STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301 Citizens Services Line 1-800-339-9900  FAX 603-271-1953

Emphasizing Partnership	REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS New Hampshire e-Learning for Educators OPEN NH Partnership Grants to Districts Release Date: 21 July 2008 The e-Learning for Educators Program at the New Hampshire Department of Education requests proposals for OPEN NH Partnership Grants to Districts for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year. The New Hampshire Department of Education anticipates awarding approximately $80,000 in OPEN NH Partnership Grants to Districts during the 2008-2009 school year. In the event that qualified proposals exceed the limitations of funding, preference will be given to high need districts. E-Learning for Educators is a five-year initiative, funded by the federal Ready to Teach Program, designed to help states meet critical requirements for improving student achievement through providing high quality online professional development content and support as they build their capacity to implement programs to meet teacher quality requirements. The initiative seeks to address the needs of students in high-poverty, low–achieving schools. This document is the official “Request for Proposals” used to outline the application process. It contains important information on the background of the e-Learning for Educators Initiative and its requirements. Please review all pages of this document to learn how to apply for an OPEN NH Partnership Grant. Applications must be submitted according to the guidelines described in this document (also available at www.nheon.org/opennh/grants) using the application form provided. The application deadline is September 8, 2008. This RFP includes information necessary to apply for an OPEN NH Partnership Grant to support one or more of the following areas: Option A: OPEN NH District Participation Cohort Grantees will establish a cohort of educators from within the district to take OPEN NH courses as part of their professional development plans. Option B: OPEN NH Orientation Support and Promotion Grantees will host four orientation meetings (one for each session of OPEN NH courses) for educators in a region of the state and will provide promotion of the orientation meetings and OPEN NH course sessions. Option C: OPEN NH Leadership Team Representation Grantees will provide one or more staff persons to serve on the New Hampshire e-Learning for Educators Leadership Team as coordinating liaison between the promotion and orientation partners and the OPEN NH Project Coordinator.
Contact	Stanley Freeda, e-Learning for Educators Project Coordinator Voice: 603.271.5132 Email: sfreeda@ed.state.nh.us Office of Educational Technology, Division of Instruction New Hampshire Department of Education 101 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301
Writing a Successful Proposal	Step 1. Read all sections of this document to understand the grant requirements. Step 2. Review the application format (see Appendix A), which describes which information should be included within each section of your proposal, and review the scoring rubric (see Appendix B) which will be used to score your proposal. Step 3. Review the participation options in the Partnership Options section and decide which options are good matches for your district. (All applicants must apply for Option A. Applicants have the option of also applying for Options B or C in addition to Option A.) Step 4. Enter your contact information and intent to apply (go to http://www.nheon.org/opennh/grants). Step 5. Write your proposal using the application form provided on the website. Then read this guidance document again to be sure you have covered all the required information. Ask someone unfamiliar with the project to read your proposal to assess it for clarity and completeness. Step 6. Follow the Submission Instructions to submit your proposal. http://www.nheon.org/opennh/grants
OPEN NH e-Learning for Educators	New Hampshire e-Learning for Educators / OPEN NH is part of the e-Learning for Educators Initiative, a multi-state project funded through a federal Ready to Teach Grant. Participating in the project are the state education agencies and the public broadcast stations of New Hampshire, Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, along with the Education Development Center (EDC) and Boston College.  The NH Department of Education and New Hampshire Public Television are the primary partners in New Hampshire, each receiving a portion of funds to coordinate and promote the project, which includes training instructors, developers, and offering online courses to educators throughout the five-year period of the grant. An OPEN NH Leadership Team, with representatives from NHDOE and NHPTV, as well as the Local Educational Support Center Network (LESCN), Plymouth State University, and K-12 educators, meets quarterly to provide guidance on implementation of the project and participates in the annual e-Learning for Educators Leadership Academy each fall. The major Goals of the e-Learning for Educators initiative are as follows: 1. Use e-learning to provide effective professional development that leads to gains in teachers’ content knowledge, improvements in their teaching practices, and increases in the achievement of their students. 