About this Request for Letters of Intent (LOI)
The Emerging Bilingual Collaborative is looking for applicants seeking to support young Multilingual Learner (ML) students, who include both Dual Language Learner (DLL) and English Learner (EL) students, as described in the Multilingual Learning Toolkit: Resources for Supporting PreK-3rd Multilingual Children. Through this opportunity, we are focused on providing support to organizations working with preschool-3rd grade educators that are eager to redesign or enhance their professional learning systems to meet the needs of ML students in alignment with the goals below.
The Collaborative has released this funding opportunity to address the following immediate goals for the grant (October 2021–September 2023):
- To implement the instructional practices and corresponding resources as described in the Multilingual Learning Toolkit, through the implementation of high-quality professional learning for PreK-3 educators
- To generate lessons learned from implementation efforts to support ongoing refinement of the tools and resources to support PreK-3rd educators; and share examples of effective instructional models and supports (documentation and exchange of lessons learned, etc.)
- To focus on and build understanding of the unique needs and assets of ML students as central to the work of being a California teacher
What support will be offered by the Emerging Bilingual Collaborative as part of the grant?
The Collaborative will select up to 10 applicants for funding and to participate in a Community of Practice (CoP). This grant program structure will include the following:
- Funding: The Collaborative will issue grants up to $200,000 to eligible applicants (see below for eligibility requirements).
- Community of practice (CoP) for Grantee Leadership Team: Each grantee leadership team, in partnership with their respective technical assistance providers or other partners, will participate in a Community of Practice (CoP) from October 2021 to September 2023. The CoP will focus on: (a) designing better professional learning systems to support educators working with Multilingual Learners; (b) change management to support the implementation of a professional learning system focused on educators working with Multilingual Learners; and (c) leadership development to effectively advocate for MLs and the educators who serve them. The CoP will enable grantees to share best practices, conduct site visits in other schools/districts, develop leadership skills on ML issues, and collaborate/receive technical support on using other funding sources to support the long-term vision of their work.
- CoP facilitation will be delivered remotely and in person. Participants will include those organizational leaders responsible for the design, implementation, improvement and budget management of professional learning systems and their technical assistance partners.
- Time commitment: The CoP will meet monthly for a 2-3 hour Zoom call. In addition, there will be two in-person meetings per year for all grantees leadership teams.
- *Note, educators will not be expected to participate in the CoP but we encourage educator representation or engagement of educators in the grantee leadership team.
Eligibility and grant objectives
Eligibility Criteria | Eligible applicants:
|
Specific Objectives | We will give priority to responses that reference alignment with the following objectives:
Examples of activities eligible for funding include but are not limited to:
|
Grant Period | October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2023 |
Grant Amount | Grants up to $200,000 |
Expectations for grantees
Grantees will be expected to participate in shared learning provided through the Community of Practice (CoP), as well as track and report progress in partnership with the CoP learning and evaluation partner for the duration of the grant term between October, 2021 and September, 2023. In addition to planning, grantees will be expected to implement direct training to educators within the 2- year grant period and be required to demonstrate a commitment to integrating high-quality ML instructional practices and resources, such as the Multilingual Learning Toolkit, into their professional learning strategies. Estimated time commitment will include:
- Virtual monthly CoP and coaching sessions (2-3 hours)
- Biannual Convenings (2 full day gatherings each year)
If applicants are invited to submit a full proposal, more details will be provided.
Tracking and reporting progress
We understand that there may be grantees who already have a strong comprehensive tracking system in place for supporting educator practice and mindsets and some who would prefer to be given a standardized rubric for measuring progress and supporting continuous learning. The Collaborative will offer some flexibility for tracking the progress of practices outlined in the Multilingual Learning Toolkit for the duration of the grant. Grantees can choose from the following options:
- Grantees can focus on integrating practices into tools (rubric, surveys) already in use and collect baseline information before implementation starts. If using existing tools and rubrics, the information and collected data must meet reporting requirements below.
- If requested, the Collaborative can provide a rubric and survey that grantees can adapt and use to track progress and collect data.
All grantees must provide data that includes or demonstrates:
- More educators working with MLs are:
- Implementing high-quality instructional practices aligned to the Multilingual Learning Toolkit
- Have developed equitable, assets-based mindsets related to working with MLs
- More education leaders are:
- Better equipped to systemically support MLs (e.g. curriculum adoption, use of funds, etc.)
- Have the leadership skills and mindsets needed to effectively advocate for MLs
- Have the tools needed to effectively support the professional development of educators working with MLs
In addition, the Community of Practice will be supported by a learning and evaluation partner to document lessons learned. More details on these activities will be provided to applicant finalists but may include interviews, observations, surveys and/or other data collection methods.
Grant amount and allowable use of funds
The grant funds can support grantee planning efforts, such as consulting support or staff time for project management and planning; convening meetings with team members, stakeholders or other partners; stipends, release time and/or travel expenses for team members, experts or partners; etc.
The grants may cover a portion of staff time, but not the full amount for a full-time employee. Grant funds cannot be used for funding one-time events.
Indirect costs cannot exceed 10%.
Grant program timeline
Event | Milestone | Date/Range |
Invitation issued | Potential applicants receive LOI notice | 6/8/21 |
Letter of Intent (LOI) Due | LOI submission window closes | 7/9/21
5:00 PM PDT |
Request for proposals | Invitations sent to select applicants, based on letters of intent, to submit a full proposal | by 7/28/21 |
Full proposals due | Invited applicants only submit full proposals | by 8/25/21
5:00 PM (PDT) |
Awardee notifications | Selected finalists notified of award contingent on due diligence conducted by New Venture Fund | by 9/15/21 |
Grant agreements | Grant agreements signed and submitted to NVF | by 10/15/21 |
Awards released | Funds released, if finalists confirmed by New Venture Fund and execution of grant agreements | by 10/31/21 |
Grantee reporting and learning evaluation | Ongoing – TBD | |
Final report | Final report to Education First and the Emerging Bilingual Collaborative | 10/1/23 |
*Dates may change slightly based on the number of submissions received.
Questions related to this LOI process?
Emerging Bilingual Collaborative, a project of New Venture Fund, is supported by the following foundations…