Finance Department Nathan Kuder, 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: Chairperson and Members Boston School Committee
FROM: Nathan Kuder Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT: Grants for Approval
DATE: September 16, 2020
Attached please find the grants for approval by the School Committee on September 16, 2020. 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
Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent Michael Loconto, Chair Martin J. Walsh, Mayor
GRANTS FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE APPROVAL August 19, 2020
Amount FY Grant Name Status Fund Manager Focus Area(s) Sites Career and Technical Career and Technical $10,000 2021 New Kim Connolly Districtwide Education Partnership Education
Engineering Innovation College and Career $30,000 2021 Pathways Implementation New Kristen Almquist Dearborn STEM Academy Readiness Grant
MassGrad Promising Boston Adult Technical $20,000 2021 New Benjamin Helfat At Risk Practices Grant – BATA Academy
MassGrad Promising $30,000 2021 New Morgan Soares At Risk Charlestown High School Practices - Charlestown
MassGrad Promising Madison Park Technical $30,000 2021 New Anthonie Marsh At Risk Practices – Madison Park Vocational HS
McKinney-Vento $115,000 2021 New Brian Marques At Risk Districtwide Homeless Education
Michelle Career and Technical $1,632,474 2021 Perkins V New Districtwide Sylvaria Education Promoting Adolescent $190,909 2021 Health through School- Increase Jill Carter Health and Wellness Districtwide Based HIV Prevention
Remote Learning Career and Technical $672,342 2021 New Mark Racine Districtwide Technology Essentials Education
$2,399,620 2021 Title III New Faye Karp Opportunity Gap Districtwide
$175,920 2021 Title IV Increase Nathan Kuder Opportunity Gap Districtwide
USFA Support for Food and Nutrition $202,428 2021 New Eric Stevens Districtwide Emergency Meals Services
$5,506,693 Total
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Career and Technical Education Partnership Planning Grant
Status: New
Start & End Dates: September 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Lawrence E. DeSalvatore 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 781-338-3953 [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity (RCD)
BPS Fund Manager: Kim Connolly, Director, RCD
Department Head/School Leader: Ceronne Daly, Managing Director, RCD
Annual Award Amount: $10,000
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: 100+ students in 16 schools when the Teacher Cadets program is fully operational
Sites: Districtwide
Key External Partners: Young People’s Project, Cambridge, MA
Grant Description
The purpose of this federally funded competitive Career and Technical Education (CTE) Partnership Planning Grant (Phase 1) is to support regional and local partnerships to expand existing and/or develop new CTE programs and initiatives that increase student access to CTE opportunities, primarily through more effective use and integration of existing capacity and resources. The grant will be specifically to support planning for the Teacher Cadet program.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For Budget Summary: 35% contracted planning facilitation by Young People’s Project 26% curriculum student internship 35% curriculum writer 4% advertising Members from the Teacher Cadet Program, YPP and students will meet monthly for approximately 8 hours. These meetings will generate ideas and actionable items for the three phases of our: design, engage and create. We approximate that we will use 3 members of YPP and 5 students. Students will be co- designers and will gain first-hand experience in creating surveys and data gathering instruments. YPP has agreed to contribute their services for a flat fee of $3500. Additionally, we will contract a curriculum
writer at a flat fee of $3500 to compile and document research and findings into a comprehensive document. This document will contain an articulation of 900+ hours of multi-track, experientially based program and strategic plan to pilot, develop and scale the Teacher Cadet Program. We plan to engage with community members and teachers in advisory work groups; $400 for meeting and curriculum materials. At a total request of $10,000.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
The overarching goal for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Partnership Planning Grant for the Teacher Cadet program in partnership with the Young People’s Project is to complete a project plan by 6/30/21 for the launch of the District-wide Teacher Cadets Program. Using the Racial Equity Planning Tool, we outline the goals for the three phases of our planning:
Goal #1: Planning Phase 1 - DESIGN the model (September - November 2020): Fine tune the vision and draft comprehensive program model for the Teacher Cadets Program Indicator: Complete proposal for a 900+ hour multi-track, experientially based academic and professional program.
Goal #2: Planning Phase 2 - ENGAGE the community and elicit feedback (December - February): Indicator: Administer surveys to gather information. Organize conversations, meetings and presentations with key stakeholders to get feedback on the proposal, to recruit partners, and to build shared vision.
