26MAOLADG1 - Attachment A - Final.docx

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Attachment A

Alternate ID #: 26MAOLADG1 COMMBUYS Bid #:BD-25-1026-DOE02-DOE01-113206

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, under this Departmental Master Agreement, will identify providers to deliver SEI Endorsement courses at a charge to educators and/or districts.

26MAOLADG1 (new) is being posted as a replacement to 21MAOLADG1 (current) expiring on June 30, 2025. Those awarded under the current MA must apply to the new MA to continue providing services to Districts.

Background:

When it comes to succeeding in our schools, English Learners (ELs) face different challenges than those faced by native English speakers due to their lack of English language proficiency. They experience the largest achievement gaps of any student subgroup in the Commonwealth and have the highest dropout rate of all student subgroups. Educators must be prepared to deliver effective instruction to our EL population.

In accordance with 603 CMR 14.07(1), core academic teachers who provide sheltered English instruction to ELs must earn an SEI Teacher Endorsement and administrators who supervise or evaluate such teachers must earn the SEI Administrator or Teacher Endorsement.

Similarly, in accordance with 603 CMR 14.08(1), career vocational technical teachers who provide sheltered English instruction to ELs must earn an SEI Teacher Endorsement and administrators who supervise or evaluate such teachers must earn the SEI Administrator or Teacher Endorsement.

One path to earning the endorsement is by taking the appropriate SEI Endorsement course.

There are two SEI Endorsement Courses, one for Teachers and one for Administrators. Both courses are based upon the most current research on effective educational practices. In the courses, strategies are modeled (in the case of the teacher course, classroom strategies; in the case of the administrator course, classroom observation-focusing strategies); participants have the opportunity to practice the modeled strategies, and then to reflect on those experiences and to receive feedback. Course participants are expected to practice strategies on students in the intervals between some of the course sessions, and within their Professional Learning Networks during course sessions. These are graduate-level courses requiring readings and related assignments between each session.

The two different SEI Endorsement Courses as follows:

1. SEI Teacher Endorsement course - The full-length SEI Teacher Endorsement course consists of 45 hours of face-to-face and on-line discussion time plus homework, including practice assignments back in the educators’ schools.

As of July 1, 2020, the SEI Teacher Endorsement course may be offered:

A. In a “blended learning” format featuring twelve in-person class sessions and online class time. The online class time, can be completed at a time that is convenient to the participant and adds up to the equivalent of four additional class sessions, or

B. In an entirely online format in which twelve synchronous web meetings replace the in-person class sessions. All other requirements are the same as in the blended learning format.

2. SEI Administrator Endorsement course - The SEI Administrator Endorsement course consists of 15 hours of face-to-face and on-line class time plus homework, including practice assignments back in the administrators’ schools.

As of July 1, 2020, the SEI Administrator Endorsement course may be offered:

A. In a “blended learning” format featuring five in-person class sessions and online class time. The online class time can be completed at a time that is convenient to the participant, and adds up to the equivalent of four additional class sessions, or

B. In an entirely online format in which five synchronous web meetings replace the in-person class sessions. All other requirements are the same as in the blended learning format.

Vendors may apply to provide only the blended learning format, only the online format, or both formats. Approved providers will be given access to all course materials.

Participants will earn Professional Development Points (PDPs) for passing the endorsement courses. Providers may also offer 3 graduate credits for the teacher course and 1 graduate credit for the administrator course, but are not required to offer graduate credit.

The Department is committed to maintaining fidelity of implementation and will, therefore, hold vendors responsible for training that is high quality, taught by qualified instructors employing the same curriculum and materials utilized in the Department’s own trainings, and consistently hold educators in courses to the Department’s performance standards.

Therefore, the Department will control quality and will delineate the conditions under which vendors can deliver these endorsement courses. This BID seeks vendors to deliver SEI Endorsement courses to educators Scope of Service:

Approved vendors will be required to:

· Employ only Department-approved instructors to deliver the SEI Endorsement courses. They may employ instructors already approved by the Department, or they may submit new instructors for approval as outlined by the Procedures for Approved Providers Manual that will be provided to them.

· Ensure that all new instructors attend initial ESE-sponsored Training of Trainers, and any follow-up training sessions.

· Ensure that all previously trained instructors attend a refresher training every third year or any time significant course updates are made as long as they continue to deliver the endorsement course(s).

· Submit all course schedules for approval as indicated in the Procedures for Approved Providers manual that will be provided.

· Utilize their own platform for course registration and delivery of the courses. Digital copies of all course materials will be shared with vendors.

· Use a proprietary learning management system or utilize a combination of systems that satisfy the Department’s course delivery requirements:

· provide online discussion forums

· allow for synchronous online class sessions (if applying to provide online course)

· house readings and other materials

· allow instructors to assign work and participants to submit assignments

· allow instructors to grade assignments using approved course rubrics

· allow providers to create/maintain course schedules

· allow instructors to track attendance and participation

· BID responses should describe the registration and LMS platforms that will be utilized.

· Maintain electronic records of all of the above for a period of seven years.

· Facilitate and support the Department’s evaluation of the implementation of course sections and the quality of instruction.

· Ensure that every course participant completes an end-of-course evaluation. The content of the evaluation will be provided by the Department but vendors will be responsible for delivering it and maintaining the results.

· Hold course participants to the Department’s participant requirements and expectations, which will be stipulated in the contract and reinforced during the Training of Trainers.

· Submit all required data including course schedules, grade files, and participant evaluations to the Department on a timely basis. This information will be distributed in the Procedures and Requirements document and reinforced during the Training of Trainers.

