RTTT-ELC Project Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS ) Training for Peer Assistance and Coaching

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1 May 6, 2013 Dear Interested Parties, The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is seeking a vendor to conduct training on the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS ) for Consultant Teachers (CTs) participating in EEC s Peer Assistance and Coaching (PAC) project. Contract Timeframe: July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015 Total Contract Amount: Up to $105,000 RTTT-ELC Year Two: FY14 (July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013): Up to $10,000 RTTT-ELC Year Three: FY14 (January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014): Up to $10,000 FY15 (July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014): Up to $15,000 RTTT-ELC Year Four: FY15 (January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015): Up to $35,000 FY16 (July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015): Up to $35,000 All of the funding for this contract is from the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant, a federal grant awarded to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Note: If additional funds become available during the contract duration period, EEC reserves the right to increase the maximum obligation to the selected vendor or to execute contracts with vendors not funded in the initial selection process, subject to available funding, satisfactory contract performance and service or commodity need. Context A growing body of research on child development, brain development, and early education and care indicates that high-quality programs prepare children for success in school and later in life (Camilla, Vargas, Ryan, & Barnett, 2010; Ryan & Vargas, 2010; Kelley & Camilla, 2007; National Governor s Association Center for Best Practices, 2010; and Vandell, Belsky, & Burchinal, 2010). Early childhood advocates agree that coaching is an effective strategy to improve the competence of the early childhood workforce on two crucial fronts. First, research demonstrates that coaching promotes meaningful improvements in teaching quality. Second, it provides a new pathway for professional growth for more experiences and successful teachers (MA Department of Early Education and Care, 2011). The PAC model is being piloted in Massachusetts by EEC. The purpose of the MA PAC model is to develop high quality early education and out-of-school time programs which will meet the expectation of state standards as defined by QRIS. This includes opportunities maximizing children's growth and development; advancing educators knowledge, skills and abilities; transforming practice and retaining skilled practitioners. The MA PAC model will focus on a Birth to Age 8 framework within the entire mixed-delivery system of early education and care programs, which includes center-based, family child care, Head Start, and After School and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) programs. Page 1

2 The PAC process will involve training, modeling, and supporting Mentees to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities. This will enable them to meet criteria on the QRIS. The QRIS Standards are linked to a set of educator competencies and practices which enable educators to support young children s growth in all domains, as defined by the Early Learning Standards. The Early Learning Standards include language and early literacy skills, social-emotional competencies, and an understanding of early math concepts. Participants in the PAC Pilot will be from a variety of early childhood settings including center-based, family child care, preschool, Head Start, and ASOST programs. They will receive content and relationship-based training such as developing learning-focused relationships between professional colleagues, using the CLASS observation measure to guide professional development, curriculum and early learning standards birth to kindergarten, and data collection and analysis. The CLASS will also be used as an evaluative tool. The CLASS is an observational tool that provides information on classroom interactions. Trained and certified CLASS observers will visit classrooms, record observations and assign numerical codes related to each of the CLASS dimensions. The CLASS codes provide a snapshot of the classroom interactions that are working well along with areas for growth. Massachusetts will conduct a pilot study of a preliminary PAC model in the spring of The results of this study will inform adaptations to the PAC model. The Initial Cohort for FY13/FY14 will include 25 CTs and Mentees. Subsequent years should see an increase to 50 in FY14/FY15 and 75 in FY16/FY17. For additional information on PAC, including overview, please go to Required Services: The selected vendor will: Provide training to CTs on CLASS -based professional development tools to increase teacher effectiveness, help teachers focus on positive interactions with students to improve outcomes for children and achieve higher levels of quality as evidenced by scores on required MA QRIS measurement tools (CLASS and the Environment Rating Scales). The Initial Cohort for FY13/FY14 will include 25 CTs. Subsequent years should see an increase to 50 in FY14/FY15 and 75 in FY16/FY17. Training should be conducted in the beginning of the school year. Collaborate with EEC to plan for sustainability of training, including possible training of trainers cost estimates and other elements necessary to sustain project past RTTT-ELC funding. Trainer cohorts of no less than 5 trainers should be established in each of the 5 EEC regions statewide through EEC s existing Educator and Provider Support Grantee partnerships. Submit reports to EEC on participant evaluations, sustainability and other items as requested. Eligibility: Bidders must be a vendor on the EEC Training list and be certified by CLASS to provide this training. Page 2

3 Proposals: Each proposal must include a narrative section responding to each of the questions posed below. Proposals must not exceed four double-sided pages (excluding resumes). All proposals must be in at least 12-point type. Respondents are encouraged to use recycled paper to submit their response. If you are interested in providing these services to EEC, please submit a proposal that addresses the following: 1. A brief description of your past experience conducting required training, particularly CLASS.. 2. A plan for conducting the required training, including timelines. 3. A plan for submitting required reports to EEC in a timely manner. 4. Resumes of each individual who will be participating in the CLASS training. 5. A proposed budget that includes the number of hours per task, hourly rates, cost per task, staff that will complete each task, and the projected cost of completing each deliverable. Please include travel costs. 6. Please describe your availability to begin this project and your ability to complete all deliverables according to the contract timeframe. 7. A plan for meeting the project deliverables outlined by EEC in the scope. Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated on the strength of their responses to the scope of service in this request. Proposal Submission and Deadline: All proposals must be received by EEC Central Office by May 30, 2013 at 4:00PM. Please submit one original copy of the complete proposal package and three complete copies by mail and one complete proposal package to EEC. EEC expects to notify the selected contractor on or about June 15, Anticipated Timetable, Product Deliverables, and Payment Schedule: Selected vendor(s) must use these funds for some or all of the following purposes and must complete the tasks by the dates specified below. EEC expressly reserves the right to modify timelines and/or add additional deliverables for the vendor to follow related to any of this funding. RTTT-ELC Year Two: FY14 (July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013): Up to $10,000 For an initial payment of $5,000 by July 15, 2013, the vendor must: 1. Submit a draft of all CLASS training plans described in the vendor s original proposal for review and approval by EEC, including timelines and supporting materials. For a second payment of $5,000 by December 1, 2013, the vendor must: 1. Complete training for FY13-FY14 CT Cohort by October 15, 2013; and 2. Utilize EEC professional development evaluation form to solicit feedback about training: and 3. Submit evaluation results of participants to EEC. Page 3

