Office of the Superintendent Tommy Chang, Ed.D., Superintendent
2300 Washington Street, 5th Floor [email protected] g Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119 617-635-9050 bostonpublicschools.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: June 1, 2018
Attached please find the grants that will be put forth for School Committee approval on June 6, 2018. 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.
If you have any questions, staff is available to respond.
Attachment
cc: Inez Foster, Assistant Director, Resource Development Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Relations
Boston Public Schools Boston School Committee City of Boston Tommy Chang, Superintendent Michael D. O’Neill, Chair Martin J. Walsh, Mayor
Finance Department Eleanor Laurans, Chief Financial Officer
2300 Washington Street [email protected] Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119 617-635-8306 bostonpublicschools.org
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Tommy Chang Superintendent
FROM: Eleanor Laurans Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT: Grants for Approval
DATE: June 1, 2018
Attached please find the grants for approval by the School Committee on June 6, 2018. Full copies of the grant proposals are available for your review and have been filed with the Office of the Secretary to the School Committee.
Boston Public Schools Boston School Committee City of Boston Tommy Chang, Superintendent Michael D. O’Neill, Chair Martin J. Walsh, Mayor
GRANTS FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE APPROVAL June 6, 2018
Amount FY Grant Name Status Fund Manager Focus Area(s) Sites
$590,128 2019 Adult Education New Maria Harris Adult Education Boston Central Adult High School
$40,000 2019 ESOL Culinary Training New Maria Harris Adult Education Boston Central Adult High School
Increased Access to Quality Summer Extended Learning $38,223 2019 New Lauren Barry Brighton High School Learning and Transition Programs Time
Massachusetts Early College College and Career $136,280 2019 New William Thomas Charlestown High School Implementation Grant Readiness
Massachusetts Expanded Learning Extended Learning $1,852 2018 Increase Stephanie Marek Boston Arts Academy Time – Boston Arts Academy Time
William Thomas, $18,000 2019 MassGrad Promising Practices Grant New At-Risk Students Charlestown High School, BATA Benjamin Helfat
21st Century Community Learning Extended Learning $15,000 2019 New Stephanie Marek Kenny Elementary School Centers- Summer Enhancement Time
$150,000 Total
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Adult Education
Status: New,
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2022
Funding Source: State
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: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Department of Adult Education
BPS Fund Manager: Maria I. Harris, Director, Adult Education
Department Head/School Leader: Maria I. Harris, Director, Adult Education
Annual Award Amount: $ 590,128
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $2,360,512
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students: 176 adult students/ families (60 ESOL and 116 adult basic education and high school)
Sites: Dept. of Adult Education/Boston Central Adult High School at Madison Park Technical High School Building Complex
Key External Partners: OpenAirBoston, , 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 adult basic education, high school and ESOL classes to 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
The grant will be used to pay for 10 part time teachers, and partial salary for the Academic Advisor and Director of Instruction, fringe, professional development, including travel to meetings and conferences, supplies and indirect costs
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals .
Goal #1: In FY19, 51% of enrolled adult ESOL students will meet or exceed the state’s target for measurable student gain. as measured by BestPLUS and TABE Class-E. Indicator: FY19 test scores.
Goal #2: In FY19, 39% of students enrolled adult basic education will meet or exceed the state’s target for measurable student gain. as measured by BestPLUS and TABE Class-E. Indicator: FY19 test scores.
Goal #3: In FY19, 42% of enrolled adult ASE students will meet or exceed the state’s target for measurable student gain as measured by MAPT. Indicator: FY19 test scores.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: ESOL Culinary Training
Status: New
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2022
Funding Source: State
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: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Department of Adult Education
BPS Fund Manager: Maria I. Harris, Director, Adult Education
Department Head/School Leader: Maria I. Harris, Director, Adult Education
Annual Award Amount: $ 40,000
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $160,000
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # Served: 13 adult students
Sites: Department of Adult Education at Madison Park Technical High School Building Complex
Key External Partners: OpenAirBoston, SnapChef, Dorchester Adult Literacy Coalition, South End Coallition, 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 a year-long culinary program that builds upon our current ESL programming and provide a career pathway to a currently underserved population.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
The grant will be used to pay one part-time adult education teacher and overtime to 2 vocational teachers, an advisor and supplies Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals .
Goal #1: In FY19, 51% of enrolled adult ESOL students will show significant improvement in speaking, listening and Literacy skills, as measured by BestPLUS and TABE Clas-E. Indicator: FY19 test scores. Goal #2: By June 2019, 90% of the students will earn a ServeSafe certificate Indicator: ServeSafe Certificates Goal #3: By December 2019, 30% of the students who successfully complete the program will gain employment within six months of completion. Indicator: Employment verification
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Increased Access to Quality Summer Learning and Transition Programs
Status: New
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2018 – August 31, 2018
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Allison Ward Smith Department of ESE 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-3232 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Office of Expanded Learning Time
BPS Fund Manager: Lauren Barry, Program Manager, Extended Learning Time
Department Head/School Leader: Janice Manfredi, Director, Extended Learning Time
Annual Award Amount: $38,223.00
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year):
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 200 students
Sites: Brighton High
Key External Partners:
Grant Description
The increased access to quality summer learning and transition programs grant is a state-funded opportunity to fund much-needed summer programming at schools in turnaround status. Research demonstrates that summer learning opportunities can stem summer learning loss, and increase readiness for the next grade at any grade level.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
100% of the grant will be used to pay stipends for summer teachers at Brighton High. These stipends are for teachers running in-person credit recovery courses, as well as an 8th-9th grade bridge program focusing on readiness for Brighton’s Pathway program.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: By August 2018, 100+ current Brighton High School students will be closer to on-track towards graduating high school with their cohort. Students will earn back up to 3 credits towards high school graduation in a mix of in-person and online courses. Indicator: Transcript evaluation
Goal #2: By August 2018, incoming 9th grade students will demonstrate readiness to choose their career pathway, per the Linked Learning Program at Brighton High. These pathways include media, art, design, and entrepreneurship. Indicator: Student surveys
Goal #3: By August 2018, all incoming 9th grade students will demonstrate increased executive functioning skill in order to be better prepared for their transition into High School. These skills will be built via an advisory and community meeting structure each day during the program. Indicator: Student surveys
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Massachusetts Early College Implementation Grant
Status: New
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2018 – December 31, 2019
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Christine R. Williams Director of Strategic Initiatives Division of Academic Affairs and Student Success Massachusetts Department of Higher Education 1 Ashburton Place, Room 1401 Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Phone: 617-994-6907 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Charlestown High School
BPS Fund Manager: William Thomas, Principal, Charlestown High School
Department Head/School Leader: William Thomas, Principal, Charlestown High School
Annual Award Amount: $136,280
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): N/A
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 250 students, 5 staff
Sites: Charlestown High School (CHS)
Key External Partners: Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC)
Grant Description
Our grant proposal supports the Career Pathways Program at Charlestown High School—in collaboration with Bunker Hill Community College and other partners—receiving the new final “Early College” designation from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Charlestown High School currently has two Career Pathways (one in Information Technology, the other in Business) with a lead cohort of 11th grade students. This final “Early College” designation allows Charlestown High School to scale up its Early College model, engage more students, increase supports, and align curricula with BHCC.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~55% of the grant is allocated to support staffing costs and curricular alignment between CHS and BHCC ~15% of the grant is allocated to cover instructional materials and outreach costs ~27% of the grant is allocated to cover tuition costs at BHCC ~3% of the grant is allocated to indirect cost
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Please note: This is an implementation grant, so the goals revolve around direct service to students and to scaling up the Early College program. Earlier this school year, we received a planning grant as well.
Goal #1: Early College Credit-bearing Coursework: Increase the number of students who are participating in early college coursework, starting in the 10th grade, with at least 90% of participating students receiving at least 12 college credit hours prior to high school graduation. Indicator: Currently, in SY17-18, there are 43 students participating in dual-enrollment coursework. In SY 18-19, this number scales up to approximately 90 students. In SY 19- 20, this number scales up to approximately 145 students, as grade-level cohorts are added—with the key indicator that at least 90% of participating students receive a minimum of 12 credit hours by the time of graduation.
