27TALLM1 - Attachment A - Final.docx

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Attachment A

Alternate ID #: 27TALLM1 COMMBUYS Bid #: BD-26-1026-DOE02-DOE01-130333

Background:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials and that teachers, coaches, and administrators are equipped with the support they need to implement those materials effectively. Through the Curriculum Matters initiative, DESE is working to expand access to high-quality instructional materials that improve student literacy outcomes, especially when paired with effective professional learning opportunities. To support strong and equitable implementation, DESE developed the IMplement MA framework, which provides guidance for districts through all phases of the implementation process. DESE has made great strides in increasing adoption rates of HQIM and is now prioritizing implementation to ensure materials are implemented effectively using evidence-based and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices to ensure all student can succeed with grade-level core curricular materials.

Recent data from the Commonwealth demonstrates increased adoption of CKLA/Amplify, EL Education, and Wit & Wisdom instructional materials in K-8 ELA/literacy classrooms across the state. Recognizing the increasing utilization of these resources, DESE aims to support school districts in effectively implementing these high-quality instructional materials through curriculum-embedded collaborative professional learning opportunities.

DESE is seeking responses from bidders to design and facilitate ELA/Literacy Communities of Practice that support the implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). These Communities will center curriculum-specific learning, peer collaboration, and instructional coaching, tailored to the needs of participating schools and districts using CKLA/Amplify, EL Education, and Wit & Wisdom.

This opportunity is part of Massachusetts’ Literacy Launch Initiative. Literacy Launch is a statewide initiative launched in 2024 to provide intensive support for evidence-based early literacy in schools and districts. Programs that are a part of the Literacy Launch initiative are being independently evaluated to inform continuous improvement and ensure sustainable, high-impact implementation across Massachusetts. Vendors selected through this RFR will have the opportunity to contribute to this effort and collaborate with DESE and its third-party evaluator to assess and strengthen statewide implementation efforts.

Scope of Service:

Selected vendor(s) will provide the following services tailored to school and district instructional needs for implementing CKLA/Amplify, EL Education, and Wit & Wisdom curricula through a yearlong Communities of Practice model.

Although it is expected that the vendor(s) will begin working and planning with DESE in July 2026, this initiative will span from September 2026 to June 2027. Each professional learning session will include grade-band-specific content, community-building and networking opportunities. The October, January, and May in-person sessions will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The on-site coaching and strategic advising calls will be scheduled directly with the districts. The following table outlines the monthly sequence of services.

September

Virtual Kick-Off

October

In-Person Session # 1 (Location TBD)

(Location TBD)

(Location TBD)

Selected vendor is responsible for the following deliverables:

1. Registration The vendor will:

· Promote and advertise HQIM Communities of Practice sessions in collaboration with DESE.

· Manage participant communication.

· Ensure accessibility of all promotional and registration materials.

· House and manage registration and ongoing participant communications.

2. Co-Creation of Scopes and Sequences and Development of Session Content for Curricular-Specific Communities of Practice

· Co-create yearlong project plans, inclusive of scopes and sequences for professional learning, with DESE, including timelines, goals, and milestones.

· Note: Each Community of Practice will require its own project plan (total of three).

· Develop session materials, including:

a. Review and revise existing content meet the needs of participants who are new to the Communities of Practice.

b. New session content for returning participants who will continue in the 2026-2027 Communities of Practice.

c. Objectives, presentations, and participant resources.

d. Scripts that integrate curriculum-aligned pedagogy and evidence-based, culturally and linguistically sustaining practices.

e. Activities that support community building, networking, and include multiple opportunities for participants to engage with each other.

f. Lesson preparation and progress monitoring routines

g. District implementation and action planning time

· Co-create a shared “Criteria for Success” to guide content development and alignment with DESE’s goals and tools (e.g., IMplement MA, Mass Literacy Guide).

· Submit all session materials to DESE for review and approval through multiple feedback cycles, incorporating all DESE revisions.

· Accommodate participants’ needs, including translation and accessibility (e.g., ASL, digital access) as needed.

3. Logistics and facilitation of in-person session:

In-Person Sessions Please note that DESE will be responsible for identifying and contracting with the venue.

Exact Dates and Location (TBD)

· October 2026

· January 2027

· May 2027

The vendor will:

· Create a facilitation guide that incorporates the session design and outlines facilitation strategies to foster community building, networking, and active participant engagement during in-person and virtual sessions.

· Coordinate with DESE to manage space setup and technology.

· Print, organize, and deliver session materials; prepare digital folders

· Ensure all accessibility and translation needs are met.

· Ensure a digital presence by maintaining a central hub for registration and session materials.