Goals #3: Planning Phase 3 - CREATE the implementation and timeline (March - June): Iteratively plan for program implementation to ensure agreements with key partners Indicator: Develop strategy for piloting, developing, and scaling the program, develop multi- year budget, and align resources (including proposal writing).
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Engineering Innovation Pathways Implementation Grant
Status: New
Start & End Dates: August 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Contact Name: Jennifer Gwatkin Address: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Phone: 781-338-3954
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Dearborn STEM Academy
BPS Fund Manager: Kristen Almquist, Early College Pathway Coordinator
Department Head/School Leader: Darlene Marcano, Head of School
Annual Award Amount: $30,000
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $30,000
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 50
Sites: Dearborn STEM Academy
Key External Partners: Wentworth, Gillette, and the PIC
Grant Description
The purpose of the grant is to provide Innovation Pathway program resources for a school who is planning to seek Innovation Pathway designation from DESE in FY20. Innovation Pathways are structures within a high school that are designed to connect student learning to a broadly-defined industry sector that is in demand in the regional and state economy. Schools leverage strong partnerships with employers to provide career awareness and work-based learning activities. Students will participate in a series of courses and experiences relevant to achieving industry recognized credentials.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~ 30% will be used for teacher stipends for curriculum development ~ 33% will be used to fund a project coordinator who will help develop curriculum as well as the internship program in conjunction with the PIC ~3% will be used for travel for students to pilot experiences off campus ~ 26% will be used for instructional related supplies that will be used in order to support student learning in pathway classes ~ 5% will be used for other necessary materials to run the program or assist students with access ~ 3% will be used for any necessary teacher professional development and travel
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
GOAL: Up to 30% of all 11th and 12th graders at the Dearborn STEM Academy will self-select into the Engineering Pathway that will expose them to industry aligned skills and content. 100% of these students will be exposed to a curriculum that is developed in conjunction with both Higher Education and industry partners. Indicators: 1) Development and implementation of recruitment materials to both parents and students in March of 2020 2) Integrated/Interdisciplinary Scope and Sequence for Engineering, History/Social Justice and ELA, Wentworth Early College, Gillette and Career Development by the PIC 3) Units, Performance Assessments and Most Daily Lesson plans for the above mentioned classes (excluding Wentworth but including the PIC) 4) Example Syllabus for any early college Wentworth classes 5) Common Pathway expectations and syllabus for all DSA classes 6) If time permits: Year Long Plan for college visits, job shadow, industry career panels, field trips
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: MassGrad Promising Practices Grant – BATA
Status: New
Start & End Dates: Upon Approval – August 31, 2021
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Lisa Harney Office for College, Career, and Technical Education MA DESE 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-3903 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Boston Adult Technical Academy
BPS Fund Manager: Benjamin Helfat, Headmaster, Boston Adult Technical Academy
Department Head/School Leader: Benjamin Helfat, Headmaster, Boston Adult Technical Academy
Annual Award Amount: $20,000
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: 200 students, 5 staff
Sites: Boston Adult Technical Academy
Key External Partners: N/A
Grant Description
Boston Adult Technical Academy (BATA) is an alternative high school for mature, motivated students between the ages of 19-22. As a great number of our students are from communities of color and/or immigrant families and are English Language Learners (ELL), our work is deeply rooted in social, racial, and economic justice. Our students come to us after having aged out of or facing challenges at their previous schools; as such, an important part of our work is identifying, understanding, and removing common school-based barriers that have limited their choices and opportunities. We provide a safe, nurturing, student-centered, and culturally affirming educational experience that enables young adults to feel empowered and quickly acquire the skills needed to complete their high school degrees while positioning them as agents for community change invested in their own postsecondary success.
Given the current COVID pandemic, we know that our students have been disproportionally affected and this school year looks like it will begin remote. Providing stipends to our current support staff to do the work of connecting our students to resources in the community (including the school) will be the more important work. With extra hours, we will be able to reach more students, especially those that work or have children and connect them to the needed resources. While this work will happen to an extent within
the school day, this stipend would allow us to reach more students, especially those unreachable during the academic day. In addition, it will allow staff members who already have a relationship with the students to reach out to connect them more with the school.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~100% of the grant is allocated to stipend staff
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: With increased availability, class info sessions and individual appointments, 100% of students will have access to increased support
Goal #2: Attendance will in the remote environment will increase by 10% (from 67% to 77%) Indicator: Aspen and Google Classroom metrics.
