Overview, Project Details, and Submission Instructions 1

Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) Implementation Support Pilot

Application for Participation


Overview

The purpose of this Application for Participation is to select approximately six districts to
receive regular on-site technical assistance, facilitation, and training to support their use of the
Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) data in the 2013-14 school year.

The EWIS data are part of the recently-released Edwin Analytics. Edwin Analytics is a powerful
reporting and data analysis tool that gives authorized districts and state level users access to
new information, reports, and perspectives on education and programs that specifically support
improvements in teaching and learning. Edwin Analytics is unique because it integrates
longitudinal data from pre-kindergarten through public post-secondary education. The available
tools and reports for this data will help educators make informed decisions about how and
where they can improve upon their teaching practices to provide an exceptional learning
experience for their students. As part of the Department's continued commitment to improve
the quality of education in Massachusetts, we highly recommend and encourage the use of
these new Edwin Analytics tools.
The Massachusetts EWIS predicts the likelihood a student will reach an expected academic
goal. The EWIS includes risk models connected with four grade groupings: 1) early elementary,
2) late elementary, 3) middle school, and 4) high school. The risk models are each linked to a
relevant academic goal (see table below) that are important to the success of Massachusetts
students. All students are flagged as low, moderate, or high risk of not meeting that upcoming
academic goal. For example, a grade 5 student that is "low risk" is predicted to be likely to meet
the academic goal of proficient or advanced on 6th grade ELA and Math MCAS. The EWIS risk
models reflect national research and promising practices, feedback from a range of
stakeholders, and extensive testing of possible indicators of risk and statistical modeling using
longitudinal Massachusetts data. The risk models only use readily available data from existing
statewide collections.
EWIS Risk Model
Age Groups
Grade Levels
Academic Goals
Expected student outcomes for each grade grouping
Early Elementary Grades 1-3 Proficient or advanced on 3rd grade ELA MCAS
Late Elementary Grades 4-6 Proficient or advanced on 6th grade ELA and Math MCAS
Middle Grades Grades 7-9 Passing grades on all 9th grade courses
High School Grades 10-12 High school graduation

Overview, Project Details, and Submission Instructions 2


More information about Edwin and the EWIS is available at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edwin/


Project Details

Selected districts will receive the support of an EWIS Implementation Coach, who will work with
a select group of schools within each of the participating districts. The targeted schools will
follow a feeder pattern covering grade levels 1-12. In most cases this will be one elementary
school, one middle school, and one high school.

Specifically, the selected districts will receive the following, provided by the Department and
the Departments partner, American Institutes for Research:

Coaching: The participating districts will each be assigned a trained EWIS
Implementation Coach who will provide on-site support to EWIS teams once per month
and will be available by phone and email. The EWIS Implementation Coach will support
the district and participating schools in:
1. Developing/expanding local (district and school) teams and establishing roles
and responsibilities
2. Accessing EWIS and additional student data to support their EWIS work
3. Reviewing data
4. Interpreting data
5. Assigning and providing appropriate student interventions
6. Monitoring student progress and interventions
7. Evaluating and refining the process

Training and Networking Meetings: Three in-person meetings where all participating
schools and districts will meet together will take place over the course of the project in
summer, fall, and spring. The summer meeting date will take place on July 16, 2013 in a
central location. These meeting will be designed for participation by EWIS teams,
including representatives from the district and all participating schools. The purpose of
these meetings will be to provide training for all participating sites and to provide
facilitated networking and sharing across participating districts.

Tools: The participating districts will have access to a suite of customized resources and
tools to assist their use of EWIS data. Sites will have an ongoing opportunity to provide
feedback on these EWIS implementation resources and tools, which will be improved
during and after this pilot to be released statewide for all districts use.

