5-Scope of Work CIE (final).pdf

Scope of Work

Solicitation # USBE-MI26069-RFSQ

Purpose

The intent of this RFSQ is to add vendors to a list of prequalified Continuous Improvement Expert (CIE) vendors with whom the Utah State Board of Education (USBE)-designated elevate and springboard schools’ local school boards can contract for the CIE services referenced in this Scope of Work and to also verify that vendors currently on the list continue to meet the applicable minimum mandatory requirements, evaluation criteria, and score thresholds.

Vendors currently on the list MUST still submit a complete response to this RFSQ so USBE can verify that they continue to meet the minimum mandatory requirements, evaluation criteria, and score thresholds to remain on the list. The previous RFSQ amended the term date for the approved vendor list to June 30, 2029. This RFSQ amends to term date to be an indeterminate period of time.

USBE will verify that vendors on the list continue to meet any applicable minimum mandatory requirements, evaluation criteria, and score thresholds no less frequently than every 18 months. USBE retains the right to reopen the solicitation to allow additional vendors to submit responses at any time during this term of the open-ended approved vendor list. The solicitation can be reopened for any reason the state deems appropriate.

Each elevate and springboard local school board will be individually responsible for contracting with the vendors on the approved vendor list. Any expenses, including travel, will be determined during that contracting process.

Please note: USBE-approved CIE providers for elevate and springboard schools may be subject to an annual evaluation as measured by both the expected and required scope of work in collaboration with the contracted LEA, school, and USBE.

Background

Under the State School Improvement program and per Utah Code Annotated (UCA) Section 53E-5 Part 3 (attached in the Files section), beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, in every year that USBE does not designate a springboard school, USBE shall identify at least six schools to participate in the voluntary elevate school improvement program. In addition, springboard schools will be identified during the 2025-2026 school year, and every four years thereafter. Per UCA Section 53E-5 Part 3, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, and every three years thereafter, USBE shall identify two or more approved CIEs, through a standard procurement process, that a springboard school or elevate school may contract with to:

(a) respond to the needs assessment conducted under Section 53E-5-302; and

(b) provide the services described in Section 53E-5-303 or 53E-5-304, as applicable.

In identifying CIEs, the state board shall identify experts that:

(a) have a credible track record of improving student academic achievement in public schools with various demographic characteristics, as measured by statewide assessments described in Section 53E-4-301;

(b) have experience designing, implementing, and evaluating data-driven instructional systems in public schools;

(c) have experience coaching public school administrators and teachers on designing data-driven school improvement plans;

(d) have experience working with the various education entities that govern public schools;

(e) have experience coordinating the services provided to participating schools by other experts or providers;

(f) have experience delivering high-quality professional development in instructional effectiveness to public school administrators and teachers; and

(g) are willing to partner with any springboard school or elevate school in the state, regardless of location.

The state board shall monitor and assess progress toward the goals, benchmarks, and timetable in each school improvement plan; and act as a liaison between a local school board, springboard school or elevate school, and CIE. Additional details on training and communication will come after the RFSQ is complete and the list updated.

Scope of Work

Both elevate and springboard schools’ local school boards are required to contract with a CIE. A contract between a local school board and CIE shall be based on an explicit stipulation of desired outcomes and consequences for not meeting goals, including cancellation of the contract; and shall include a scope of work that requires the CIE to at a minimum:

• Develop and implement, in partnership with the school improvement committee, a school improvement plan that meets the criteria described in 53E-5-303 section 5.

• Monitor the effectiveness of a school improvement plan through a relatable means of evaluation, including on-site visits, observations, analysis of student achievement data, and interviews.

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S302.html?v=C53E-5-S302_2022050420220504 https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S303.html?v=C53E-5-S303_2022050420220504 https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S304.html?v=C53E-5-S304_2022050420220504 https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter4/53E-4-S301.html?v=C53E-4-S301_2019051420190514 https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S303.html#53E-5-303(5)

• Provide ongoing implementation support and project management for a school improvement plan.

• Provide high-quality professional learning personalized for school staff that is designed to build the leadership capacity of the school principal, the instructional capacity of the school staff, and educators’ capacity with data-driven strategies by providing actionable, embedded data practices and leverage support from community partners to coordinate an efficient delivery of supports to students inside and outside the classroom.

The contract may include a scope of work that requires the CIE to develop sustainable school district and school capacities to effectively respond to the academic and behavioral needs of students in high poverty communities or other services that respond to the needs assessment conducted and detailed in 53E-5-302.

The contract shall include travel costs and payment milestones and may include pay for performance provisions.

A school improvement committee shall partner with the CIE selected under Subsection (1) to develop and implement a school improvement plan that:

(a) addresses the root causes of the springboard school's or elevate school's low performance identified through the needs assessment described in Section 53E-5-302;

(b) includes recommendations regarding changes to the springboard school's or elevate school's personnel, culture, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, governance, leadership, finances, policies, or other areas that may be necessary to implement the school improvement plan;

(c) includes measurable student achievement goals and objectives and benchmarks by which to measure progress;

(d) includes a professional development plan that identifies a strategy to address problems of instructional practice;

(e) includes a detailed budget specifying how the school improvement plan will be funded;

(f) includes a plan to assess and monitor progress;

(g) includes a plan to communicate and report data on progress to stakeholders; and

(h) includes a timeline for implementation.

As a reminder, a charter school governing board may not select a CIE that is a member of the charter school governing board, an employee of the charter school, or has a contract to operate the charter school. A local school board may not select a CIE that is the school district or an employee of the school district.

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S302.html#:%7E:text=State%20board%20to%20designate%20springboard%20schools%20%2D%2D%20Needs%20assessment.,-(1) https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S303.html#53E-5-303(1) https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53E/Chapter5/53E-5-S302.html?v=C53E-5-S302_2022050420220504