Goal #3: 65% of students will increase their attendance based upon increased engagement in the program. Indicator: Attendance numbers
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: MassGrad Promising Practices Grant - Charlestown
Status: New
Start & End Dates: Upon Approval – August 31, 2021
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Contact Name: Lisa Harney Address: Office for College, Career, and Technical Education MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 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: Morgan Soares, Business, Grants, and Partnership Manager, Charlestown High School
Department Head/School Leader: Joel Stembridge, Principal, Charlestown High School
Annual Award Amount: $30,000.00
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: 195 students/12 staff
Sites: Charlestown High School
Key External Partners: Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk University, The Home for Little Wanderers, North End Waterfront Health, and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
Grant Description The purpose of this grant is to provide supplementary support to schools with high concentrations of students at-risk for not graduating from high school. Charlestown High School intends to utilize this grant to support Diploma Plus, the in-house alternative education program, by providing more individualized academic and socio-emotional opportunities through Restorative Justice practices, summer transition programs, and community and family engagement. Furthermore, this grant will support an additional 150 students school-wide through attendance initiatives, family engagement, summer transition programs, and engagement in social-emotional opportunities.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For ~60% of the grant will be allocated to summer programming to provide support for students developing academic skills, and/or or earn credits toward graduation. ~37% of the grant will be used for attendance initiatives focused on re-engaging disengaged and socially distanced community meetings with families. ~3% of the grant will be used for indirect costs.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: Through intentional outreach to high-risk students and increased connection to social-emotional supports, the overall CHS attendance rate will maintain at 82%. We see this as important given the disconnect that can (and has) happened particularly during previous Covid closure and planned remote and hybrid learning. Indicator: Whole-school attendance records.
Goal #2: Summer programming has a target enrollment of 25 students per program, through working in small groups or one-on-one with an academic support staff, will achieve completion of at least one credit recovery class and/or between five-to-eight competency benchmarks based on their learning goals. Indicator: Summer program attendance records, online course completion, and/or competency benchmark completion.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: MassGrad Promising Practices Grant – Madison Park
Status: New
Start & End Dates: Upon Approval – August 31, 2021
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Contact Name: Lisa Harney Address: Office for College, Career, and Technical Education MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 02148 Phone: (781) 338-3903 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Madison Park Technical Vocational HS
BPS Fund Manager: Anthonie Marsh, Business Manager, Madison Park Technical Vocational HS
Department Head/School Leader: Kevin McCaskill, Executive Director
Annual Award Amount: $30,000
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $30,000
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 50 -75
Sites: Madison Park Technical Vocational HS
Key External Partners: Sociedad Latina, Becoming A Man (BAM), Northeastern University, Home for Little Wanderers (HFLW), Program for Education, Afterschool, & Resiliency (PEAR), Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships (BCHNP)
Grant Description
Madison Park TVHS looks to increase the performance of students who will serve under this grant, as well as providing social and emotional supports to them in an effort to prepare them to not only graduate from high school, but also prepare them for opportunities after graduation. Operating remotely, Madison Park TVHS will utilize the services of BAM, HFLW, BCHNP, and PEAR to provide support for students’ social and emotional well being through frequent communication and service for referrals for students and families. Northeastern University tutors will be utilized to support students in academic content areas where needed. Utilizing the Madison Park TVHS Saturday School Program (starting remotely) and providing additional after school opportunities (remotely to start) through the school’s Student Support Services, students will have opportunities to experience and gain confidence, self- assurance, maturity, self-discipline, resiliency, drive, determination, and a sense of accomplishment that greatly benefit them. Madison Park TVHS staff has been trained in social/emotional methodology and are adept at supporting the unique needs of individual students. Utilizing the HSA (administered through
PEAR) and other school assessment tools, school personnel and partners can tailor supports to meet the individual needs of each student during very session of after school supports or Saturday School. Students will also have the opportunity to take online course to make up classes that are required for graduation.
