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FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Renewal Meeting

FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Renewal Meeting. May 28, 2013 9:00 - 11:00 AM Central Office 51 Sleeper Street, 4 th Floor Boston, MA. Today’s Agenda. Overview of the FY14 IPLE renewal application: Content FY2014 Eligibility Requirements

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FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Renewal Meeting

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  1. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning EnvironmentsGrant Renewal Meeting May 28, 2013 9:00 - 11:00 AM Central Office 51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA

  2. Today’s Agenda • Overview of the FY14 IPLE renewal application: • Content • FY2014 Eligibility Requirements • Nuts and Bolts of the Process • Budget Guidance • IPLE & QRIS

  3. FY14 IPLE Grant Renewal Meeting • All questions must be emailed by MAY 28, 2013 at 4 PM (today) to EECSubmission@massmail.state.ma.us • The Q&A will be posted on May 31, 2013 (estimated) • The Q& A document then becomes an official part of the Grant Application – be sure to read it carefully!

  4. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Application Sections • Procurement Information • EEC Purpose/Strategic Directions • Grant Specific Information • Grant Renewal Priorities • Purpose of Grant and Eligibility Requirements • Mandatory Administrative Requirements • Required Services • Funding • Use of Funds • Reporting • Project Duration • Required Forms to be Submitted • Additional Information • Timeline

  5. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Overview • Grant Posting Available: • COMM-PASS at www.ebidsourcing.com • Available on EEC’s website at www.mass.gov/EEC • Grantees are responsible for checking COMM-pass and EEC’s website for updates to the RFR.

  6. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Overview • Grant Posting Available • COMM-PASS • Available on EEC’s website at: www.mass.gov/EEC Funding Opportunities - Open Renewal Grants

  7. EEC’s Strategic Linkages: Supporting Young Children in Inclusive Settings “To assure every child a fair and full opportunity to reach his or her full potential by providing and encouraging services which maximize a child’s capacity and opportunity to learn, which strengthen family life, and support families in their essential function of nurturing a child’s physical, social, educational, moral, and spiritual development.”

  8. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Overarching Priorities In accordance with EEC’s Strategic Priorities, and to support the development of a Comprehensive Early Learning System which includes goals for: • Improving program quality, • Improving outcomes for children with high needs statewide, • Closing the readiness gap between children with high needs and their peers, and • Strengthening linkages between schools and communities to promote healthy child development and sustain program effects in early elementary grades. 8

  9. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Purpose • The Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant (IPLE), formerly known as Chapter 188/Phase I Direct Services of Community Partnership for Children Grant (CPC), was designed to support inclusive preschool learning environments serving preschool-age children with disabilities in early education and care settings with their same-aged peers without disabilities.

  10. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Grant Renewal Priorities Through this renewal grant, EEC seeks tocontinue to: • Support program capacity to offer inclusive preschool learning environments in center-based programs and public preschools services; and • Enhance program quality by continuing to require IPLE funded programs to participate in QRIS.

  11. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: LeadAgency Eligibility Requirements • This grant seeks to renew programs and services provided by FY2013 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environment (IPLE) grantees; therefore, • Only lead agencies or their sub-recipients that received IPLE grant funds in FY2013 are eligible to apply for these funds, provided that the FY2014 lead agencies or sub-recipients continue to meet eligibility requirements. A list of the FY14 Eligible Grantees and their maximum allocation amount is listed in Appendix C: FY2014 Fund Code 391 Grant Eligibility Amount.

  12. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Grant Renewal Priorities Through this renewal grant, EEC seeks tocontinue to: • Support program capacity to offer inclusive preschool learning environments in center-based programs and public preschools services; and • Enhance program quality by continuing to require IPLE funded programs to participate in QRIS.

