LASO Strong Foundations Approved Provider List Application

The purpose of this application is to establish a list of technical assistance (TA) providers that can support a local education agency (LEA) through developing a math or literacy framework and lead a collective learning series on the research of how students learn by content area. An instructional framework provides a structured plan to exhibit what teaching and learning should look like in a specific content area. It can also define what a student’s ideal classroom experience looks like within that area and allows for a variety of pieces to align to bring this framework to life. Leaders who make decisions that are driven by the district or charter’s framework have a better chance at combating learning losses and providing equitable instructional practices. 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will be developing a Strong Foundations Approved Provider List to support LEAs in the creation of research-based and TEKS-aligned math or literacy frameworks. TA providers will be approved through this application process in addition to completing a series of trainings offered through TEA. TA providers will be required to provide evidence of aligned experience, expertise, capacity/scale, and results associated with one or more categories in this application. This application process does not represent a procurement action by TEA and approval does not guarantee providers will be awarded contracts from LEAs. Eligible respondents are nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and private or public companies.

Resources for interested TA providers can be found on this TEA-maintained Google Drive. Helpful resources include:

• A detailed Application Guide
• Application scoring rubric 
• A downloadable workbook organizations may use to prepare for this application
• Conflict of Interest forms

More information can be found at TEA's Strong Foundations grant website, and updates will be posted on the TA Provider Information website for Strong Foundations.

For futher questions or assistance, please reach out StrongFoundations@tea.texas.gov and a member of the team will get back with you shortly.

This section of the application is not tied to content expertise in math and/or literacy, but rather assesses an organizations:

1. General understanding of the goals and importance of the Strong Foundations Planning grant (rubric indicator 1.1),

2. Track record of providing aligned services in Texas and the duration of work in Texas (rubric indicator 2.1)

3. Ability to manage large projects evident through previous examples (rubric indicator 5.1),

4. And ability to be responsive to LEAs feedback and needs throughout the grant program (rubric indicator 4.2).

Please refer to Strong Foundations Approved Provider List Application rubric for a more detailed look at how responses will be scored.

This section of the application contains questions specific to identifying an organization's expertise to support districts in creating a literacy instructional framework.

These sections assess the organization's:

1. Previous experience providing high-quality professional learning and coaching for literacy-based projects (rubric indicator 2.2)

2. Ability to build internal capacity and literacy expertise to scale to support this project (rubric indicator 3.1)

3. Track record of providing similar services to school systems in past literacy-based projects (rubric indicator 4.1)

4. Evidence of impact showing student gains in literacy with previous work (rubric indicator 6.1)

This section of the application contains questions specific to identifying an organizations expertise to support districts in creating a math instructional framework.

These sections assess the organization's:

1. Previous experience providing high-quality professional learning and coaching for math-based projects (rubric indicator 2.2)

2. Ability to build internal capacity and math expertise to scale to support this project (rubric indicator 3.1)

3. Track record of providing similar services to school systems in past math-based projects (rubric indicator 4.1)

4. Evidence of impact showing student gains in math with previous work (rubric indicator 6.1)

This section of the application assesses an organizations ability to perform grant activites through checking references of past clients and submission of a sample contract task plan.

Once your organization is approved to support LEAs through this grant, your organization must commit to meeting the Strong Foundations Planning Grant 2022-23 approved provider assurances. To ensure all organizations are aware of the requirements, TEA is asking all organizations to agree to those assurances during the application. You will find those assurances listed below.

By agreeing to the following assurances, your organization commits to meeting all assurances and submitting all requested artifacts and deliverables listed below on behalf of the LEA and for your organization. The timing outlined below is recommended for technical assistance providers engaging in supporting LEAs building a framework in Fall 2022-Winter 2023.

Section 1: Initial Training Assurances

Once approved by this application process, all Strong Foundations Approved Providers must complete a series of trainings and show competency in supporting LEAs with this work. One or more of the trainings will be content-specific and approved providers must only attend the content-specific trainings for the content area they are approved for. 

A full list of the trainings, dates, and registration information can be found on the TEA-mainted Google Drive and in the Application Guide.

Section 2: LEA Support in Framework Development & Collective Learning Assurances

The assurances during the grant period are aligned to the district experiences outlined below.

Approved providers will be responsible for supporting LEAs from start to finish and TEA will hold approved providers accountable for the deliverables submitted for the district’s approved providers are supporting.

For the assurances listed below, please read through each one and agree or disagree with each statement. Only TA providers that agree to all assurances will be considered for the Strong Foundations Approved Provider List.

Approved Provider Assurances for Step 1: Build a Roadmap

In coordination with their approved provider, LEAs must complete a roadmap that includes:

• An overview of the selected committee including committee size, personnel roles, and process to develop and finalize committee
• An overview of the framework development process including LEA goals, milestones, and norms. Note: approved providers should support LEAs in backwards planning from future TEA grant applications
• An overview of how the LEA will make decisions on getting to a final math or literacy framework

Approved Provider Assurances for Step 2: Build a Communications Plan

In coordination with their approved provider, LEAs must complete a robust communications plan that include the follow key components:

• Identification of larger stakeholder groups in the school system and community
• A customized communications plan for those larger stakeholder groups in communicating updates and the final framework
• Plans outlining communications to committee members throughout the process to ensure a closed feedback loop

Approved Provider Assurances for Step 3: Conduct a Collective Learning Series

Approved providers and LEAs will design and deliver a collective learning scope and sequence aligned to the research for math and/or literacy. Approved provider and LEA have flexibility to adjust scope and sequence of collective learning; however, underlying research must still be covered.

Approved Provider Assurances for Step 4: Develop a Math or Literacy Framework

Approved providers must support LEAs in creating, editing, and finalizing a math or literacy framework aligned to the research of how students learn and the TEKS. The level of support an LEA requests may vary and approved providers should customize supports depending on what the LEA requests. TEA will provide a rubric to evaluate final frameworks so approved providers can effectively evaluate framework quality. TEA will audit framework scores submitted by approved providers and use results to evaluate TA provider performance.

Approved Provider Assurances for Step 5: Implement Framework

Approved providers must support LEAs in identifying a set of implementation priorities based on the final framework in a one-page memo. TEA will provide a template for the memo and key criteria.

Approved Provider Assurances: General Support

In an effort to continuously improve supports and learn from LEAs, approved providers will be responsible for submitting exemplars and creating a case study outlining LEAs' processes taken to develop their math or literacy frameworks. TEA will provide guidelines to the buildout of a case study.

Section 3: Continuing Training and Performance Assurance

To stay on the Strong Foundations Approved Provider List, TA provider must meet the assurance outlined below.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

An entity will not be selected if it has a conflict of interest that will or may arise during the performance of its obligations under the document. The respondent must disclose any existing or potential conflicts of interest or issues that might create appearances of impropriety relative to the submission of a response by the entity and its proposed subcontractors. The respondent must complete the Disclosure of Interested Parties Form in Attachment A. TEA will not accept information provided in other areas of the response as satisfaction in lieu of full completion of the form with required attachments.  Failure to furnish this information will result in disqualification from further consideration.