The purpose of this competitive grant program is to provide districts with funding and support to explore structures that promote greater school-level autonomy and empower educators. The planning grant will provide assistance for local stakeholders to participate in an exploration process to determine how their school community can best create sustained autonomy.
Fund use must be consistent with the priorities described above, with the goal of exploring structures to promote autonomy for schools and enhanced decision-making for educators. Funds may be used for a variety of activities, including but not limited to:
None is available.
If awarded funding, awardees must participate in monthly meetings with the DESE team to provide updates on progress and explore the need for further support. One site visit by the DESE team will be a part of progress review as part of a mid-way check point. In concluding the exploration, districts will submit an exit summary no more than 1–2 pages within a provided template and present their finding in an end of grant presentation.
All Massachusetts Local Education Agencies (districts) and Massachusetts schools are eligible to apply for this grant.
Districts will be given competitive priority in scoring for each of the following eligibilities:
Applications are to be submitted by February 1, 2019.
Approximately $30,000 is available through private funds. Districts apply for up to $30,000 to support the activities described above. Grant applications above $10,000 are conditional based on DESE approval of a proposal demonstrating that the district will complete the products and outcomes of these activities.