2. Develop, within each participating state and public broadcasting organization, the capacity to use e-learning as a vehicle for effective professional development that directly serves state and district teacher quality initiatives and student achievement goals, with a specific focus on high need schools and districts. 3. Create a multi-state collaboration to define common standards, share resources and expertise, and support the individual state programs. 4. Develop a cadre of skilled e-Learning for Educators instructors to teach the e-learning courses offered. 5. Develop model e-learning courses for professional development that address critical state needs and provide exemplars to inform further course development. 6. Develop a cadre of skilled e-Learning for Educators course developers and establish collaborations involving public broadcasting stations, state departments of education, and other relevant organizations, to develop e-learning courses to meet the student achievement needs of each state. 7. Conduct scientifically-based research to determine the effectiveness of the e-Learning for Educators initiative on improving teacher quality and impacting student achievement. 8. Establish a proven, scaleable and sustainable model for e-learning professional development programs that can be replicated in other states. OPEN NH offers a wide range of high-quality, research-based online professional development courses, facilitated by exemplary New Hampshire educators, and developed by New Hampshire educators and the staff at EDC. OPEN NH courses use a web-based model to provide effective professional development that leads to gains in educator’s content knowledge, improvement in their teaching practices, and increases in the achievement of their students.
Follow the Child	The NHDOE encourages applications that also have the potential to further the Follow The Child Initiative. This initiative was designed to help schools and teachers foster student aspirations to promote student achievement through an emphasis on personalized learning and assessment. Expanding upon the spirit of No Child Left Behind, the Follow The Child Initiative focuses on measuring growth in the personal, social, physical, and academic facets of each student’s life and defining the necessary support systems needed for each child’s success.
Option A	OPEN NH District Participation Cohort Option A provides funding for your district to establish one or more cohorts of educators from within the district to participate in the OPEN NH online professional development courses as part of their professional development plans. Districts can use the “District Deals” currently offered by OPEN NH to tailor the professional development of their educators to meet their needs. (Note: The graduate credits option available to participants of OPEN NH courses may not be paid for out of this grant.) Districts are eligible for Option A grant funding of up to $4,000 per year to support OPEN NH course registrations for their educators. District Deals - $1,900 Course Delivery Scenarios · Scenario 1 - The district requests one course to be delivered at a time of its choosing for 8 – 25 of its teachers. The district will provide the dates of delivery and the course requested on this form to the OPEN NH project coordinator. OPEN NH will arrange for a facilitator and set up the course for delivery at the requested time. · Scenario 2 - The district requests to add one course to a regularly scheduled session for 8 – 25 of its teachers during a regular OPEN NH session. The district will provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses for 8 – 25 of their teachers. The district will designate a team leader who will complete the Special Course Delivery Registration form and send it to the OPEN NH Project Coordinator for processing. OPEN NH will add the course to its regular scheduled session and provide a facilitator. OPEN NH will reserve 8 – 25 seats for teachers in the course requested. · Scenario 3 - The district requests 20 – 25 seats in one regularly scheduled single course offered during one of the regular OPEN NH sessions. The district will designate a team leader who will complete the Special Course Delivery Registration form and send it to the OPEN NH Project Coordinator for processing. OPEN NH will reserve the requested number of seats for teachers in the regular scheduled session course requested. · Scenario 4 - The district requests 20 – 25 seats in the multiple courses during a regularly scheduled session of OPEN NH courses. The district will designate a team leader who will complete the Special Course Delivery Registration form and send it to the OPEN NH Project Coordinator for processing. OPEN NH will reserve 20 – 25 seats for teachers in a regular scheduled session of OPEN NH courses. District Deals - $400 Course Delivery Scenarios · Scenario 5 - The district requests seats in one regularly scheduled course offered during one of the regular OPEN NH sessions for 5 teachers. The district will designate a team leader who will complete the Special Course Delivery Registration form and send it to the OPEN NH Project Coordinator for processing. OPEN NH will reserve 5 seats for teachers in the regular scheduled session course requested. · Scenario 6 - The district requests 5 seats in the multiple courses during a regularly scheduled session of OPEN NH courses. The district will designate a team leader who will complete the Special Course Delivery Registration form and send it to the OPEN NH Project Coordinator for processing. OPEN NH will reserve 5 seats for teachers in a regular scheduled session of OPEN NH courses.
