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Welcome > What We Fund > Education > School-Based Request for Proposals (RFPs) > Data-Driven Instruction RFP

Implementation or Expansion of Data-Driven Instruction RFP

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The Tower Foundation seeks to facilitate improvement in the academic outcomes of youths, pre-kindergarten through grade 8, in ways that will lead to academic success and enhanced opportunities later in life.

The Tower Foundation aims to accomplish this goal by providing financial support for implementation of programs and services that have proven to be successful. This initiative is targeted toward the implementation or expansion of data-driven instruction in grades K-8.

Data-driven instruction refers to the practice of using student outcomes on various measures to plan curriculum and instruction. Educators use data to plan diverse instructional strategies in response to the differences in how students think and learn.

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to improve student achievement.

Timeline

November 17, 2008 (MA)
November 18, 2008 (MA)
November 21, 2008 (NY)

  Community workshops

January 16, 2009

Deadline for letter of inquiry

February 11, 2009

Organizations notified if a proposal is desired

March 31, 2009

Deadline for proposals (if requested)

April - May

Proposal review

June 30, 2009

Successful applicants notified

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

 

   

 
Description

Data-driven instruction (DDI) refers to the practice of using student outcomes on various measures to plan curriculum and instruction. It is a system of teaching and management practices that gets better information about students into the hands of classroom teachers. Based on Michael Fullan’s framework for educational change, data-driven instruction can be viewed as developing through three stages: initiation, implementation, and institutionalization.

During the initiation stage, a school or district is in the process of learning about data-driven instruction, what it can do for student performance, and imagining how DDI might look in its environment. At this stage, the institution might have conducted some preliminary research and cursory planning. Integral to initiation is the process of reculturing – staff at all levels are introduced to DDI and given the time and space to reflect on its meaning and implications for them. DDI represents an important paradigm shift – a changing focus from day-to-day instruction that emphasizes process and delivery in the classroom to pedagogy that is student-centered and dedicated to achieving results.
 
Schools or districts in the implementation stage have a clear conception of what data-driven instruction will look like and have developed a detailed, concrete, and high-quality plan for incorporating it into the classroom. The process might already have begun or the institution is waiting for an infusion of resources to begin implementation. 
 
To implement data-driven instruction, a school or district will need to invest in professional development and appropriate supporting tools. Teachers, principals and district-level staff will require training that focuses on articulating measurable instructional goals, obtaining good baseline data, administering formative assessments, and constructing meaningful data-driven improvement plans.*  In addition to this professional development, educators will need to acquire software, assessments, and other supporting resources to facilitate data storage, data analysis, and reporting.

At the institutionalization stage, the hard work of designing and implementing data-driven instruction has been completed. The challenge facing schools and districts at this point is sustainability; building data-driven instruction into the day-to-day routines of teachers and administrators so that it is ingrained in the culture. The process of institutionalization falls outside the scope of this initiative.

The Foundation, through this RFP, seeks to serve as a resource to those schools and districts in the first two stages of using data for enhanced instruction and decision-making related to improved student achievement.

* For the purposes of this initiative, professional development focusing on creating improvement plans is permitted, however, remedial services for students are excluded.

Eligibility Requirements 

Eligible organizations:
  • Public and diocesan school districts
  • Private and charter schools with 501(c)(3) classifications
  • Tax-exempt organizations operating schools with 501(c)(3) classifications from the Internal Revenue Service that are neither private foundations nor described as 509(a)(3) organizations
Geographic restrictions – eligible organizations must be located within the following geographic areas: 
Massachusetts:
  • Barnstable County
  • Dukes County
  • Essex County
  • Nantucket County
 New York:
  • Erie County
  • Niagara County
 Organizations, school districts, and schools that received an award in 2008 should contact Foundation staff for eligibility determination.  