Goal #2: Equitable Access for All Students: The student population participating in the early college experience reflects the larger high school student population, with comparable numbers of English language learners and students with disabilities enrolled (that is, the student numbers described in Indicator #1 are reflective of the school as a whole). Additionally: increase the percentage of female students participating in early college coursework—particularly, the Tech Pathway—so that it reflects the CHS student population as a whole. Indicator: There will be comparable numbers of English language learners and students with disabilities enrolled in the early college coursework in SY 18-19 and SY 19-20, and retention rates for these students are comparable to their general education peers over a three-year period (grades 10-12).
Goal #3: Vertical Alignment Between CHS and BHCC Coursework in Math and ELA: Vertically aligning CHS curricula in Math and English language arts so that it prepares students for the early college coursework at BHCC and ensures that students do not need to take remedial Math or ELA classes at BHCC prior to earning credit. Indicator: 95% of students participating in the early college experience are able to immediately access credit-bearing coursework in Math and English at BHCC without needing to take remedial courses—doing this either through the BHCC grade requirement or Accuplacer exam.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time-Boston Arts Academy
Status: Increase
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: Upon Approval – June 30, 2018
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Contact Name: Moira Connolly Address: 75 Pleasant Street Malden MA 02148-4906 Phone: 781-338-6234 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Strategy- Office of Extended Learning Time
BPS Fund Manager: Stephanie Marek, Project Manager, Extended Learning Time
Department Head/School Leader: Janice Manfredi, Director, Extended Learning Time
Annual Award Amount: $1,852 increase
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): N/A (each year requires a continuation reapplication)
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: Boston Arts Academy (447 students)
Sites: Boston Arts Academy
Key External Partners: N/A
Grant Description
The Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time initiative is a program that enables schools to significantly expand the hours and days in their school schedules to create integrated learning experiences for all students that are responsive to students' needs and the higher expectations set by state and federal laws. The longer school schedules enable each school to improve student achievement, as well as to motivate and engage students by: (1) Providing more instructional time in math, literacy, science and other core subjects to enable students to meet state standards; (2) Integrating enrichment and applied learning opportunities into the school day that complement and align with state standards and 21st century skills; and (3) Scheduling and organizing more time for planning, analysis, lesson design and professional development for teachers including, in some cases, the professionals from their partnering community-based organizations.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~77% of the grant will fund school staff salaries and retirement-worthy stipends ~15% of the grant will fund contractual services from partners to provide additional learning opportunities and enrichment ~5% of the grant funds will be used for supplies ~3% will be used as an indirect cost contribution to the district, which is required of all grants
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: By June 2018, 85% of 12th grade Boston Arts Academy students will earn a grade of 85 or better on their major writing benchmark. This goal follows a cohort of students of whom 75% met this goal in 9th grade. Indicator: Writing benchmark with common metrics including structure, strength of ideas, grammar, word choice, and voice
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: MassGrad Promising Practices Grant
Status: New
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: Upon Approval – August 31, 2018
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Lisa Harney MA DESE / 75 Pleasant Street / Malden, MA 02148 Phone: (781) 338-3903 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Charlestown High School
BPS Fund Manager: William Thomas / Principal at Charlestown H.S.
Department Head/School Leader: William Thomas / Principal at Charlestown H.S.
Annual Award Amount: $18,000.00 (it’s one time; not ongoing)
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $18,000
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 8 staff / 50 students
Sites: Charlestown High School, Boston Adult Technical Academy
Key External Partners:
Grant Description
Charlestown: Our grant proposal seeks to establish a Summer Transition program for our students—particularly our rising 9th graders—that targets students’ literacy skills through the strategies of decoding and comprehension. This will be a five-week long summer program (from July 9th through August 9th), in which up to 50 participating students develop their literacy skills through daily two-hour reading intensive classes, receiving a minimum of 40 instructional hours in total, and with an instructor-to-student ratio no greater than 1-to-9. We are pursuing this strategy, with the specific focus on literacy skill-building, because of how literacy skills correlate with students’ 9th grade course performance and then with how 9th grade course performance correlates with the likelihood of students graduating from high school in four years.