Progress monitoring will play an integral role in showcasing student progress. Students’ teachers, school counselors, coaches, parents, and other caregiver will be kept abreast of student progress through weekly or bi-weekly progress reports, as well as email and phone communication. Madison Park TVHS will develop an incentive program that rewards students who are making consistent strides in school performance, attendance, discipline, and other aspects of the student’s development. Students will also receive guidance in navigating post-high school opportunities within their current career vocational technical program of study and/or post secondary education.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
$20,000 in stipends for teachers and support staff $ 5,000 for technology $ 5,000 for supplemental learning materials
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal 1: Average daily attendance (ADA) rates will increase for program participants by 3% over previous year’s rate. Indicator: Monthly monitoring of ADA rates for program participants
Goal 2: 80% program participants will make up prior courses required for promotion and graduation by June 30, 2021. Indicator: Successful completion and passing of required coursework
Goal 3: 100% of students will meet the MCAS or MCAS portfolio requirement for graduation. Indicator: MCAS results or MCAS portfolio determination (or CD determinations)
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant
Status: New
Start & End Dates: September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Sarah Slautterback 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-3399 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Department of Opportunity Youth
BPS Fund Manager: Brian Marques
Department Head/School Leader: Brian Marques, Director of Opportunity Youth
Annual Award Amount: $115,000
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $335,000
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 4,500
Sites: District-wide
Key External Partners: Metro Housing Boston, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Rosie’s Place, FamilyAid Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development
Grant Description
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act prioritizes funds to support the education of homeless students through high quality programming in any or all of the following: 1. Programming designed to raise awareness throughout the district and community including professional development opportunities for homeless education liaisons; 2. Tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other educational services that help homeless students reach the same challenging state content and student performance standards to which all students are held; 3. Developmentally appropriate early childhood education programs, not otherwise provided through federal, state, or Local funding for homeless preschool children; 4. Services and assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless students, particularly those that are not enrolled in school, in public school programs or services provided to housed students; 5. Before- and after-school programs, mentoring, summer programs for homeless children and youth, and services/assistance to attract, engage, and retain homeless students in these programs; 6. Collaborating with external agencies to provide homeless students and families with medical, dental, mental health, and other community and state services; 7. Meaningful involvement of homeless parents in their student's education: 8. Violence prevention counseling, referrals to counseling, and/or address the needs of homeless students who are domestic violence survivors;
9. Supplies to non-school facilities and/or adapting these facilities to enable them to provide services; and 10. Extraordinary or emergency services to eligible students as necessary to enroll and retain them in school. Boston Public Schools (BPS) will leverage the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Grant to support training and professional development of school-based homeless liaisons across every school in the district, expanded access to summer programming, as well as case management and wraparound support for over 4,500 students experiencing homelessness in BPS. The grant aligns with the district's focus on engaging students, families and community organizations as advocates and partners, as well as delivering a coordinated system of highly qualified supports. The training and professional development component will focus on building institutional knowledge and organizational capacity, across the district’s network of school-based homeless liaisons, to better assist families in accessing and navigating the shelter and affordable housing systems. Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
The expense categories this grant pays for include personnel, such as salary and fringe to staff a 1.0 FTE social worker to support students and families experiencing homelessness, costs to contract expert facilitation of the housing and shelter access professional development series, costs of basic needs supplies for the central closet, including backpacks, school supplies, hygiene items and other basic necessities, as well as travel to conduct community outreach and school-based support activities and indirect costs.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: Increase collaborative partnerships with external agencies to provide homeless students and families with medical, dental, mental health, and other community and state services. Indicators: • Number of new community partnerships as identified through the Opportunity Portfolio and PartnerBPS • New memorandums of understanding (MOU) focused on services to precariously housed students and families • Participation and representation in the HERN Community Coordination Council (HERNccc)
Goal #2: Increase number and choice of summer programs for students experiencing homelessness, and services/assistance to attract, engage, and retain students in these programs. Indicators: • Number of summer programming sites available for families to choose from for students experiencing homelessness • Number of students experiencing homelessness to participate in BPS summer programming
Goal #3: Raise awareness throughout the district and community including professional development opportunities for homeless education liaisons. Indicators: • Number of schools to participate in professional development series • Number of school-based homeless liaisons to participate in professional development series
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Perkins V
Status: New
Start & End Dates: September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Alex Lilley, Federal Programs Coordinator Resource Allocation Strategy and Planning Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-6212 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Office of Career and Technical Education
BPS Fund Manager: Michelle Sylvaria, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education
Department Head/School Leader: Michelle Sylvaria, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education
Annual Award Amount: $1,632,474
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: The target audience is students and staff in CVTE and CTE programs district wide. Over 2,500 students are served in grades 9 through 12.
