Finance Department
Eleanor Laurans, Executive Director of School Finance
2300 Washington
Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119617-635-8306bostonpublicschools.org
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:Chairperson and Members
Boston School Committee
FROM:Tommy Chang
Superintendent
SUBJECT:Grants for Approval
DATE:January 6, 2016
Attached please find the grants that will be put forth for School Committee approval on January 13, 2016. Should you wish to review the proposals in more detail, the complete grant proposals have been filed with the Office of the Secretary to the School Committee.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, staff is available to respond.
Attachment
cc: Inez Foster, Assistant Director, Resource Development Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Relations
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Tommy Chang
Superintendent
FROM: Eleanor Laurans
Executive Director of School Finance
SUBJECT: Grants for Approval
DATE: January 6, 2016
Attached please find the grants for approval by the School Committee. Full copies of the grant proposalsare available for your review and will be filed with the Office of the Secretary to the School Committee.
Boston Public Schools Boston School CommitteeCity of Boston
Tommy Chang, SuperintendentMichael D. O’Neill, ChairMartin J. Walsh, Mayor
GRANTS FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE APPROVAL
January 13, 2016
Amount / FY / Grant Name / Status / Fund Manager / Focus Area / Sites$2,627 / 2016 / BPS Department of Adult Education / Increase / Maria Harris / Adult Education / Adult Learning Center at Madison Park
$1,636,500 / 2016, 2017 / Boston Marathon Bombing Behavioral Response Plan / New / Marta Gredler / At Risk / 9 sites districtwide
$75,000 / 2016 / Strategic Support to Specific Underperforming Schools: Bridge Grant / New / Liza Veto / School Turnaround / Madison Park
$ 1,714,127 / Total
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: BPS Department of Adult Education
Status: Increase
Grant Type:Competitive
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016
Funding Source: State, 345
Grantor Contact: Suzanne Speciale, Program Specialist
Adult and Community Learning Services
Department of ESE
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-338-6351
Email:
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Department of Adult Education & Community Services
BPS Fund Manager: Maria I. Harris
Department Head/School Leader: Maria I. Harris, Director
Initial Award Amount: $180,100
Increase Amount: + $ 2,627
Total Award Amount: $182,727
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $882,727
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students served: 52+ adult students and their families (26 ESOL and 26 High School Program)
Sites: Adult Learning Center at Madison Park Technical High School Building Complex
Key External Partners: OpenAirBoston, Salvation Army, Dorchester Adult Literacy Coalition, One-Stop Career Centers, New England Aquarium, Zoo New England, Museum of Fine Arts, Office of Workforce Development
Grant Description
As part of the BPS Adult Education Family Literacy Program, this grant provides ESOL classes for 26 and High School Equivalency classes for another 26 Boston Public Schools parents to support their academic, economic, and civic development in order that they can then support their children’s learning.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~72% of the grant will be used to pay for 3 part time teachers, and partial salary for the Academic Advisor and Director of Instruction
~16% will cover fringe
~2% will be allocated to professional development, including travel to meetings and conferences
~4% will be used for supplies
~3% will be used for indirect costs
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: In FY16, 80% of enrolled adult ESOL students will show significant improvement in speaking, listening and
literacy skills, as measured by BestPLUS and TABE Clas-E.
Indicator: FY16 test scores.
Goal #2: In FY16, 75% of enrolled parents will report visiting their children’s schools and meeting with teachers.
Indicator: Parents will self-report during class discussions and in 1:1 conferences.
Goal #3: By June 2016, at least 5 students will have earned their high school credential via the HiSET test or Adult Diploma Program.
Indicator: Graduation statistics
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Boston Marathon Bombing Behavioral Response Plan
Status: New
Grant Type:Competitive
Start & End Dates: January 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Contact Name:Amy Lindquist, Grants Program Specialist
Address: Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
One Ashburton Place, Suite 1101, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-586-1362
Email:
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Office of Social-Emotional Learning and Wellness
BPS Fund Manager: Marta Gredler, Project Director
Department Head/School Leader: Amalio Nieves, Assistant Superintendent, Social-Emotional Learning & Wellness
Annual Award Amount: $599,503.76 (1/1/16 – 6/30/2016), $1,036,996.38 (7/1/2016 – 6/30/2017)
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $1,636,500.00
Carry-forward option: Yes
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) directly served: 4500 students who attend nine schools and their families, 400 school and district staff; in subsequent years, systems established as a result of this learning will benefit all 58,000 students who attend BPS schools.
Sites: Higginson-Lewis, Burke High School, and seven schools which need to be selected.
Key External Partners: Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance, Children’s Hospital and other agencies to be determined
Grant Description
Boston Public Schools will assess the needs of school-aged children, teachers, administrators, families, and other school staff who were both directly and indirectly affected by the Boston Marathon Bombing and further understand how traumatic events such as these impact student learning as well as their social-emotional growth. The district plans to work with students, staff, parents, counselors, and community members to ensure that the appropriate tiered-supports are available to those who require more intensive and targeted supports as well as building resiliency among all who may be experiencing lingering effects. Resources will be allocated to build the capacity of staff within the Office of Student Support Services to support district-wide school staff to understand the impact of trauma and how trauma-informed practices can support student’s learning and social-emotional growth. Funding will also enable Specialists to be placed with nine schools to support the coordination of targeted interventions, partnership services, and the engagement of families regarding the impact of trauma and how to address their children’s needs. Lastly, families across the city will be able to participate in forums to help them understand the impact of trauma, how to help their children increase their coping skills, and how to access resources.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~68% of the grant will be allocated to hiring new personnel who will:
(1)support nine schools’ delivery of multi-tiered systems of support including trauma-informed practices designed to both build resiliency and address the impact of trauma among students and families; and
(2)be responsible for the overall planning, supervision, implementation, evaluation, grant management, and reporting of all grant activities.