To state this correlation directly: Our data, from the STAR Assessment and district data office, show that students entering 9th grade with literacy skills that are below the 6th Grade Level Equivalent are much more likely to fail at least two core academic classes in 9th grade. And students who fail at least two core academic classes in 9th grade are significantly less likely to graduate in
four years compared to their more academically on-track peers. Therefore, by providing targeted literacy interventions before students enter high school and by providing more individualized support than is usually possible during the school day, we aim to (1) improve students’ literacy skills by at least one Grade Level Equivalent over the course of the summer and (2) develop new literacy intervention strategies that Charlestown High School faculty can employ during the school year—which we believe, based on our data assessment, will increase students’ 9th grade course performance, and, ultimately, increase our four-year graduation rate.
Boston Adult Technical Academy: BATA is committed to reducing the dropout rate in our school and in the district. To this end, BATA is proposing the use of the FC 320 funds to run a summer program aimed at keeping students engaged with instruction over Acellus (credit recovery) and in instruction around the MCAS portfolio appeals. This program will require trained staff who are working with students on content and working on engagement over the summer. In addition to this, we find that we lose students over the summer because of our inability to support them. I would also like to fund my Social Worker for 20 hours over the summer to help support students and ensure we can connect them to needed supports while school is closed. This will include home visits by staff to help make lasting connections with our families and community to keep students engaged.
These initiatives are not being done in isolation. This funding will help expand and enrich already successful initiatives BATA is working on. All the work proposed over the summer has been a consistent part of our school plan. By expanding it over the summer we have an ability to keep students engaged and expand our initiatives to other off-track students in the district. We will offer our summer instruction to all the alternative schools in the district.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~100% stipends to help support staffing costs of summer programs
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Charlestown: Goal #1 (Enrollment/Completion): To enroll 50 students into the summer program, with at least 85% of students completing all 40 instructional hours, which will result in students reading two full books over the course the program. Indicator: Will be tracked by our program director – using the metrics of student enrollment, student daily attendance, and student program completion
Goal #2 (Students’ Learning Growth): All participating students will be able to employ at least four decoding and comprehension strategies that they have found useful upon entering the 9th grade; all participating students will also advance one Grade Level Equivalent, as it is measured by the Diagnostic Assessment of Reading Indicator: Will be tracked by program director and program instructors – using assessments to measure student mastery over decoding and comprehension strategies, and using the Diagnostic Assessment of Reading. We will also track student growth using the Rosner Test of Auditory Analysis Skills
BATA: Goal #1: By the end of the summer, we will complete 15 MCAS portfolio appeals for 15 different students, resulting in an increase of 15 students receiving diplomas in January.
Indicator: Student Data
Goal #2: Based on the emotional supports, academic supports, and home visits over the summer, we will decrease our DNR rate (rate of students not showing up within the first 8 days of school) from 21% in 2017 to 18% in 2018. Indicator: School DNR Data
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: 21st Century Community Learning Centers- Summer Enhancement
Status: New
Grant Type: Competitive
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2018 – August 30, 2018
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Karyl Resnick Office of Student and Family Support MA Department of Elementary & Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street · Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-3515 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Office of Expanded Learning Time
BPS Fund Manager: Stephanie Marek, Extended Learning Time Project Manager
Department Head/School Leader: Janice Manfredi, Director, Expanded Learning Time
Annual Award Amount: $15,000
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year):N/A
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 60 students
Sites: Kenny Elementary
Key External Partners: N/A
Grant Description
The purpose of the federally funded 21st CCLC grant is to support the implementation of additional learning time through out-of-school time (OST) programming and/or through an expanded day referred to as Expanded Learning Time or ELT. Programming is designed to help close proficiency/opportunity gaps, increase student engagement, support social and emotional learning, and promote college and career readiness and success. This programming will provide students with engaging instruction, project-based and/or service-learning experiences, and opportunities for academic enrichment to providing high quality out of school time academic enrichment opportunities. This supplementary grant is meant to expand required summer program by the number of students served and the hours of summer programming offered.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~100% stipends for BPS certified teachers
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: Of the 60 students enrolled in the program, 100% will attend at least 96 hours (80%) of the total 120 hours of offered summer programming. Indicator: Program enrollment/attendance data
Goal #2: As a result of taking part in service learning projects, students will see a minimum of 5% growth in Leadership Survey of Academic Youth Outcomes (SAYO) scores. Indicator: SAYO Staff scores