Option B	OPEN NH Orientation Support and Promotion Option B provides funding for your district to provide information and support for face to face meetings for OPEN NH participants prior to the online orientation week of each of the four OPEN NH course sessions. Along with the face to face participant support and informational meetings, partner districts would promote the face to face orientation meetings along with the OPEN NH online course sessions during the year. Districts are eligible for annual grant funding from NHDOE up to $5,000 per year for the following activities: Promote the OPEN NH online courses and orientations throughout the year as a statewide online professional development program. Allowable activities include, but are not limited to the following: OPEN NH Introduction/Orientation Sessions Host four face to face orientations each year for the fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions of OPEN NH courses. The sessions run as follows: · Fall Session - early October – late November · Winter Session - early February – late March · Spring Session – late March/early April – mid/late May · Summer Session - mid/late June – mid/late August Introduction/orientation meetings can be scheduled within a 5 week window prior to the session start dates. · Provide a partnership staff member leader or course facilitator for each meeting to give guidance and technical support to all participants. · Provide food/refreshments for the meeting participants. · Provide a partnership staff member leader with the opportunity to receive orientation training from the OPEN NH Project Coordinator. · Arrange for a partnership staff member leader to communicate with the OPEN NH coordinator and the NH e-Learning Leadership Team. Promotion of NH e-Learning /OPEN NH Courses · Host a web page on your district website that provides NH e-Learning for Educators information and links to the NH e-Learning / OPEN NH website for more information, updating when necessary/appropriate. · Include the NH e-Learning/OPEN NH course opportunities in your regular district PD offerings throughout the year, and within any email advertisements, newsletters, etc. · Display NH e-Learning /OPEN NH materials in an attractive display stand in an easily accessible location in your teacher’s area and library/media center. · Include NH e-Learning /OPEN NH session dates and events on your school calendar. · Assist other districts within your regional area to link to your website, distribute OPEN NH information and orientation invitations to their staff, via electronic and/or hard copy as appropriate, and include in their school calendar offerings.
Option C	OPEN NH Leadership Team Representation Option C provides funding for your district to provide a staff person to serve on the New Hampshire e-Learning for Educators Leadership Team as coordinating liaison between the information and orientation partners and the OPEN NH Project Coordinator. One or two Leadership Team Representatives are eligible for grant funding of $3,000 per year for the following activities: Leadership Team District Representation Provide a partner staff member leader representative to participate on the OPEN NH Leadership Team. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following: · Attend all leadership team meetings and reporting on promotion orientation partners’ involvement. · Attend the annual e-Learning for Educators Leadership Academy in the fall (currently scheduled for November 10 – 13, 2008 at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange, AL). · Coordinate with other district partnerships to facilitate the promotion of NH e-Learning information across the state. · Coordinate partnership district promotional activities with NH e-Learning /OPEN NH project director, project coordinator, and other NH e-Learning partners. · Recruit district partnership leaders to attend the e-Learning for Educators Leadership Academy and NH e-Learning Leadership Team meetings.
Project Dates	9/08/08 Electronic version of application and budget files must be received by this date (see Submission Instructions section). 9/12/08 Signed copies of the application cover page and OBM Form 1 must be received by 12 September 2008. The project period start and end dates must be 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009. 9/19/08 Grant awards are expected to be announced by 19 September 2008. 9/30/09    Project period ends 30 September 2009.