· Maintain a back-up of course participant assignments and discussion forums for each course and course participant for a period of seven years

· Approve those who have passed an SEI course for the appropriate endorsement. This will require sending endorsement data to the Department for the ELAR system as stipulated by the Department. The required data and format will be included in the Procedures and Requirements document.

· Facilitate submission of course grade records to graduate programs for those educators seeking to earn graduate credit.

A. For Blended Learning format, make quality classroom space available in which to deliver SEI Endorsement courses.

· Vendors must identify the location of the space. Vendors will be permitted to conduct trainings anywhere in the state.

· The space must be large enough to train 35 participants, or whatever class size maximum below that number that the vendor proposes.

· The space must be wheelchair accessible.

· Furniture must allow for flexible grouping, with a table or desk surface for each participant where they can rest a notebook.*

· LCD projection is essential, so there must be the ability to dim sources of light (e.g., working shades on windows) and the screen(s) must be easily visible throughout the room.

· The instructor must have high speed internet access.

· The vendor must include in its publicity/marketing and in its agreements/ contracts for payment a list of amenities that will or will not be provided, e.g., free parking, air conditioned classrooms, etc.

Please note, while all approved vendors must be able to provide a space which meets the above criteria, vendors may also:

· deliver course sections at other sites when preferred or necessary (e.g. school district locations), in which case only the starred criteria* would be required.

B. For online format with synchronous web meetings replacing the in-person class sessions.

· The SEI online format is a synchronous course and the vendor will not offer it as a self-paced course.

· The online format requires regular weekly synchronous interaction with the instructor and other course participants as well as discussion boards that require the participants to log in and participate in discussions.

· The online format has regular weekly interactions with other students, discussion boards that require the class members to log in to participate in discussions.

· The online assignments are regular, posted, and graded by the instructor as indicated in the SEI course syllabus.

· The online format has graded assignments and a final SEI Capstone Lesson Unit Design.

· Bidders must demonstrate that they have access to ZOOM or similar technology sufficient to facilitate the synchronous sessions. The platform MUST include a chat feature and a small group/breakout rooms feature.

· Bidders must make clear in the registration process that participants must have access to the necessary technology to participate in the synchronous sessions.

Budget:

Approved vendors will receive a contract through June 30, 2030, to provide SEI Endorsement courses to educators.

Vendors applying for a course delivery contract must indicate the per-participant fee, if any, they will charge for each type of course to be delivered. The Department has an interest in keeping the cost of these trainings affordable for individuals and districts, and the vendors’ proposed cost structure will be an important criterion in the Department’s provider selection process. Vendor compensation will come through fees charged to participants or districts. Cities/towns and school districts will enter into their own contracts with the vendor for services requested. The Department is not liable for any costs incurred by vendors or their enrolled course participants.

Vendors may not run sections with more than 35 participants, but lower course size limits are at their discretion. Please detail the minimum and maximum class size the provider will permit for blended and online courses. On this basis and if charging participants, outline the cost per individual that the provider will charge for each version of the SEI Endorsement courses, and any discounted rate(s) that the provider would charge to districts sending multiple participants or booking entire course sections. The Department must be notified of any changes to the fee structure over the course of the contract.

Required Qualifications:

Institutions of higher education, education collaboratives, school districts, and pre-approved professional development vendors are invited to apply to serve as vendors of SEI Endorsement courses to educators. Required Qualifications are as follows:

· Approved issuer of PDPs.

· Established reputation as a provider of professional development to public school educators.

· If necessary, capacity to serve as a fiscal agent, billing individuals and districts for course enrollment. Districts must be able to pay via their usual procedures.

· Ability to collaborate effectively with Department staff.

· Control/access to a wheelchair accessible space which is large enough for vendor’s proposed maximum group size with space and furniture that must be practicable for flexible instructional groupings, if applying to provide the Blended Learning format.

· Access to technology necessary to provide the online format, if applying to provide that.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Knowledge of the RETELL initiative.

· Staff with experience interacting with public school districts and professional developers, capable of working with instructors, districts and the Department to establish workable course schedules.

· Direct experience working with ELs and/or teachers of ELs to close the performance gap.

Submission Requirements:

Written responses to this BID should not exceed 7 pages. Applicant responses must include the following:

1. Required qualifications and previous experience managing similar projects

· Please specify the format in which your organization is applying to provide the SEI Endorsement Course:

A. Blended Learning (with in-person class sessions) only B. Online only C. Both Blended Learning and Online

· Please address the required and preferred qualifications outlined above for the course format you are applying to provide, as well as any additional qualifications and prior experience in providing services relevant to the purpose of this BID. Explain how that experience will best position the applicant to be successful in assisting ESE in this project.

· Please submit resume/s of person/s that will be working on this project in the role of instructor. (This attachment will not count towards overall page limit.)

· Please submit resume/s of person/s that would be working on this project in roles other than instructors. (This attachment will not count towards overall page limit.)

· Please describe your proposed method of course registration and delivery in detail describing the systems and procedures that will be utilized to do so.

ROLLING ENROLLMENT

· Responses will be reviewed and contracts awarded on an "as needed" basis by the Department.

· ESE makes no guarantees that contracts will be awarded, or services purchased under this BID.

Responses MUST be uploaded to COMMBUYS. Responses not posted to COMMBUYS will not be considered for evaluation. Do not Email and/or mail responses to the department.

To respond to this bid, please register on the COMMBUYS website. If you need assistance contact the OSD Help Desk at OSDHelpDesk@mass.gov or (8am - 5pm ET Monday – Friday) at 1-888-627-8283 or 617-720-3197.

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