Notice of RFP: Full-Service Community Schools Evaluation

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SUMMARY:

The Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) is seeking an independent evaluator to design and conduct an independent evaluation of the FSCS initiative that includes an implementation study and a study of the effectiveness of the initiative on the desired outcomes in four districts.

BACKGROUND:

The Southeast Alaska Full Service Community Schools (SAFSCS) is a consortium of 4 school Districts – Chatham School District, Hydaburg School District, Juneau School District and Yakutat School District – tribal entities, private sector entities, and the backbone organization the Association of Alaska School Boards.

SAFSCS will work with families, students, and school staff to use evidence-based, culturally-grounded, and promising approaches to address each of the four pillars of the Full Service Community Schools model (Integrated Student Supports; Expanded and Enriched Learning time and Opportunity; Active Family and Community Engagement; and Collaborative Leadership and Practice). Regional and state partners will support cross-community collaboration and leverage resources and services.

PROJECT GOALS:

  1. Engage school staff, families, students, and the community as collaborative leaders in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of community schools initiatives.
  2. Build trauma-engaged school environments that provide integrated school-community supports for students and families and improve social emotional outcomes for students.
  3. Improve academic achievement, especially for traditionally underserved students (low income, AK Native, Students of Color) through enriched and expanded learning opportunities that bridge learning from kindergarten to postsecondary.
  4. Actively engage families and communities in meaningful opportunities to partner for student and school success.

KEY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY THE EVALUATION:

Implementation Question 1. To what extent have FSCS schools been able to implement key structures and processes (e.g., shared vision, structures for shared decision-making, Association of Alaska School Boards, communication about the initiative with key stakeholders) related to the four pillars associated with community school implementation? Where are the opportunities to improve and further develop these structures and processes?

Implementation Question 2. What promising practices and barriers to implementation are associated with school implementation of the FSCS strategy?

Implementation Question 3. To what extent have key components of the SAFSCS strategy been implemented, and have schools met their targets in relation to service delivery and activity provision?

Implementation Question 4. To what extent did programing and services supported through the FSCS initiative reach targeted student groups, such as Alaskan Native students and students experiencing poverty?

Implementation Question 5. To what extent did students, families, and community members perceive participation in activities and services supported through FSCS to be relevant and useful in supporting students’ engagement and success in their educational careers?

Implementation Question 6. To what extent did students, families, and community members perceive participation in activities and services supported through FSCS to be relevant and useful in supporting the cultural and linguistic connection of students to their tribal communities?

Implementation Question 7. To what extent did school staff and administration perceive professional development opportunities offered through implementation of the FSCS strategy to be relevant, useful, and actionable in supporting their work broadly, and in providing culturally responsive and trauma engaged educational supports and services?

Outcomes and Impact Question 1. To what extent do students in FSCS schools demonstrate improvement on key outcomes such as student attendance, academic proficiency, and kindergarten readiness?

Outcomes and Impact Question 2. What is the impact of participation in activities and services supported by the FSCS initiative on student outcomes such as SEL skills, student engagement, perceived family and community involvement, and academic outcomes such as attendance and achievement?

Outcomes and Impact Question 3. What are the relationships between exposure to different activities of the FSCS initiative and student attendance and academic outcomes?

Interested evaluators should submit a detailed proposal including evaluation design, budget, resumes of proposed project personnel, and a summary of experience. Contact Lauren Havens at lhavens@nullaasb.org for more information.

All proposals should be submitted no later than February 10, 2023, via the online submission form: https://forms.gle/eSFQGvS6VzN9kvom7

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