Sites: Madison Park TVHS, Boston Arts Academy, Boston International High School, Boston Green Academy, Jeremiah Burke High School, East Boston High School, TechBoston Academy, English High School, Edward Kennedy Health Career Academy, John D. O’Bryant High School, New Mission High School.
Key External Partners: Private Industry Council, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College, Massachusetts Vocational Association, Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Grant Description
The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) is the federal source of funds for Perkins allocation grants to improve career and technical education programs in secondary education districts. The grant provides individuals with the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in a knowledge- and skills-based economy. Perkins supports career and technical education that prepares its students both for postsecondary education and the careers of their choice.
Career and Technical Education Programs meet the definition of career and technical education and have organized educational activities that- (A) offer a sequence of courses which— (i) provide individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions; (ii) provide technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, a certificate; and (iii) may include prerequisite courses (other than a remedial course) that meet the requirements of this subparagraph; and (B) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry including entrepreneurship.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
Perkins V grant program may support implementation of Curriculum and Instruction, Assessment, Professional Development and Student Support. The five key levers that DESE has identified for increasing student performance statewide include: preparing students for college and career; strengthening curriculum and instruction; strengthening educator effectiveness; supporting data use to improve policy decisions and student achievement; and turning around our lowest performing schools. Perkins V funding is used to initiate, improve, and expand career and technical education programs and improve student outcomes. Applicable programs are identified by DESE.
~50% of the grant equipment and instructional materials ~15% Technology ~20% Staff and support ~5% Professional Development ~10% Post-secondary linkages/ support services
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Our district goal is to increase student achievement on Perkins Core Indicators of academic and technical achievement graduation rates and planning and connections for students in high wage, high demand careers and postsecondary education. Goal #1: The MA Perkins V plan created a new indicator called work-based learning. All students will need an internship, capstone, co-operative education experience and/ or an industry recognized credential by graduation. The indicator will be launched this school year. The state target is for 83.86% of students to complete work-based learning. Indicator: Student work-based learning
Goal #2: Improve graduation rates for students enrolled in CTE programming to 88% by May 2021. Our most recent data for all CTE students in BPS is 86.85%. Indicator: Graduating rates
Goal #3: All graduates of a CTE program who completed a sequence of two or more CTE classes will have a positive post-secondary placement in a post-secondary institution, the workforce, and/or the military. Our most recent data shows a 91.94 % positive placement according to our one year graduate survey. Indicator: Post-Secondary Placement
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM – BPS21585 Grant Name: Promoting Adolescent Health through School-Based HIV Prevention Status: Increase Grant Type: Competitive Start & End Dates: August 1, 2020 – July 31, 2021 Funding Source: Federal Grantor Contact: Yolanda Cavalier Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) Program Development & Services Branch (PDSB) 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-75 Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027 (404) 639-3381 [email protected] Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Health and Wellness Department BPS Fund Manager: Jill Carter, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Annual Award Amount: $410,000 +$190,909 $600,909 Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $2,240,909 (five years) Carry-forward option: Yes Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: The BPS program, Empowering Teens Through Health (ETTH), will reach 11,884 6-12 graders in 18 priority schools and ultimately all 27,326 6-12 graders in BPS as we expand our program rollout to the remaining middle and high school diffusion schools. Sites: Districtwide – The following 18 schools will be considered priority schools for this program: Boston Collaborative High School, Boston Community Leadership Academy,Boston Green Academy, Boston International Newcomer High School, Boston Latin Academy, Boston Latin School, Brighton High School, Charlestown High School, Dearborn STEM 6-12 Early College Academy, Excel High School, Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Upper, Josiah Quincy Upper School, Madison Park High School, Margarita Muniz Academy, Muriel S. Snowden International School at Copley, TechBoston Academy 6-12, William McKinley Preparatory High School, William McKinley South End Academy
Key External Partners: Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Boston Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS), Boston Medical Center, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Children's Hospital, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network of Massachusetts (GLSEN MA) , Fenway Health.Greater Boston PFLAG, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center, Tufts Medical Center