Financial Incentive to Support Participating Staff: A modest amount of funding will be
provided to participating districts to support staff participation out of contract hours
and to cover travel to the training and pilot site meetings and other opportunities. A

Overview, Project Details, and Submission Instructions 3

total of $3,000 is available for each district, to be used between July 1, 2013 and June
30, 2014.


Submission Instructions

Complete the application cover sheet and narrative questions provided below. Please keep the
narrative response to five pages or less.

Email the full application, including signatures, in PDF format to Jenny Curtin at
jcurtin@doe.mass.edu. Please include EWIS Implementation Application in the subject line of
the email.

Applications are due by Friday, May 31, 2013. The Department expects to make selections
(approximately six districts) in mid-June.

Please submit any clarifying questions by Friday, May 24
th
via email to jcurtin@doe.mass.edu.



Application Cover Sheet and Narrative 1

Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) Implementation Support Pilot:
Application Cover Sheet


District name
Project coordinator name
Project coordinator title/role
Project coordinator phone
Project coordinator email
Other project staff
List names, titles, and emails



Project Assurances

The district and participating schools agree to:

___ Create EWIS Implementation Teams that will meet regularly throughout the 2013-14
school year.

___ Participate in on-site coaching with the assigned EWIS Implementation Coach.

___ Participate in three training and networking meetings, to be held in a central location.

___ Participate in all project evaluation activities supported by the Department, including
offering feedback on the EWIS trainings and a suite of tools provided to the participating
schools and districts.


Type Superintendents Name:



Superintendents Signature Date
Type Project Coordinators Name and Title:



Project Coordinators Signature Date


Application Cover Sheet and Narrative 2

Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) Implementation Support Pilot:
Application Narrative



1. To what extent is your district and schools (across all grade levels) currently using the Early
Warning Indicator System (EWIS) data? Note: The Department is interested in engaging a
diverse group of districts in this project including districts that have not begun to use the
EWIS data as well as districts that have used these data.


2. Briefly describe how expanded use of the EWIS data and targeted support from an EWIS
Implementation Coach would fit into your districts goals and objectives. Provide a specific
example.


3. Describe one key strength at the district and/or school(s) level that will be an asset to your
participation in this project.


4. Describe one challenge that you hope to address through participation in the project.


5. This project requires the regular convening of an EWIS Implementation Team at each
participating school with representatives from the district. The EWIS Implementation Team
at each school can be a new group or build on an existing group. More guidance will be
provided on the team structure and responsibilities to participating districts.
a. Briefly describe the school-level and district-level staff roles you expect to
participate in this group.
b. Are there any district or school groups that the EWIS teams could be connected
with?
c. List the names and roles of staff that will participate in the kick-off meeting on
July 16, 2013. Note: These staff should be active participants throughout this
project, including participation in on-site EWIS team meetings and the two
additional training and networking meetings for all pilot sites.


6. The EWIS Implementation Coach will work with a select group of schools within each of the
participating districts. The targeted schools will follow a feeder pattern covering grade
levels 1-12. In most cases this will be one elementary school, one middle school, and one
high school. If your district is selected for this project Department staff will work with you to
determine the final selection of schools. In the table below, provide your initial thoughts on
which schools would be the best fit for the project.


Application Cover Sheet and Narrative 3

School name
(Please list by order of grade
levels served, starting with
the earliest grade levels.)
Grade levels covered Approx. % of students
that attended the
school listed on the
line above?
Brief description on why
school a good fit for project
Not applicable



Sample Middle School 6-8 60% The principal at this school is
very enthusiastic about the
potential for use of the EWIS
data to inform school wide
improvements.



7. Provide a budget narrative for how the $3,000 incentive will be used to support your
participation in the project. Allowable expenses include stipends for out-of-contract hours,
mileage and other travel expenses for participation in the three required in-person training
and pilot site meetings in a central Massachusetts location, and supplies.
Note: The expenses associated with the EWIS Implementation Coach, in-person meetings
and trainings (except for travel expenses), and EWIS tools will be covered by the
Department.