4 RTTT-ELC Year Three: FY14 (January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014): Up to $10,000 FY15 (July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014): Up to $15,000 For an initial payment of $5,000 by March 15, 2014, the vendor must: 1. Complete all required training of FY13-FY14 CT Cohort through March 15, Submit evaluation results of participants. For a second payment of $5,000 by June 15, 2014, the vendor must: 1. Complete all required training of FY13-FY14 CT Cohort through June 15, 2014; and 2. Submit a final report to EEC summarizing the training for FY13-FY14 CT Cohort, including recommendations for any changes to training plan based on FY13-FY14 CT Cohort experiences and participant evaluations. For a third payment of $7,500 by September 15, 2014, the vendor must: 1. Submit a draft of all training plans for FY14-FY15 CT Cohort, including any changes as agreed to by EEC based on FY13-FY14 CT Cohort experiences and participant evaluations; and 2. Utilize EEC professional development evaluation form to solicit feedback about training 3. Schedule, in collaboration with EEC, initial FY14-FY15 CT Cohort training. For a fourth payment of $7,500 by December 15, 2014, the vendor must: 1. Complete initial training for FY14-FY15 CT Cohort; and 2. Submit evaluation results of participants; and 3. Submit an initial plan to EEC for sustainability of training, including possible training of trainers, cost estimates and other elements necessary to sustain project past RTTT-ELC funding. RTTT-ELC Year Four: FY15 (January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015): Up to $35,000 FY16 (July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015): Up to $35,000 For an initial payment of $17,500 by March 15, 2015, the vendor must: 1. Complete all required training of FY14-FY15 CT Cohort through March 15, 2015; and 2. Submit evaluation results of participants; and 3. Submit a revised plan to EEC for sustainability of training based on feedback of initial plan, including possible training of trainers, cost estimates and other elements necessary to sustaining project past RTTT-ELC funding. For a second payment of $17,500 by June 15, 2015, the vendor must: 1. Complete all required training of FY14-FY15 CT Cohort through June 15, 2015; and 2. Submit a final report to EEC summarizing the training for FY14-FY15 CT Cohort, including recommendations for any changes to training plan based on past CT Cohort experiences and evaluations; and 3. Submit a final plan to EEC for sustainability of training, including possible training of trainers, cost estimates and other elements necessary to sustaining project past RTTT-ELC funding. Page 4

5 For a third payment of $17,500 by September 15, 2015, the vendor must: 1. Complete initial training of FY15-FY16 CT Cohort through September 15, 2015; and 2. Submit evaluations results of participants. 3. Put into effect, in collaboration with EEC, sustainability plan, including scheduling training of trainers to ensure sustainability. For a final payment of $17,500 funding by December 15, 2015, the vendor must: 1. Conduct training of trainers; and 2. Submit final reports as required to EEC. Performance Measurements: Evaluation of services provided by the vendor may include the following: Timely Delivery (Deliverables, Billing, etc.); Adherence to project timelines; Bills submitted immediately upon satisfactory completion of work and should include hourly rate and number of hours to provide each deliverable; Responsiveness to EEC inquiries including quality and timeliness of response; Attendance at meetings as requested by EEC; Effective communication established with EEC project staff; Maintenance of a good working relationship with EEC project staff; Quality of Services EEC has sole discretion to determine whether each deliverable was successfully completed by the vendor hereby triggering a payment. Submit Proposals to: Please submit one original copy of the complete proposal package and three complete copies by mail and one complete proposal package to EEC. Loida Marquez Department of Early Education and Care 51 Sleeper St. 4 th Floor Boston, MA Please put RTTT-ELC Project CLASS Training for PAC in subject heading of . RTTTProcurement@MassMail.State.MA.US All proposals must be received by EEC Central Office by May 30, 2013 at 4:00PM. Page 5

6 Reporting Requirements The selected vendor(s) will be required to report on outcomes and measures identified by EEC. In addition to reports on contract fund use and outcomes, all vendors will be required to submit reports on the use of contract funds and outcome(s) of contract funded activities. EEC reserves the right to require additional data measures beyond that specified above. EEC expressly reserves the right to modify and/or add additional reporting requirements, fund tracking mechanisms, and/or performance measures for the vendor to follow related to any of this funding. Fund Use EEC may fund a successful vendor s entire proposal or may elect to fund only those services that best meet EEC s needs and/or EEC s strategic direction and priorities. Funds must be used to support EEC s goals and priorities, the required services contained in this Scope, as well as the expected outcomes and performance measures. EEC reserves the right to approve, deny, and/or request modifications to planned fund use. Page 6