Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) Implementation Support Pilot

Application for Participation

Overview

The purpose of this Application for Participation is to select approximately six districts to receive regular on-site technical assistance, facilitation, and training to support their use of the Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) data in the 2013-14 school year.

The EWIS data are part of the recently-released Edwin Analytics. Edwin Analytics is a powerful reporting and data analysis tool that gives authorized districts and state level users access to new information, reports, and perspectives on education and programs that specifically support improvements in teaching and learning. Edwin Analytics is unique because it integrates longitudinal data from pre-kindergarten through public post-secondary education. The available tools and reports for this data will help educators make informed decisions about how and where they can improve upon their teaching practices to provide an exceptional learning experience for their students. As part of the Department's continued commitment to improve the quality of education in Massachusetts, we highly recommend and encourage the use of these new Edwin Analytics tools.

The Massachusetts EWIS predicts the likelihood a student will reach an expected academic goal. The EWIS includes risk models connected with four grade groupings: 1) early elementary, 2) late elementary, 3) middle school, and 4) high school. The risk models are each linked to a relevant academic goal (see table below) that are important to the success of Massachusetts students. All students are flagged as low, moderate, or high risk of not meeting that upcoming academic goal. For example, a grade 5 student that is "low risk" is predicted to be likely to meet the academic goal of proficient or advanced on 6th grade ELA and Math MCAS. The EWIS risk models reflect national research and promising practices, feedback from a range of stakeholders, and extensive testing of possible indicators of risk and statistical modeling using longitudinal Massachusetts data. The risk models only use readily available data from existing statewide collections.

EWIS Risk Model
Age Groups / Grade Levels / Academic Goals
Expected student outcomes for each grade grouping
Early Elementary / Grades 1-3 / Proficient or advanced on 3rd grade ELA MCAS
Late Elementary / Grades 4-6 / Proficient or advanced on 6th grade ELA and Math MCAS
Middle Grades / Grades 7-9 / Passing grades on all 9th grade courses
High School / Grades 10-12 / High school graduation

More information about Edwin and the EWIS is available at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edwin/

Project Details

Selected districts will receive the support of an EWIS Implementation Coach, who will work with a select group of schools within each of the participating districts. The targeted schools will follow a “feeder pattern” covering grade levels 1-12. In most cases this will be one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school.

Specifically, the selected districts will receive the following, provided by the Department and the Department’s partner, American Institutes for Research:

·  Coaching: The participating districts will each be assigned a trained EWIS Implementation Coach who will provide on-site support to EWIS teams once per month and will be available by phone and email. The EWIS Implementation Coach will support the district and participating schools in:

1.  Developing/expanding local (district and school) teams and establishing roles and responsibilities

2.  Accessing EWIS and additional student data to support their EWIS work

3.  Reviewing data

4.  Interpreting data

5.  Assigning and providing appropriate student interventions

6.  Monitoring student progress and interventions

7.  Evaluating and refining the process

·  Training and Networking Meetings: Three in-person meetings where all participating schools and districts will meet together will take place over the course of the project in summer, fall, and spring. The summer meeting date will take place on July 16, 2013 in a central location. These meeting will be designed for participation by EWIS teams, including representatives from the district and all participating schools. The purpose of these meetings will be to provide training for all participating sites and to provide facilitated networking and sharing across participating districts.

·  Tools: The participating districts will have access to a suite of customized resources and tools to assist their use of EWIS data. Sites will have an ongoing opportunity to provide feedback on these EWIS implementation resources and tools, which will be improved during and after this pilot to be released statewide for all districts’ use.

·  Financial Incentive to Support Participating Staff: A modest amount of funding will be provided to participating districts to support staff participation out of contract hours and to cover travel to the training and pilot site meetings and other opportunities. A total of $3,000 is available for each district, to be used between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

Submission Instructions

Complete the application cover sheet and narrative questions provided below. Please keep the narrative response to five pages or less.

Email the full application, including signatures, in PDF format to Jenny Curtin at . Please include “EWIS Implementation Application” in the subject line of the email.

Applications are due by Friday, May 31, 2013. The Department expects to make selections (approximately six districts) in mid-June.

Please submit any clarifying questions by Friday, May 24th via email to .

Overview, Project Details, and Submission Instructions 3

Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) Implementation Support Pilot:

Application Cover Sheet

District name
Project coordinator name
Project coordinator title/role
Project coordinator phone
Project coordinator email
Other project staff
List names, titles, and emails

Project Assurances

The district and participating schools agree to:

___ Create EWIS Implementation Teams that will meet regularly throughout the 2013-14 school year.

___ Participate in on-site coaching with the assigned EWIS Implementation Coach.

___ Participate in three training and networking meetings, to be held in a central location.

___ Participate in all project evaluation activities supported by the Department, including offering feedback on the EWIS trainings and a suite of tools provided to the participating schools and districts.

Type Superintendent’s Name:
Superintendent’s Signature / Date
Type Project Coordinator’s Name and Title:
Project Coordinator’s Signature / Date

Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) Implementation Support Pilot:

Application Narrative

1.  To what extent is your district and schools (across all grade levels) currently using the Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) data? Note: The Department is interested in engaging a diverse group of districts in this project – including districts that have not begun to use the EWIS data as well as districts that have used these data.

2.  Briefly describe how expanded use of the EWIS data and targeted support from an EWIS Implementation Coach would fit into your district’s goals and objectives. Provide a specific example.

3.  Describe one key strength at the district and/or school(s) level that will be an asset to your participation in this project.

4.  Describe one challenge that you hope to address through participation in the project.

5.  This project requires the regular convening of an “EWIS Implementation Team” at each participating school with representatives from the district. The EWIS Implementation Team at each school can be a new group or build on an existing group. More guidance will be provided on the team structure and responsibilities to participating districts.

a.  Briefly describe the school-level and district-level staff roles you expect to participate in this group.

b.  Are there any district or school groups that the EWIS teams could be connected with?

c.  List the names and roles of staff that will participate in the kick-off meeting on July 16, 2013. Note: These staff should be active participants throughout this project, including participation in on-site EWIS team meetings and the two additional “training and networking meetings” for all pilot sites.

6.  The EWIS Implementation Coach will work with a select group of schools within each of the participating districts. The targeted schools will follow a “feeder pattern” covering grade levels 1-12. In most cases this will be one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. If your district is selected for this project Department staff will work with you to determine the final selection of schools. In the table below, provide your initial thoughts on which schools would be the best fit for the project.

School name
(Please list by order of grade levels served, starting with the earliest grade levels.) / Grade levels covered / Approx. % of students that attended the school listed on the line above? / Brief description on why school a good fit for project
Not applicable
Sample Middle School / 6-8 / 60% / The principal at this school is very enthusiastic about the potential for use of the EWIS data to inform school wide improvements.

7.  Provide a budget narrative for how the $3,000 incentive will be used to support your participation in the project. Allowable expenses include stipends for out-of-contract hours, mileage and other travel expenses for participation in the three required in-person training and pilot site meetings in a central Massachusetts location, and supplies.

Note: The expenses associated with the EWIS Implementation Coach, in-person meetings and trainings (except for travel expenses), and EWIS tools will be covered by the Department.

Application Cover Sheet and Narrative 3