Leadership Support and Capacity to Implement	Successful proposals will demonstrate the appropriate district leadership support and capacity necessary to fully implement a successful NH e-Learning for Educators project in the selected focus area. Proposals that include funding requests for more than one option should demonstrate support and capacity to carry out the required activities for each individual proposed option. For example, the ability to advertise, promote, and deliver to a wide audience is certainly paramount to the ability to successfully demonstrate capacity for OPEN NH Orientation Support and Promotion, but not necessary for capacity to form a district wide participation cohort. The proposal narrative should directly address support issues such as release time or appropriate compensation for time by individuals as well as building space and scheduling capabilities.
Allowable Activities	Consider the types of activities your proposal addresses. In completing your proposal, remember that the most desired activities will be those that can provide answers to the following questions: Option A: OPEN NH District Participation Cohort Include at least one of the Course Delivery Scenarios listed in the Option A “district deals” section. Ensure that at least 80% of your budget supports participation in OPEN NH courses. Include a modest amount of other expenses as needed to support teacher participation (e.g., stipend for teacher leader to coordinate an active cohort of teachers). NOTE: Do NOT include graduate credit fees for OPEN NH courses. While OPEN NH encourages the use of this option for participants, these grant funds may not be used to pay for graduate tuition fees. Option B: OPEN NH Orientation Support and Promotion OPEN NH Introduction/Orientation Sessions Include funds for food/refreshments (and space if applicable) for four introductory face to face meetings for each OPEN NH session during the year, scheduled within a 3 week window prior to the OPEN NH session start dates (see www.opennh.org for session dates). Include a stipend for an OPEN NH trained instructor to facilitate each orientation and to provide guidance and information for attendees. Include funds, if necessary, to support a staff leader to receive orientation training from the OPEN NH Project Coordinator, to ensure orientations are setup and delivered effectively, and post-orientation reports are provided to the OPEN NH team. NOTE: Be sure to include a proposed list of orientation dates/times for orientations from Fall 2008 through Summer 2009. Promotion of NH e-Learning /OPEN NH Courses · Include funds, if needed, for advertising and promoting the informational / orientation meetings, such as: o posting on your district website, local/regional professional development or activity calendar, o including OPEN NH information in your regular district PD offerings throughout the year, and within any email advertisements, newsletters, etc., o displaying OPEN NH materials in an attractive display stand in an easily accessible location in your teacher’s area, meeting rooms, and/or library/media center, o ensuring promotional materials have a district contact name, o reaching out to other districts in your area to promote the informational meetings and the OPEN NH sessions. Option C: OPEN NH Leadership Team Representation Leadership Team District Representation Include funds in your budget to support a staff leader to: o participate on the OPEN NH Leadership Team, o attend all leadership team meetings and report on results of orientation meetings and promotional efforts conducted per option B, o attend the annual e-Learning for Educators Leadership Academy, o coordinate with other district partnerships to facilitate the promotion of NH e-Learning information across the state, o assist OPEN NH leadership team to coordinate the partnership district promotional activities, o reach out to other district partnership leaders to attend the e-Learning for Educators Leadership Academy and NH e-Learning Leadership Team meetings. o NOTE: Please indicate contact information for staff leader attending leadership academy in November 2008.
Required Reporting	The reporting requirements for the focus areas of this grant will be as follows: Option A: OPEN NH District Participation Cohort · Submit district registration forms to OPEN NH for each course session, including participant names and the course(s) in which they wish to enroll. Forms are due two weeks prior to the start of each session. (Send e-copy to OPEN NH Project Coordinator and send hard copy with payment to NHPTV.) Option B: OPEN NH Orientation Support and Promotion · Provide proposed Orientation/Informational Meeting Time and Date List to OPEN NH Project Coordinator. Include dates list within application documents. · Provide attendance reports from individual meetings after the meetings have been held, including name, district, email address, phone numbers, registration issues or questions, due within two weeks after each meeting. Option C: OPEN NH Leadership Team Representation · Provide quarterly reports at each leadership team meeting of contacts made with partnership districts, due after each OPEN NH session begins. · Provide Leadership Academy attendance information for representatives from partner districts attending. Include contact information within application documents.