~6% will be used to hire consultants who can deliver professional development to district staff who will support schools’ delivery of multi-tiered systems of support including trauma-informed practices designed to both build resiliency and address the impact of trauma among students and families.
~19% of the grant will be used for contracts with partner agencies who will deliver tiered interventions at nine schools
~3% will be allocated to purchase of materials and computers
~under 1% will support facilities fees and parent transportation related to Parent University
~2.6% will be allocated to district indirect costs
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: By June 2017, all schools will experience 60% growth or growth on 3 of 5 indicators of the School-Wide Assessment of Multi-tiered Systems of Support. The nine schools will strengthen the integration of multi-tiered systems of support as a strategy to address all levels of student needs with targeted interventions.
Indicator: Pre- and post-assessment of the School-Wide Assessment of Multi-tiered Systems of Support.
Goal #2: By June 2017, the numbers of behavior infractions will be reduced by 5% from the behavior infractions recorded in January 2016.
Indicator: The number of behavior incidents will be measured using data collected from ASPEN.
Goal#3: By June 2017, 70% of teachers will indicate that their knowledge, confidence and competence have advanced by at least one level on a rubric ranging from emerging to adequate to advancing to proficient. Teachers who received professional development and/or technical assistance in incorporating trauma-informed social-emotional learning curriculum will express increased confidence in being trauma-responsive and have increased knowledge and competency in implementing trauma-informed practices.
Indicator: Pre and post survey administered by the district’s Office of Social-emotional Learning and Wellness.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Strategic Support to Specific Underperforming Schools: Bridge Grant
Status: New
Grant Type:Competitive
Start & End Dates: Upon approval – August 31, 2016
Funding Source: State (Federal through state)
Grantor Contact:
Contact Name: Russ Fleming, School Improvement Grant Programs
Address: MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148
Phone: (781) 338-6259
Email:
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Strategy Division
BPS Fund Manager: Liza Veto, Director, Office of Turnaround and Transformation
Department Head/School Leader: Donna Muncey, Deputy Superintendent
Award Amount: $ 75,000
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): N/A
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students served:874
Sites: Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
Key External Partners: Teachers 21; others TBD
Grant Description
Madison Park Technical Vocational High School was designated underperforming (Level 4) in the state accountability system on December 9, 2015.
Boston Public Schools has received $75,000 from DESE tosupport the school and district team in developing Madison Park’s Level 4 school turnaround plan and to jump-start key turnaround activities. This bridge grant is a standard grant award to districts upon the designation of new Level 4 schools, to “bridge” the time period between when a school is designated underperforming and when it will be eligible to apply for competitive federal School Redesign Grant (SRG) funds. The upcoming SRG competition will be held in spring 2016, and the district plans to apply for a grant on behalf of Madison Park. The Level 4 school turnaround plan developed with the assistance of the bridge grant funds will comprise a substantial portion of the district’s SRG application for the school.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~ 35% of grant funds will be allocated to support activities required to develop the Madison Park Level 4 school turnaround plan, including Local Stakeholder Group meeting design and facilitation, creation of the Local Stakeholder Group’s recommendations to the Superintendent (including all related documentation), and development of components of the plan, such as the school’s district-determined Measureable Annual Goals (MAGs) as defined in statute.
~ 65% of grant funds will be used to support summer 2016 learning strategies that will be identified in the Madison Park’s Level 4 turnaround plan. These funds will be used to complement the funds the school has already received in fall 2015 to support its Saturday school program. Supported strategies will be determined by the turnaround plan, in one or more of the following turnaround practice areas:
- Leadership, shared responsibility, and professional collaboration
- Intentional practices for improving instruction
- Student-specific instruction and supports to all students
- School culture and climate
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: The Madison Park Local Stakeholder Group will complete all requirements assigned to the group as indicated in MGL Chapter 69 Section 1J, by completing its recommendations to the Superintendent for the school’s Level 4 Turnaround Plan.
Indicator #1:The Local Stakeholder Group will conduct its first meeting within the 30-day window required by statute. (The Group’s first meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2016.)
Indicator #2:The Local Stakeholder Group will submit its recommendations to the Superintendent regarding the contents of the Madison Park Level 4 Turnaround Plan no later than 45 days following its first meeting (no later than February 22, 2016).
Goal #2: Bridge grant funding will be used to jump-start strategies from Madison Park’s Level 4 school turnaround plan in summer 2016. Supported strategies will be determined by the turnaround plan, in one or more of the following turnaround practice areas:
• Leadership, shared responsibility, and professional collaboration
• Intentional practices for improving instruction
• Student-specific instruction and supports to all students
• School culture and climate
According to statute, the Superintendent must issue the school’s Turnaround Plan within 30 days following the Local Stakeholder Group issuing its recommendations. By the end of March 2016, the district will have determined the key strategies and activities of the Turnaround Plan.
Indicator #1:By March 30, 2016, the Turnaround Office will work with Madison Park leadership to determine which strategy(ies) identified in the school’s turnaround plan could be implemented in summer 2016 with the support of Bridge Grant funds. By April 30, 2016, school leadership will develop an implementation work plan the turnaround strategy(ies) that will be implemented using these funds.