Grant Description
BPS will catalyze comprehensive, sustainable change resulting in delaying the onset of sexual activity; decreasing rates of sex without condoms; increasing the use of contraceptives; decreasing risk behaviors that place youth at higher risk of adverse health outcomes including substance abuse, violence and mental illness; decreasing HIV infection and other STDs; decreasing pregnancy rates and increasing academic success over a five-year period. Students in 18 priority schools will receive intensified supports, including evidence-informed sexual health education (SHE), strengthening access to and use of key sexual health services (SHS), and establishing and maintaining safe and supportive environments (SSE). BPS will also engage in School-Based Surveillance using the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and Profiles Surveys. The BPS High School YRBS is the primary surveillance tool used in Boston to monitor youth health behaviors, including unhealthy risk behaviors which contribute to the leading causes of premature morbidity and mortality among adolescent youth. The resulting data is used to describe the prevalence of health risk behaviors among all youth; evaluate trends over time; inventory, evaluate, and improve school programs and policies aimed to address these health risk behaviors; and develop key community partnerships to maximize the impact of activities. The addition of the middle schools through ETTH will expand the scope of data collected to reach and respond to a wider adolescent population. BPS will use the Profiles Survey to inventory health programs, services, and policies in all BPS MS and HS to identify gaps in current sexual health education, sexual health services, and safe and supportive environments. BPS will collaborate with community partners and use this data to target efforts in schools lacking health programs, services and policies, and distribute resources to schools where the greatest need is demonstrated. Narrowing the gap in sexual health education and services and implementation of comprehensive health policies will ensure that all BPS students have equitable access to quality resources and systems to maximize their potential for developing healthful behaviors. Supplemental funds awarded: This project aims to mitigate the impacts of disruptions related to COVID-19 within BPS schools through the promotion of Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) for both BPS students and staff and strategies designed to increase student and family access to mental health services. The objectives of the project are consistent with the goals of BPS21585. The proposed project will be led by a new position entitled “Project Coordinator” from the Office of Health and Wellness. This position will coordinate a multi-departmental initiative and work collaboratively with a team of staff from the Office of Behavioral Health, the Office of Equity, the Office of Student, Family and Community Advancement, the Office of Health and Wellness (HE Department and SEL Department), and BPS Office of Student Health Services. Expense Categories this Grant Pays For ~48% in Personnel ~13.9% in Fringe ~2% in Travel ~1.9% in Supplies ~ 15% in Contractual Services ~18.7% in Other ~2.7% in Indirect Costs
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals Goal #1: Delayed onset of sexual activity among adolescents as evidenced by a target 15% reduction of adolescents who have ever had sexual intercourse, target 10% reduction of those currently sexually active, and target 10% reduction of those having had sexual intercourse with four or more persons in their lifetime.
Indicators: # and % of 18 priority schools that have a teacher/staff member delivering sexual health education (Profiles Survey; Health and Wellness Department Records). Student behaviors (Middle School and High School YRBS-odd years).
Goal #2: Target a 20% increase in the % of sexually active adolescents who use condoms and 10% increase in the use of both condoms and other contraceptive use. Indicators: # and % of schools that have established a Condom Availability Team (Health Services Site Visit Assessment Log). # and % of schools where nurse distributes condoms as a part of the CAT team (Profiles Survey). Student outcomes (Middle School and High School YRBS-odd years).
Goal #3: Decrease risk behaviors that place youth at a higher risk of adverse health outcomes as evidenced by a target 10% decrease in substance abuse, target 10% decrease in violence, and target 15% decreased incidence of mental illness. Indicators: # and % of schools that have a trained Bullying Prevention Specialist. (Grant SSE Survey and Succeed Boston Department Records). # and % of high schools that have established student-led Gay Straight Alliances (Grant SSE Survey and Succeed Boston-Department Records). Student outcomes (Middle School and High School YRBS-odd years).
Goal #4: Target a 10% decrease in rates of HIV infection; target a 15% decrease in rate of STDs; and target a 10% decrease in pregnancy rates. Indicators: # and % of 18 priority schools that have a teacher/staff member delivering sexual health education (Profiles Survey; Health and Wellness Department Records). # and % of schools that have established a Condom Availability Team (Health Services Site Visit Assessment Log). # and % of schools where nurse distributes condoms as a part of the CAT team (Profiles Survey).
Goal #5: Increased academic success as evidenced by a target 10% increase in graduation rates and a 5% decrease in chronic absenteeism rates. Indicators: Graduation rates and absenteeism rates.