  13. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Eligibility Requirements • All FY2013 IPLE grantees seeking renewal of this funding opportunity must be participating in Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and must be self-assessed at QRIS Level 2 by June 30, 2013. • To verify QRIS status, grantees must ensure that IPLE funded programs submit their QRIS Application Summary QRIS Application Summary Profiles electronically to EEC on or before June 30, 2013 by 4:00PM. • Each Program Administrator, Preschool Teacher, and Paraprofessional working at the program and/or school funded through the IPLE Grant must be registered in the Professional Qualifications Registry (PQR) ensuring that information related Education, Work Experience, Educational Training and Professional Development completed within the last five (5) years is reported in the appropriate sections in the PQR.

  14. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Mandatory Administrative Requirements • The Brain Building in Progress Campaign promotes programs, activities, and sites where early education innovation is happening and will offer individuals, families, community organizations, policy makers, and business leaders tangible ways they can get involved and take action.  • These materials and resources may include, but are not limited to, the following: marketing products (e.g., flyers, brochures, pamphlets); professional development products printed by the grantees (e.g., books/booklets, guides, course readers); websites; and other products as determined by EEC.   • Whenever possible and appropriate, grantees should continue to post the Brain Building in Progress website (www.brainbuildinginprogress.org) • The Brain Building in Progress logo http://www.eec.state.ma.us/BBIPmaterials.aspx. 

  15. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Required Services Existing IPLE grantees must continue to provide the following services with the FY14 grant funds: I. Provide an inclusive preschool learning environment in the same IPLE funded programs and IPLE funded classrooms that served children through the FY2013 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant. • These educational settings must continue to meet the standards and requirements of an inclusive preschool learning environment.

  16. IPLE Required Services:Standards and requirements of an inclusive preschool learning environment Settings • Services must be provided in public schools, Head Start programs, and/or EEC licensed child care programs. For the purpose of the grant theses educational settings are referred to as IPLE funded programs. • In the event that an FY13 IPLE funded setting (classrooms or program), no longer meets the definition, must notify EEC of their intent toredistribute to funding to other programs or classrooms provided those classrooms satisfy the definition and criteria of an inclusive preschool learning environment.

  17. IPLE Required Services:Standards and requirements of an inclusive preschool learning environment Class Size and Teacher-Child Ratio • Class size may not exceed 20 children with one teacher and one aide when the classroom has up to five children with disabilities. • Alternatively, class size may not exceed 15 children with one teacher and one aide when the classroom has six or seven children with disabilities. • For the purpose of the grant, these classrooms are referred to as IPLE funded classrooms, as thefunding provided through Fund Code 391 must support the cost of salaries and fringe benefits of the preschool teacher and preschool paraprofessional who provide direct program services within these designated classroom setting(s).

  18. IPLE Required Services:Standards and requirements of an inclusive preschool learning environment Composition of Children Enrolled • At least 15% of the children enrolled in each of the IPLE funded classroom must have a documented disability for the classroom to be considered an inclusive preschool learning environment. • For each child that is enrolled in the IPLE funded program and participant in the IPLE funded classroom as a “child with disability”, the IPLE program is required to have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) in place that documents each child’s special education needs and describes the services that are being provided to meet those needs.

  19. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Required Services II. Support the development and early learning of children with and without disabilities in inclusive preschool settings through the implementation of a developmentally appropriate and inclusive early childhood curriculum aligned with: • The Massachusetts Preschool Early Learning Guidelines • The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Preschool and Kindergarten • Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement Standards for Center-based/School-based programs • The Early Childhood Program Standards for Three and Four Year Olds

  20. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Required Services III. Engage in efforts to support enhanced Pre-K to 3rd Grade Alignment to improve outcomes for children. Examples may include strategies that address: • School and classroom instructional learning environments • Use of instructional tools and practices • data and assessments to inform instruction of children • Transitions and pathways for learning are taken into consideration for children. • Quality of administrators and leadership • Mechanisms for enhanced cross-sector alignment with Grades K-3rd grade • Engagement of families in their children’s learning • Ongoing teacher quality and capacity.

