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Sx Department of Property&Procurement Govemment of the United States Virgin Islands (ER ae 3274 ESTATE RICHMOND, CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00820 8 STATES 8201 Sus BASE, 3RD FLOOR, ST. THomas, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00802 ST, CROIX MAIN OFFICE: 340.773.1561 | ST. THOMAS MAIN OFFICE: 340.774.0828 ST. CROIX FAX: 340.773.0986 | ST. THOMAS FAX: 340.777.9587 HTTP://DPP.VI.GOV May 9, 2016 AMENDMENT #1 RFP-010-2016 (P) Qualified contractors to provide K-3 reading and Literacy Consulting and Professional Development in the Territory’s Public Elementary Schools. INSERT: Questions and Answers ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS REMAIN UNCHANGED BIDDERS MUST ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS AMENDMENT WITH THEIR BID PROPOSAL. Subject: Response to Questions: RFP 010-2016; K-3 Literacy Initiative Date: May 9, 2016 QUESTION & ANSWER(s): Question I. Are there any evidence-based reading interventions currently in place in the district? Are these in place at all schools, or select schools? Which intervention programs are currently being used? Response(s): All elementary schools in the District are currently using Journeys, Achieve 3000, Read 180, head Sprout, and Plato (Edmentum) reading intervention programs. Question 2. Approximately how many educators would participate in this professional learning opportunity at each grade level? Response(s): Approximately forty-eight (48) kindergarten, fifty-four (54) first grade, fifty-two (52) second grade, and forty-eight (48) teachers will participate in the professional development opportunity. Question 3. Is this initiative to be funded through currently available grant funds, general operating funds, or through alternate means? To what degree are year two and three plans dependent on obtaining additional grant funding? Response(s): This initiative is currently being funded by the local government. However, Federal monies are being requested to fund the second and third years of the proposed services. Question 4: Are you open to hiring or assigning a staff member to be a part-time or full time grant writer to be trained by our expert grant writing team or are you expecting the contracted services to include identification of funding opportunities and grant production? Response(s): The awarded bidder will be responsible for identifying other funding opportunities and grant production. Question 5: How many days of professional learning time are allocated to this initiative for teachers this summer? During the school year? Response(s): Professional development services for teachers are scheduled to commence during the 2016-2017 School Year. The total number of days are to be determined. Question 6: How many days of professional learning time are allocated to this initiative for building and/or district leaders this summer? During the school year? Response(s): Professional development services for district leaders are scheduled to commence during the 2016-2017 School Year. The total number of days are to be determined. Question 7: Are there common assessments used by all schools to gauge student literacy in your elementary schools? If so, which assessments are in use? Response(s): The districts use Smarter Balanced to assess all students in third through eighth and tenth and eleventh grades. Other common assessments used to gauge student literacy in schools are, Achieve 3000, Read 180, Accellus, Head Sprout, and Plato. Subject: Response to Questions: RFP 010-2016; K-3 Literacy Initiative Date: May 9, 2016 Question 8: What are the budgetary restrictions, if any, that respondents should consider when proposing strategic means to meet the goals and objectives set out in the RFP? Response(s): All proposals will be considered regardless of cost. The proposed contractor will be contacted to discuss price negotiation if deemed necessary. Question 9: Do all elementary schools in St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix use the same core literacy curriculum? If so, what is it? If they don’t use the same curriculum, what different curricula are in place in the schools? Response(s): Elementary schools in the St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix Districts are using HMH ‘s Journeys Program. Question 10: Page 7 of the RFP states, “this reading initiative will kick off in spring of 2016 with a series of workshops and in-classroom coaching support.” What is the anticipated start date of the contract and initiative? Response(s): The services are expected to begin during Fall of 2016-2017 School Year. Question 11: How many on-site days does the district anticipate for providing direct, in- classroom coaching for teachers? Response(s): The amount of onsite in classroom coaching days have not yet been determined. Question 12: What types of supports are in place in your schools for English Language Learners and students with IEPs? Is there a separate curriculum in place for these students? Response(s): Differentiated instruction is used based on resources used in the general education setting. There is no separate curriculum in place for the ELL population. 10 EDUCATION: We have a request for clarification regarding Section II. Overview, Letter B Overview IT: B. Training on the use of screening, diagnostic, and class-room based progress monitoring assessments as well as other procedures that effectively identify students who may be at risk of reading failure or who are experiencing reading difficulties. Question I: Does this requirement mean that GVI has assessments in place that are already being used OR does it mean that the proposal should include the assessment and all applicable training? If the previous, what assessments are currently being used? Are the assessments consistent throughout or are different assessments used between districts and/or grade levels? Response(s): The St. Thomas/St. John District is currently using the Dibels diagnostic tool in the elementary grades, however the St, Croix District uses the LAP 3 Assessment for kindergarten and first grades. There is nothing in place for Second Grade, however the Smarter Balanced Subject: Response to Questions: RFP 010-2016; K-3 Literacy Initiative Date: May 9, 2016 assessment is used territory wide for the third grade. Other common assessments used in all schools to gauge student literacy in schools are, Achieve 3000,Read 180, and Plato. Question 2: How many students in grades K-3 will be served as a result of this RFP? Response: All kindergarten through third grade student in the territory will benefit from this initiative. The approximate number of students per grade are as follows: Kindergarten 992 Grade 1: 1116 Grade 2: 990 Grade 3: 990