4. District Implementation Coaching:

The vendor will:

· Provide curriculum-specific coaching to support district implementation teams in developing or refining implementation plans.

· Schedule and prepare resources, tools, and strategic planning for three 1:1 coaching calls per district that address specific implementation challenges and align to the session content.

· Conduct two on-site coaching visits per district (Approximately 10-12 districts per curriculum).

· Use self-assessment data and classroom observations to identify priority areas for support.

· Co-create or refine a year-long action plan with district leaders.

· Support planning for PD, unit unpacking, lesson internalization, and observation/feedback cycles.

· Set a clear instructional focus and customize observation tools aligned to the curriculum.

· Embed action planning into each coaching visit to promote sustained progress.

· Provide opportunities for districts to see the curriculum in action to support implementation (e.g., recorded lessons, peer-to-peer site visits) to deepen understanding of high-quality implementation and inform coaching and action planning, and to support community-building and networking.

5. Ongoing Collaboration with DESE:

The vendor will:

· Participate in onboarding and project kick-off activities.

· Lead bi-weekly planning and reflection meetings with DESE to review content, provide updates, share and respond to feedback, and analyze participant progress.

· Monitor and assess district progress in collaboration with DESE and adjust supports accordingly.

6. Evaluation and Reporting:

The vendor will:

· Work with DESE’s Literacy Launch third-party evaluator, which may include the sharing of data, participation in meetings etc. to ensure the goals of the project are being met. DESE will coordinate with the vendor and third-party evaluator to define the specific data types, collection methods, and protocols to ensure alignment with project goals and compliance with data privacy requirements.

· Evaluate each session and overall Communities of Practice, including:

· Participant Satisfaction

· Self-reported growth in skills and knowledge

· Produce a final report for the purposes of programmatic continuous improvement, which should include, at minimum:

· District implementation plans and progress

· Session evaluations and participant feedback

· Enrollment and session attendance data

· Recommendations for future programming

In conformance with the Commonwealth’s Standard Terms and Conditions, all Deliverables created under this Agreement, whether made by the Vendor, subcontractor, or both, are the property of DESE. All materials may be posted on the DESE website and/or used/distributed beyond the duration of the contract.

Budget:

In FY27, the maximum obligation for this opportunity must not exceed $275,000. The contract covers one year with the opportunity for renewal up to two times for future fiscal years (FY28, FY29) if funding permits. Please complete the detailed, deliverable-based budget for FY27, FY28, and FY29 that is linked in COMMBUYS, not to exceed $275,000 annually. This is a deliverable-based contract, and all other incidental costs must be included in the budget. While Bidders may propose additional line items necessary to support their response, all costs must remain within the $275,000 cap. Please note that the available $275,000 encompasses all three curricula-specific communities of practice. For any items delivered on a per-district basis, such as on-site coaching, vendors should provide a per-district cost using an assumption of 36 participating districts; total costs will be prorated based on the actual number of participating districts served.

This compensation includes all overhead and administrative fees. DESE will pay invoices based on completion or the percentage of tasks completed for actual work undertaken and completed prior to the invoice date. Although the anticipated funds are indicated above, presenting a cost-effective budget is a key criterion in the application review process.

Required Qualifications:

The selected vendor must have experience and expertise in:

· CKLA/Amplify, EL Education, and/or Wit & Wisdom, including deep knowledge of their structure, pedagogical instructional approaches, and implementation requirements

· Planning and facilitating high-quality and curriculum-specific professional learning communities for educators in both in-person and virtual settings

· Provision of differentiated coaching and professional development based on the specific HQIM selected and the unique needs of each school and district context.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Relevant experience for this project, which includes experience with developing and implementing curriculum-specific professional learning in a community of practice setting, as well as coaching and systems-level literacy implementation aligned to IMplement MA, Mass Literacy, and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices through curriculum-specific communities of practice.

· Experience operating in Massachusetts; familiarity with Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for ELA/Literacy and with MA schools and districts.

· Knowledge of and experience with the four phases of the IMplementMA process

· Evidence that past professional learning and/or coaching have resulted in positive impact on student learning outcomes

· Demonstrated internal systems and structures for measuring the efficacy of professional learning and coaching supports

Submission Requirements:

To ensure clarity and completeness in your response, please provide a brief narrative that includes the following sections:

1. Organization Overview (Not to Exceed 5 Pages):

· Provide a brief narrative that describes your organization’s background and demonstrated expertise in delivering professional learning for HQIM implementation, including how you plan and adjust session content based on participant feedback and content review cycles.