  21. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Required Services IV. Awarded Grantees are also required to ensure that IPLE funded programs continue to: • Participate in the Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). • FY2014 QRIS participation activities must be demonstrated through the implementation of QRIS program improvement activities that will support the IPLE funded program in its advancement to the next QRIS level (QRIS Level 3) and/or assist the IPLE funded programs in the maintenance of their QRIS Level 2 status.

  22. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Funding • EEC anticipates that up to $8,342,828 may be made available for the FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Renewal Grant. • Funding is ultimately subject to FY2014 final state budget appropriations, budget language and EEC Board approval. • In the event that an additional reduction in funding occurs, EEC reserves the right to reduce grant awards and/or modify required services or priorities associated with these grants. • Should additional funds become available, EEC reserves the right to increase awards based on the responses received; identified community needs, and the needs of and/or best value to the Commonwealth. EEC also reserves the right to require additional services and/or extend existing services. See Appendix C: FY2014 Fund Code 391 Grant Eligibility Amount. 22

  23. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Use of Funds • IPLE renewal grants may be used to fund • Preschool teachers’ salaries • Paraprofessionals’ salaries • Staff fringe benefits • Children’s transportation cost to and from inclusive programs Specific exceptions are outlined in the Grant Application (RFR) and the Funding Parameters Expenditures in the Budget workbook. These should be reviewed carefully.

  24. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Allowable Use of Funds Preschool Teacher and Paraprofessional Salaries, & Fringe Benefits • Preschool Teachers Salaries for costs associated with staff time that will be used to fulfill the grant requirements in the designated IPLE funded settings (Line Item 1). • Paraprofessional Salaries for costs associated with staff time that will be used to fulfill the grant requirements in the designated IPLE funded settings (Line Item 2). • Fringe Benefits costs associated with the IPLE funded positions (Line Item 3). • Transportation for costs of transporting children to and from inclusive programs, including subcontracted staff for transportations services (Line Item 4).

  25. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Allowable Use of Funds Preschool Teacher and Paraprofessional Salaries, & Fringe Benefits Fund Use Restrictions • Limited to Preschool Teachers and/or Paraprofessional positions in the designated IPLE funded classrooms only. These positions are those that are in direct relation to maintaining the required adult/child ratios. • Salaries in public schools settings must be proportionate to the number of children without IEPs, as federal special education funds (Fund Code 262) should be used for the cost related to children with IEPs. • In the event that funding cannot be used in those classrooms or programs, because the setting no longer meets the definition, funding may be redistributed to other programs or classrooms provided those classrooms satisfy the definition and criteria of an inclusive preschool learning environment.

  26. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Unallowable Fund Use: • Grant funds cannot be used to supplant federal preschool special education funds provided under IDEA, federal Head Start funding, or state supplemental Head Start funds; • Grant funds cannot be used to support classrooms where children with documented special needs and/or disabilities comprise over 50% of the classroom enrollment, as these settings are considered substantially separate learning environments; • Cost related to salaries and/or stipends for consultants or for one-on-one aides or special education specialists are not allowed; • Cost for the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS) are not allowed; • Transportation cost for students with disabilities, where these services are delivered through a child’s IEP are not an allowable use of 391 funds; • All Administration or Indirect Costs for the Lead agency and Sub-recipients are not an allowable use of funds as this grant funds direct service activities only; and • Lobbying Expenses: Grant funds shall not be used to cover costs incurred by employees, lobbyists, or consultants to influence any local, state, or Federal legislation or policy in either the Legislative or Executive branch.

