Special Education, Bilingual or other hardto-staff teaching positions. Please include the following:
 Course number (s) as well as description
 Proposed teaching responsibility of hard-to-staff teacher for 2015-2016 must be
75% composed of courses in the hard-to-staff area applied for (STEM (7-12), Special
Education, Bilingual or other) and approved by the PED
 Names and teaching license information for teachers receiving a retention stipend,
as well as any recruitment teachers hired at the time of application.
If the application is for multiple hard-to-staff areas (e.g. STEM and Special Education), the
application must include a separate description of teacher needs for each hard-to-staff area.
2. RECRUITMENT and RETENTION PLAN:
Funds may be used as a recruitment stipend in year one OR a retention stipend for effective hard-tostaff teachers who have been teaching in your district for 2 years or less.
Please describe your plan for recruitment and retention to include that following:
 How you will recruit hard-to-staff teacher and determine their qualification
 Detailed plan of targeted mentoring and support for this teacher to ensure his/her
success in achieving student growth. Does this include professional development? How
will support be implemented and maintained? Will the teacher be assigned a mentor?
If the application is for multiple hard-to-staff areas (e.g. STEM and Special Education), the
application must include a separate plan for each hard-to-staff area.
3. EVALUATION:
To qualify for a retention stipend, the teacher must be effective, highly effective or exemplary.
Please describe your plan and how you will determine that this teacher is serving the needs of your
students in developing 21st Century skills for College and Career Readiness. Your plan should
include the use of Interim, End of Course, or Standards Based Assessments to indicate student
growth.
If the application is for multiple hard-to-staff areas (e.g. STEM and Special Education), the
application must include a separate evaluation plan for each hard-to-staff area.
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 5
DISTRICT ASSURANCES PAGE
Required signatures include the district superintendent or administrator of the LEA where funds
will be utilized. The application will not be considered complete without the required signatures.
The undersigned assures the following:
1. The information included in the enclosed RFI is true and accurate.
2. The monies received as a result of this RFI will be utilized for hard-to-staff teacher
stipends
for
recruitment
and/or
retention
in
_________________________________________ school(s) (identify all 7-12 schools)
in the ______________________________ (district, state charter or state-supported
school).
3. The funding received as a result of this RFI is intended to be liquidated by June 30,
2016.
4. The intention of this funding is to recruit and retain qualified teachers in hard-to-staff
areas for the 2015–2016 school year.
5. The district, state charter or state supported school agrees to submit documentation of
teacher qualification through licensure and endorsements; teacher assignment through
course and assignment codes; and evidence of highly effective instruction resulting in
student growth through data from interims and EOC, or PARCC results.
6. The district, state charter or state supported school agrees to submit BAR’s into OBMS
no later than September 30, 2015. Non-encumbered funds will be defaulted back to
PED by October 4, 2015. RfRs must be submitted throughout the year with final
submission by June 30, 2016 for school year 2015-2016.
Signature
Superintendent/Administrator
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 6
Date
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Initiative Materials Evaluation Rubric
District/School
Criteria
Included
Application Format
Electronic application and spreadsheet received
Yes
by 5:00 p.m. on September 9, 2015
Cover page
Yes
Electronic submission of STEM and Hard-toYes
Staff Teacher Initiative Program Narrative
District Assurances signature page
Yes
RFI Application 2015–2016
STEM and Hard-to-Staff Teacher Incentive
Page | 7
No
No
No
No
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