Supplemental Funding Goals: Goal #1: Expand SEL Programming for both Students and School Faculty and Staff a) Provide support (i.e., training, professional development, access to services) to enhance the emotional and mental well-being of school faculty and staff a. Outcome: Increase number of priority schools providing adult SEL and well-being opportunities b) Increase staff capacity (i.e., training, professional development, access to resources) to deliver skills-based Comprehensive Health Education inclusive of Transformative SEL to support the mental health and well-being of students a. Outcomes: Increase school delivery of explicit Transformative SEL lessons and resources by trained school staff Indicators: • records of attendance monitoring the reach and impact of our professional development • access and implementation of CHE lessons all of which embed SEL competencies will monitored biannually
Goal #2: Increase Student and Family Access to Mental Health Services a) Connect students to trusted support services and resources when needed and during a crisis
a. Outcome: Increase student awareness of and access to internal and external mental health services b) Provide workshops and resources for caregivers on how to support adolescent mental health and well-being a. Outcome: Increase caregiver knowledge on the common signs, symptoms and impacts of adolescent mental health illness as well as awareness of and access to internal and external mental health services. Indicators: • # of people who access the mental health services resources and information on Y2Connect through the website analytics data • records of attendance monitoring the reach and impact of workshops
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Remote Learning Technology Essentials
Status: New
Start & End Dates: September 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Funding Source: State
Grantor Contact: Contact Name: Jackie Gantzer Address 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Office of Instructional and Information Technology
BPS Fund Manager: Mark Racine, Director of Technology
Annual Award Amount: $672,342
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 50,000
Sites: Districtwide
Key External Partners: N/A
Grant Description
The Remote Learning Technology Essentials grant will provide two resources for students to support our reopening & remote learning needs: 1) Home Internet support - The funds will be used to expand efforts to provide at-home Internet access for families in need. This will expand the current City of Boston contract for sponsored Internet access through TechGoesHome. 2) Headphones - Funds will provide all special education and English Language Learners with access to headphones with a microphone.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For Home Internet Support - $250,000 to provide 2000 households with home broadband financial support Headphones - $422,342 to provide 24,000 students with headphones for use with remote learning
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals Goal #1: Ensure that families in need of financial assistance will be able to access home broadband supports. In the spring of 2020, BPS identified 1800 families who needed home internet access supports via hotspots. In the fall of 2020, this program will transition families to a home broadband service.
Goal #2: By October of 2020, all headphones will be distributed to special education and English Language Learners.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Title III
Status: New
Start & End Dates: September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2021
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Julia Foodman, Resource Allocation Strategy and Planning DESE, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-3577 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Office of English Learners
BPS Fund Manager: Faye Karp, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of English Learners
Department Head/School Leader: Faye Karp, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of English Learners
Annual Award Amount: $2,399,620
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year): $2,399,620
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: ELs eligible for Title III services are those who are not making adequate annual progress and need additional support with English language acquisition and grade-level academic content. As such, Title III ELs are anticipated to number for SY20- 21, approximately 60% of the district’s K2-12 ELs, based on the number of ELs who did not meet the DESE progress benchmark on the 2020 ACCESS assessment.
Sites: Districtwide
Grant Description
Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides supplemental funds to improve the education of English learners (ELs), including immigrant children and youth, by assisting the children and youth to learn English and meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards. Priorities and required activities of formula subgrants are to: increase English proficiency and academic achievement in core academic subjects of English learners by providing high-quality language instruction programs and content area teaching; develop, implement, and provide before-school, after- school, weekend, and summer opportunities for English language and academic content instruction for EL students; provide high-quality professional development such as that which would enhance the skills and knowledge of classroom teachers to deliver effective sheltered content and English language instruction
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~25% of the grant will be allocated to provide direct, supplemental services to Title III ELs in the form of summer and other out-of-school programs (includes cost of teacher stipends, CBO contracts, and materials) $598,682
~39% of the grant will be allocated to provide high-quality professional development to schools (instructional PD tailored to school needs and via EL Instructional Specialists). ~32% of the grant will be allocated to provide direct service and other support to families of ELs (EL Family Resource specialists, Parent Literacy Program and parent ESOL classes). ~2% of the grant will be allocated to provide equitable services to participating private schools based on the per pupil rate of $160. ~2% of the grant will be allocated to cover indirect costs, the maximum allowable under the terms of the grant.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: Track student progress in core content and ESL for 100% of students participating in the Title III program. The purpose of tracking student progress will enable the district to assess the effectiveness of the Title III program. Indicator: Pre- and post-assessment scores in Core Content and ESL; ACCESS and MCAS.