Grant Awards 

Grants of up to $375,000 are available.  Each grant will be for a 3-5 year time period, with grant payments made on an annual basis. Multiple awards may be made in each of the geographic areas served by the Foundation.

Grant awards will differ considerably.  Factors used to determine the amount of a grant award include, but are not limited to: the scope of the project, the number of individuals trained, and the number of students affected.  
 
Successful applicants are required to provide a cash contribution equal to 10 percent for each item requested. 

Use of Grant Funds

In general, the Foundation will provide funds for the incremental costs that are associated with the implementation of data-driven instruction at a classroom, school or district level.  Incremental costs are defined as costs that are new to the organization as a result of this project. 
 
For the most part, grant funds are intended to be used for:
  • professional development for teachers, principals and district-level staff
  • external consultants and trainers
  • training materials
  • software and other technologies
  • assessment materials
  • teacher release time and substitutes for training and professional development associated with data-driven instruction
  • teacher stipends for out-of-school training that is directly associated with the implementation of the data-driven instruction project
Please note that grants through this RFP do not provide funds for existing personnel expense or the hiring of new staff.
 
Grant money may not be used: 
  • for the private benefit of any grant recipient or affiliated person
  • for individual scholarships
  • for research
  • to attempt to influence legislation
  • to attempt to influence or intervene in any political campaign
  • for endowment or capital campaigns
  • curriculum development
  • curriculum purchase
  • purchase or development of remedial curricula  

Application Procedure 

This RFP has a two-step application process: 
  1. Submission of a brief letter of inquiry.
  2. Submission of a full proposal, if requested.
The Foundation accepts one letter of inquiry from each organization per RFP cycle. The maximum length for letters of inquiry is five pages. The letter of inquiry must be signed by the applicant’s executive director, superintendent, or headmaster.

Please note that diocesan schools must make application through the local central diocesan education department.

To be considered for a grant through this RFP, letters of inquiry must be received by 5:00 p.m. on January 16, 2009. E-mailed or faxed copies are not accepted.
   
Letters of inquiry must include the following: 
  • a brief description of the organization, school, or school district
  • the geographic area and population served
  • student demographics
  • the dollar amount requested
  • a brief description of the project for which grant funds are requested
  • the reason(s) for implementing the project at this time
  • how the proposed project will improve student achievement
 Send letters of inquiry to:            
Glenda M. Cadwallader
Executive Director
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
2351 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068-1225
All letters of inquiry are reviewed to determine if the Foundation wishes to pursue a full proposal.  Applicants will be notified by February 11, 2009 of the result of this review.  A request for a full proposal should not be interpreted as an indication of likely support.  The deadline for a full proposal, if requested, is March 31, 2009.

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

RFP Contact Information 

For more information about this RFP, please contact:
 
Glenda M. Cadwallader
Executive Director
(716) 689-0370 Ext. 204
gmc@thetowerfoundation.org
 
Donald Matteson
Senior Program Officer
(716) 689-0370 Ext. 207
dwm@thetowerfoundation.org 
 

Community Workshops 

The Foundation will host three community workshops that will focus on the RFP application process.  These workshops are highly recommended for organizations that anticipate requesting a grant.  Suggested attendees include senior district/school staff, program coordinators, district or school-employed grant writers.  Space is limited to two persons per organization.  Prior registration is required.
  
Monday, November 17, 2008 
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (registration begins at 12:45 p.m.)
Cape Codder Resort & Spa
1225 Iyanough Road
Hyannis, MA 02601
RSVP by November 7, 2008
(716) 689-0370 Ext. 200
 
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (registration begins at 12:45 p.m.)
Marriott Boston Peabody
8A Centennial Drive
Peabody, MA 01960
RSVP by November 7, 2008
(716) 689-0370 Ext. 200
 
Friday, November 21, 2008 
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (registration begins at 12:45 p.m.)
Ramada Hotel & Conference Center
2402 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068
RSVP by November 7, 2008
(716) 689-0370 Ext. 200