  27. FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: Reporting and Grant Period • Grant Period: July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 • All Budget Amendment Requests must be submitted on or before April 15, 2014. • Grantees will be required to submit a final report on the use of grant funds and the outcome measures of the funded activities on or before August 31, 2014. • EEC will provide the grantee with the format for such reports. 27

  28. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Application Components • Checklist Form • Signed Cover page (may be a scanned signed original, PDF-electronically only) • IPLE Budget Workbook • Front Page • Fund Allocation and Budget Narrative • Signed Schedule A Form (if applicable) • Agency Contact Information Form  • FY2014 Programmatic Questions 1-7 (Section A) • FY2014 Programmatic Questions 8-10 (Section B) • QRIS Application Summary Form (due on or before June 30, 2013) • MA Standard Administrative Forms

  29. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Appendices Additional Information (for reference only) • Appendix A: Budget Workbook Instructions • Appendix B: Grant Payment Terms, Grant Expenditures, Termination, Recoupment of Funds, and Relevant Law    • Appendix C: FY2014 Fund Code 391 Eligible Grantees and Funding Amounts. • Appendix D: QRIS Application Summary Profile Submission Instructions and QRIS TA Contact Information. • Appendix E: QRIS Resources for Programs (http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/qris/qris-resources-for-programs.html) • Appendix F: EEC Transportation Policy and Plan Reference (http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/provider-and-program-administration/transportation-policy.html)

  30. FY2014 IPLE: Checklist for Grant Application  Instructions: Write Your Lead Agency name Indicate by marking that all items have been submitted. Please use the most current forms associated with the grant application. Assemble and submit in the order as listed

  31. FY2014 Application Signed Cover Page The electronic version: may be a scanned signed original, PDF) Original Mailed Version Requires Signature of authorized signatory in blue ink

  32. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Budget Workbook There are six (6) tabs in the Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Budget Workbook that are part of the FY14 IPLE Grant Application. • I. IPLE Front Page • II. Fund Use Parameters • III. Fund Allocation and Budget Narrative • IV. SchA Form (Schedule A Form should be completed only if applicable) • V. Agency Contact Form • VI. Programmatic Questions 1-7 (Section A)

  33. FY2014 IPLE Grant: IPLE Budget Workbook Front Page .

  34. FY14 IPLE: Consolidated Funding Amounts “Intent to Bid” – critical to know if grantees are intending to bid, not intending to bid, or applying as the Lead Agency for another eligible applicant. • Grantees continue to have the option of Consolidated Funding Amounts. • The Schedule A form is located in the Budget Workbook in the tab marked “III SchA Form”. This must be completed with the names of the participating agencies and the amount of funds assigned by each, and the original signature by the authorized signatory (in blue ink) • When the check box is selected and the Schedule A form is completed, the total amount assigned from the Schedule A form will appear in Amount Assigned field and in Part C on the front page. Otherwise, all fields on the schedule A form should be blank or display “$0.00.”

  35. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Fund Allocation and Budget Narrative IPLE Budget Detail and Narrative Tab Information for Line Items 1 - 4 should be completed. These are direct service line items only. TOTAL REQUEST FOR FUNDS SHOULD BE IN WHOLE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ONLY

  36. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Fund Allocation and Budget Narrative IPLE Budget Detail and Narrative Tab Information for Line Items 1 - 4 should be completed. These are direct service line items only. • Salaries and Fringe Lines 1-3 • Information in Columns A and B must include: • Number of Staff and their total number of FTEs (Full-Time Equivalencies in decimal format) and • Provide a Budget Narrative in Column D . • All fields where proposed expenditures listed in Column C must be accompanied by a budget narrative that provides a brief explanation of how the specified funds will aligned with specific grant related activities. Please note that quantitative and qualitative information should be included. For example: • salaries for 2 (full time) preschools teachers at Super K School working 1.0 FTEs each in Your TOWN, MA or • 3 paraprofessionals at 0.30 FTEs each at Great PreK1 schools , half-day pre-k- in MYTOWN, MA. --- (Column D offered space f or ~ 255 characters)