Goal #2: Student proficiency in Core Content and/ or ESL will increase by 8-10% for all participants in all Supplemental Programs; Summer, After School, etc. This will be assessed by grade level Common Core-Aligned Curriculum via pre and post assessments. Indicator: Pre- and post-assessment scores in Core Content and ESL.
Goal #3: Increase English Learner family participation in COVID related supports around technology, student supports, and community engagement activities by 15% across all language groups. Indicator: Year to year comparatives of programs
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: Title IV
Status: Increase
Start & End Dates: September 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Funding Source: Federal through State
Grantor Contact: Julia Foodman, Resource Allocation Strategy and Planning ESE, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 Phone: 781-338-3577 Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Districtwide
BPS Fund Manager: Nate Kuder, Chief Financial Officer
Department Head/School Leader: Nate Kuder, Chief Financial Officer
Annual Award Amount: $2,688,070 +175.920 $2,863,990
Total Award Amount (if grant period more than a year):
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 54,871
Sites: Districtwide
Key External Partners: None
Grant Description
Title IVA is a federal entitlement program that provides funds to school districts for supplemental services and/or supports that address one or more of the following three priority areas: access to a well- rounded education, improving school conditions for learning to ensure safe and healthy students, and supporting effective use of technology. Funds may be used for, but not limited to the following: direct services, professional development, salaries, and materials/supplies.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
~86% of the grant will be used to fund district wide Partners like Boston Debate League, Massisight and Private Industry Council, all focused on Title IV’s primary purpose of access to a well-rounded education and safe and healthy schools. ~13% of the grant will be used to fund equitable participation of students and educators in private schools located within district boundaries for federally funded programs and services under Title IVA. ~1% of the grant will be used to fund indirect expenses.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal #1: BPS will contract with the Boston Debate League to provide 12 City-Wide Debate Tournaments for Boston Public Schools middle schools and high schools, along with professional development and network supports to debate coaches. This investment will allow Debate Teams at all BPS schools the ability to participate wide debate tournaments, an essential component of the Boston Public Schools’ highly effective debate model. Indicator: Student attendance data and district assessments
Goal #2: The Boston Public Schools (BPS) will contract with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) to provide career awareness activities, work readiness training, job and internship opportunities, and work-based skill development for students, collaborate on BPS graduate longitudinal studies and state- mandated follow-up surveys for CTE students, and develop pathway partnerships between high schools and employers. In addition, the PIC will provide dropout recovery services through the BPS re- engagement center. The PIC will work with the BPS Office of Secondary Schools to configure the career specialist staff structure to support at existing partner schools. In addition, PIC will work with the Office of Information and Instructional Technology to develop and place specialized technology interns in select high schools. Indicator: Student attendance data and district assessments
Goal #3: Boston Public Schools will contract with an organization to operate an evidence-based Mentoring and Counseling for Young Men Program for middle school and high school males. The program will operate in a school, during the school day and throughout the entire school. The program will provide clinically-based group sessions that meet as a 12-15 student cohort once per week over a two year period and work through a curriculum that incorporates aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy, youth development and mentoring. School-based social emotional support program helps at-risk young men in middle and high school. Indicator: Student and educator school climate survey
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACCEPTANCE FORM
Grant Name: USFA Support for Emergency Meals
Status: New
Start & End Dates: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021
Funding Source: Private
Grantor Contact: Name: Katie Wilson, Executive Director Address: Urban School Food Alliance, 1 Penn Plaza #6139 New York, NY 10119 Phone: Email: [email protected]
Lead BPS Department and/or School(s): Food and Nutrition Services
BPS Fund Manager: Eric Stevens, Director of Finance and Business Development
Department Head/School Leader: Laura Benavidez, Executive Director
Annual Award Amount: $202,428.00
Carry-forward option: No
Approximate # of students (or teachers, central office staff) served: 3,000
Sites: Districtwide
Key External Partners: City of Boston
Grant Description
The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) has partnered with a number of private, non-profit and corporate partners to raise funds for the purpose of mitigating the enormous financial losses incurred by district school nutrition programs that are members of the organization. These funds are available only to USFA member districts to be used for emergency feeding activities during COVID-19 for which there are limited or no other sources of funding.
Expense Categories this Grant Pays For
• Food (including cost of delivery) • Supplies
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound (SMART) Goals
Goal: Provide at least 3,000 students with breakfast and lunch daily at their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 closure. Households with special needs students that have mobility needs that typically require door-to-door transportation to and from school are eligible for meal delivery.