23MACISGW2 Amendment 4 - Final.docx

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Amendment # 4

Alternate ID #: 23MACISGW2 COMMBUYS Bid #: BD-23-1026-DOE02-DOE01-77790

All changes to the RFR Attachment A Document have been highlighted in yellow.

The updated RFR document changes fall into five categories:

1. An important major change beginning on August 1, 2024 is the instituting of an Archiving Process for CURATE Reports. Additional paragraphs at the bottom of p.2 to the top of p.3 in the Background section clarify two things:

a. first, the process by which past CURATE reports will be archived, and

b. second, the duration of which a CURATE report will sit on the DESE CURATE landing website before Archival moving forward (five years from date of CURATE report publication).

2. Another important major Structural Change to the CURATE Project is the Removal of our “Overall” ratings and the resultant qualification for a Departmental Master Agreement (MA):

a. Qualifications for MAs are now dependent upon all Criterion in the Standards Alignment Domain receiving “Meets Expectations”, AND all Criterion in the Classroom Application Domain receiving either “Partially Meets” or “Meets Expectations.”

b. Details about this change can be found in the Attachment A document at the end of pg. 5 in the Background section, right before the Scope of Service.

3. There have also been other minor Structural Updates to the CURATE Project, outlined at the bottom of p.3 of the Background section, to address:

a. Open Educational Resources: language has been added to dictate how the CURATE Project will handle Open Educational Resources (OER) from multiple publishers. Whenever possible, CURATE will review and evaluate the base program from the original publisher, and direct districts to review additional derivatives from various publishers independent of the CURATE Project.

b. The “Impact on Student Learning” Criterion has been fleshed out and expanded in response to the status of research on curriculum-specific impact on student learning;

c. The “Foundational Skill” Criterion for ELA Grades K-5 programs that explicitly document and attest to the fact that they DO NOT have a foundational skills component will receive a rating of “Not Applicable” for Foundational Skills rather than a "Does Not Meet Expectations."

4. In accordance with departmental learnings at DESE on culturally and linguistically sustaining practices (CLSP), language has been added to the RFR in:

a. The Background section on p.1 to signal shifts that incorporate culturally sustaining approaches as reflected in CURATE rubrics.

b. This includes additional resources for publishers to better understand the expectations Massachusetts has of the instructional materials under review, including: the DESE Educational Vision, the DESE Blueprint for English Learner Success, and ongoing changes to the DESE definition of Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices (CLSP).

c. Additional language in Prompt #2 for publishers to more explicitly address the WIDA ELD standards and/or WIDA Prime designations.

d. Additional language in Prompt #3 for publishers to more explicitly address the bilingual/translated/dual language resources.

e. Additional language in Prompt #5 for publishers to delineate how their professional learning resources support teachers to provide access for Multilingual Learners (MLLs), students operating above or below grade level, students with disabilities (SWDs), and are relevant to diverse student groups, including students of color.

5. Timeline and Content Areas: Timeline, due dates, and content areas and grade bands have been updated to reflect DESE priorities in SY24-25. This annual update will occur regularly each spring to inform publishers of DESE’s plan for the next year (e.g., Spring 2024 will inform reviews for SY24-25; Spring 2025 will inform reviews for SY25-26, etc.). For SY24-25, DESE will prioritize review of:

a. K-12 ELA,

b. K-12 Mathematics,

c. K-12 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE), and

d. 9–12 History and Social Science (HSS).

Additionally, language has been added to clarify the prioritization of ELA K-5 programs affected by the Archiving Process: DESE CURATE encourages the submission of the most recent edition of materials. These reviews will be prioritized using the updated ELA K-5 CURATE rubric, which now contains a fully fleshed out criterion to address all components of foundational skills instruction.

Language has also been added to clarify publisher submission types and deadlines, including intent to bid emails and priority submissions. See the table below:

Fall 2024

Spring 2025

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