  37. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Fund Allocation and Budget Narrative • Transportation of Students Line 4 • Indicate the projected total number of children that will receive transportation in FY14 through Fund Code 391 • and the estimated cost per child in the budget narrative section. • Totals and sub-totals will calculate automatically based upon the dollar amounts entered in Column C. • , all other cells are protected as they contain formulas; (you cannot type in these cells.) • Again, if you are using a Schedule A Form, the Budget and Budget Narrative should reflect the proposed spending for the Total Eligibility Amount for the Lead Agency and all specified participating agencies that have given authorization. • Appendix A offers additional instructions for Budget Workbook Yellow Cells are available for data entry

  38. FY2014 IPLE Grant: FY2014 Programmatic Questions 1-7 (Section A) • Responses are required for all Programmatic Questions 1-7 (Section A) in the FY14 IPLE excel workbook. • This section includes IPLE Programmatic Questions1-7 (Section A) are located on sixth tab of the FY14 Budget workbook “Programmatic Questions 1-7 (Section A)”.

  39. FY2014 IPLE Grant: FY2014 Programmatic Questions 8-10 (Section B) • This document contains the IPLE Programmatic Questions 8 -10 (Section B). • All Section B – Programmatic Questions must be answered in the order they are asked in this document. • Please limit your responses to 1 page per question. Your answer should be typed in Arial font, font size 12, and single-spaced. • Please address how IPLE funded programs continue to meet the grant priority and requirements listed in the FY2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Renewal Grant (See “Required Services” Section located on page 4-5 of the Grant Application for additional information.)

  40. FY2014 IPLE Grant: FY2014 Programmatic Questions • Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments (IPLE): Programs and Schools • 8. Please use the table below to provide a list of the programs and schools that received IPLE funding from your lead agency in FY2013 and confirm that these same programs/schools will continue to receive IPLE funding through your lead agency through this FY2014 grant renewal.

  41. FY2014 IPLE Grant: TimeLine

  42. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Application Submission • Assemble and submit in the order as listed on the Checklist for Grant Application . All submitted information will be reviewed as outlined in the general evaluation criteria. These forms are also all available on EEC website: www.mass.gov/eec and Comm-PASS. • Please save all electronic documents using the following format “Document Name391_your lead agency name” append 391 and your Lead agency name to all copies of documents that will be submitted electronically. • For example “IPLE391Proposal Narrative_Lead agency name” • Please submit documents in its file format i.e. word, excel, etc… To be submitted electronically: Due by4:00 PM on June 13, 2013 The Required Program Forms must be submitted via email as an attachment to EECSubmission@massmail.state.ma.us. Pleaseinclude the name of your agency and name of grant as the subject line of the email.

  43. Application Submission Information One (1) Original and one (1) hard copy of All required documents must be received at EEC’s Central Office by4:00 PM on June 13, 2013 Department of Early Education and Care FY 2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Attention: Jessica Fix, Grant Administration 51 Sleeper Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA 02210 • Electronic workbook • Proposal narrative • Attachments • Fiscal form

  44. FY2014 IPLE Grant: Late Submissions • In general, applications received after the deadline will NOT be reviewed or considered for funding. • EEC reserves the right to review and/or fund an application submitted after the deadline where an emergency situation caused or contributed to the late submission. • EEC shall have the right to specify the amount of time for submission of such additional information/ revisions. • EEC shall have the right to disqualify responses where such information and/or revisions are not submitted within the timeframe specified by EEC.

  45. FY2014 IPLE Grant: FY2013 Evaluation and Rating Criteria  • The general criteria to be considered by evaluators and that more specific criteria may be developed and used by the evaluation team in scoring applications. • Additional information about the grant evaluation and rating criteria is located in Appendix B. • EEC reserves the right to request additional information regarding any responses/applications received. EEC shall have the right to specify the amount of time for submission of such additional information. EEC shall have the right to disqualify responses where such information is not submitted within the timeframe specified by EEC. • Additionally, EEC reserves the right not to award an application based on a Respondent’s proposal.

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