Request for Proposal for External Project Evaluator for Federal Charter School Program Grant to Increase the Sustainability of Minnesota Charter Schools

Overview

<div>The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE or State) requests proposals for a qualified, independent external project evaluator (Successful Responder) for its federal Charter School Program (CSP or Program) grant. The Successful Responder will plan and conduct formative and summative evaluation of the Program. The Successful Responder will assess fidelity to CSP requirements and objectives, conduct research and data analysis, and identify effective practices. The evaluation will generate quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate the extent to which outcomes are achieved for the CSP objectives and provide a Program evaluation report. </div> <div>.<br>The purpose of the outside evaluation is to provide an objective view, using both formative and summative evaluation, of the fidelity and effectiveness of the federal CSP grant as implemented in Minnesota and demonstrate the extent to which outcomes are achieved for the grant objectives. The evaluation is critical to improving the Program and corresponding results in order to provide the best outcome for students.</div> <div>.<br>The evaluation will address three main areas of the CSP grant:</div> <div> <ol> <li>How well is Minnesota meeting the goals, objectives, processes, actions, outputs and outcomes of the CSP grant in the administration of subgrants to charter schools?</li> <li>How well is Minnesota progressing in furthering the initiatives of the CSP grant to build authorizer capacity and provide school support through: (i) board development, (ii) education leadership pilot programming, (iii) authorizer training support, and (iv) reimbursement for new charter school representatives and new charter school directors in Greater Minnesota to attend monthly Charter School Boot Camps.</li> <li>What impact did/does the CSP grant have in making changes in the charter school and authorizer landscape in Minnesota? How has the CSP grant increased the sustainability and quality of Minnesota charter schools?</li> </ol> <div>In evaluating these three (3) areas, the evaluation will also gauge how well MDE supported the charter sector through its administration of the grant and processes and projects facilitated by the grant. The Successful Responder will also consider the adequacy of the management plan to achieve objectives on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, times and milestones for accomplishing projects tasks.</div> <div>.</div> </div> <div>Tasks to be completed and specific outcomes expected are as follows:</div> <div> <ul> <li>Become knowledgeable about the CSP grant in Minnesota and the charter school sector.</li> <li>Research background material of charter schools and authorizers and data available in the Charter Center and at MDE as well as the state and national landscape for charter schools.</li> <li>Interview key persons in Minnesota’s charter school sector, including charter school stakeholders, charter school leaders, authorizers and MDE staff to gather information about the Program.</li> <li>Collect quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate the extent to which the CSP grant achieved outcomes and objectives.</li> <li>Draft an evaluation plan, indicating tasks and responsible persons, for providing both formative and summative evaluation of the components of the CSP grant, including the CSP subgrant program to new charter schools, the board development project, the educational leadership pilot program for charter school leaders, authorizer training support and travel reimbursements for schools in Greater Minnesota.</li> <li>Evaluate the degree to which the MDE CSP subgrant program for charter schools met Program goals, and also the effectiveness of processes in place to provide additional support to charter schools.</li> <li>Provide an analysis of documents, processes and procedures involved with the CSP subgrant programs and other grant initiatives.</li> <li>Prepare a written summative evaluation report as well as fact sheets on each MDE CSP grant initiative.</li> <li>Provide recommendations regarding how to demonstrate Program effectiveness of both the CSP subgrant program and the other CSP initiatives which support charter school and authorizer capacity, success and value.</li> <li>Identify effective practices in grant administration.</li> </ul> </div>