· Describe how your professional learning supports implementation with attention to:

· Evidence-based literacy practices

· culturally and linguistically sustaining practices

· Support for multilingual learners

· Support for students with disabilities

· Lesson preparation routines

· Observation and feedback cycles

· Outline curriculum-specific experience developing and facilitating professional learning communities centered on CKLA/Amplify, EL Education, and/or Wit & Wisdom, including knowledge of each program’s structure, pedagogy, and implementation needs.

· Describe how your organization will build and maintain expertise in newly released versions of the selected curriculum materials, including how you will prepare to support participating districts that may be implementing recent updates or new editions.

· Address any preferred qualifications, such as your experience working in Massachusetts and familiarity with DESE guidance and frameworks.

2. Curricular-Specific Communities of Practice Proposals (Not to Exceed 8 Pages):

· Describe how you will meet the project requirements including facilitation of the in-person sessions and on-site coaching.

· Identify how you will center key instructional and pedagogical principles for each proposed curriculum in professional learning, such as:

· EL Education's instructional structures (Read-Think-Talk-Write Cycle, T-P-Ts, Total Participation Techniques, 4-Ts Framework)

· CKLA/Amplify's approach to knowledge building and foundational skills

· Wit & Wisdom’s Content and Craft Stages that support both content and writing development.

· Describe how your sessions will balance system-level implementation guidance with curriculum-specific focus in both professional learning sessions and coaching support.

· Describe how you will tailor supports to address the varying stages of implementation across participating districts, ensuring responsive, differentiated, and growth-oriented assistance.

3. Curriculum-Specific Professional Learning Samples (no page limit):

Submit the following for each curriculum:

· At least one sample for each specific curriculum of a full day curriculum-specific professional learning session that reflects your approach to both technical and adaptive professional learning and HQIM implementation.

· For at least one example, include:

· Facilitator plan and participant-facing materials

· Outcome data (e.g., participant feedback, student impact)

· Sample professional learning materials that demonstrate supporting curriculum implementation with attention to:

· Evidence-based literacy practices

· culturally and linguistically sustaining practices

· Support for multilingual learners

· Support for students with disabilities

· Lesson preparation routines

· Observation and feedback cycles

4. Collaborative Planning Approach (Not to Exceed 3 Pages):

· Outline your team's approach to collaborative planning with DESE to ensure each session meets our co-developed Criteria for Success.

· Provide a proposed yearlong timeline showing major deliverables, due dates, and time for DESE review and feedback.

· Outline your plan for:

· Maintaining timely and transparent communication.

· Facilitating synchronous/asynchronous content review using digital tools.

· Addressing challenges proactively and incorporate DESE feedback.

5. District Implementation Support Proposal (Not to Exceed 2 Pages):

· Provide a yearlong plan for supporting districts, including:

· Curriculum-specific coaching and support for implementation teams.

· Structure and goals for 1:1 strategic advising/coaching calls.

· Methodology for conducting effective on-site coaching visits

· Your plan for district site visits.

· Strategy for coordinating curriculum observation opportunities (e.g., lesson videos, peer visits).

· Ability to collect and analyze implementation data to assess impact, refine coaching strategies, and continuously enhance service delivery for all learners.

6. Commitment to Equity Statement: DESE is committed to addressing inequities in education across the Commonwealth. Please describe your organization’s commitment to equity, including the steps you take to advance equity within your organization and in the services you provide. Your response should reflect how equity is embedded in your organizational practices and how it informs your work with clients and communities. Not to exceed 2 pages

7. Staffing Plan:

· Describe the proposed team dedicated to this project, specifying roles and responsibilities.

· Include resumes of all team members.

· Include roles and time allocations for each team member, noting who will serve as project lead, curriculum specialists, facilitators, and/or coaches.

8. Budget: Please provide a detailed, deliverable-based budget not exceeding $275,000 for each potential fiscal year of this contract (FY27, FY28, FY29). This is a deliverable-based contract; all other incidental costs must be included in the budget. The budget should be inclusive of all costs necessary to achieve the outlined scope and sequence, including administrative and indirect costs. Please see the budget document on COMMBUYS for more information.

9. Attachment B – Contact information form

10. Prompt Payment Discount Form: This form can be found on COMMBUYS in the same location as this bid posting. This form is required to be completed, by offering a discount or claiming hardship. Those that offer 1% will receive an average on the scorecard. Those that offer a higher or lower percentage will be scored accordingly on the Evaluation Criteria Scorecard.

11. Supplier Diversity Program Plan Form: This form can be found on COMMBUYS in the same location as this bid posting. This form is required to be completed and offer a percentage commitment of 1% or higher. The higher the commitment, the more points earned on the Evaluation Criteria Scorecard. See Scorecard for more details

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.

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.

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