PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS

• Criteria for Determining the Completeness of the Proposal
• Criteria for Determining the Quality of the Proposal

Proposals will be reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Notification of awards is expected to be made by April 2009.

• Criteria for Determining the Completeness of the Proposal:

  The application contains all of the following required items:

  • Project Abstract
  • Application Form
  • Project Narrative
  • Proposed Budget and Budget Narrative
  • Letters of Agreement
  • Resumes for Key Project Personnel

 
• Criteria for Determining the Quality of the Proposal:

The committee will review individual proposals with the following areas assessed to promote improved student academic achievement:

Project Objectives and Activities

Quality, Scope and Content of Project Objectives

The extent to which project objectives and activities:

• Are tied to state curriculum frameworks, challenging state content standards, challenging state student performance standards, voluntary national content standards or voluntary national student performance standards;
• Are designed to address identified regional needs;
• Reflect up-to-date research in teaching and learning and include integrated content and pedagogical components appropriate for students with diverse learning needs;
• Incorporate effective strategies, techniques, methods, and practices for meeting the educational needs of diverse students;
• Are of sufficient intensity and duration to have a positive and lasting impact on the teacher's performance in the classroom;
• Recognize teachers as an important source of knowledge that should inform and help shape professional development; and
• Design a performance indicator system.

Implementation Plan

Plan of Operation  

• The quality of the design of the project, including the use of personnel and resources to achieve the stated objectives; The extent to which the plan of management is effective and ensures the proper and efficient administration of the project; and
• The degree of cooperation and collaboration among all participating institutions, teachers and other educators.

Quality of Key Personnel  

• The experience, knowledge, and capacity of project personnel to provide high-quality professional development for educators; The qualifications and time commitment of the project director and other key personnel; and
• The measures that the institutions or organization, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will follow to ensure that its personnel are selected without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age or handicapping condition.

Applicant's Commitment and Capacity

• The extent of the applicant's commitment to the project, its capacity to continue the project, and the likelihood that it will build upon the project when federal assistance ends.

Budget and Cost Effectiveness

• The adequacy of the proposed budget to support the project; The efficiency of the use of resources: per teacher cost is reasonable in relation to the time project participants are engaged in the project; The reasonableness of costs in relation to the objectives of the project; and
• The use of other funds to supplement grant funds for the project's activities.

  Need for the Project and Statewide Significance

  • The magnitude of the need for the proposed project; The likely impact of the proposed project; The potential transferability of the proposed project to other settings with the likelihood of accomplishing similar results; The proposed project’s plan to disseminate performance information; and
  • The funding priority of the proposed project.

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