Specifications include, but are not limited to: Through this Request for Proposal (RFP) the Agency of Education (hereinafter the “State”) is seeking to establish a contract with a company that will provide a curated set of socioemotional learning (SEL) and mental health (MH) materials for educators, accessed via an on-line format. Corresponding materials for parents and students may be beneficial and potential vendors are encouraged to include such materials in their proposals. SEL is widely considered a critical component to a “whole child” approach to education and well-being. In recently released guidance, the Agency of Education and Department of Mental Health co-defined socioemotional learning consistent with CASEL’s approach - i.e., "Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions" (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning [CASEL]; 2020). Given the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State anticipates a greater need for social, emotional, and mental health supports for students and families, moving through and beyond the 2020-2021 schoolyear. As part of Vermont’s statewide COVID-19 response, the State seeks to provide resources for Vermont’s educators and families that will help them understand, support, and maintain students’ social emotional functioning and well-being. “Educators” includes both classroom teachers and administrators, as well as a variety of student support specialists (e.g., special education, school counselors, etc.). At minimum, the State is seeking a solution to assist educators in designing modules and learning experiences/opportunities that can be embedded within regular virtual or in-person classroom time, as well as any associated out-of-school assignments and activities. Such materials will help educators design classroom and school-wide lessons and initiatives, and help educators assist families and students in understanding core concepts of SEL and mental health. Not required, but encouraged, would be complementary resources for both parents/families and students themselves. The State seeks proposals from vendors who can assure high-quality, professionally vetted, and ideally, empirically based materials. The presented materials will be pre-populated, updated and edited by the vendor as necessary and requested. The State will have capabilities to update, edit, or remove materials at their discretion, and will have final authority over all material to be included and/or omitted.
