Family & Community Students & Families SSCE
College and Career Readiness

MassGrad (the High School Graduation Initiative)

MassGrad News:

11/14/2011

MassGrad Gateway to College Program - Funding Opportunity and Announcement of New Sites

About MassGrad

In fall 2010, the U.S. Department of Education selected Massachusetts as just one of two states for the federal High School Graduation Initiative award and one of 29 projects total nationwide chosen for funding out of 184 total applicants. The Massachusetts grant project - MassGrad - will focus on the 133 high schools throughout the Commonwealth that exceeded the statewide annual dropout rate of 2.9 percent in the 2008-09 school year. Massachusetts will receive $15 million over the next five years through the MassGrad project to support statewide and local efforts for high school dropout prevention, intervention, and recovery. The Department released a press release in early November 2010.

   Full Awarded Application submitted by the Department to the U.S. Department of Education

MassGrad Key Activities

Dropout Prevention & Recovery Work Group - All districts eligible for MassGrad opportunities are welcome to participate in the Dropout Prevention & Recovery Work Group events - face-to-face meetings/trainings, district open houses, and topical webinars.

MassGrad Implementation and Planning Awards - Through a competitive procurement process, school districts throughout the Commonwealth were selected to be Implementation and Planning Awardees. These Awardees are employing research-based practices to increase their high school graduation rates.

MassGrad Coalition Challenge Awards - The Department will select up to five regional or community coalitions to work towards an area of challenge related to dropout prevention that can best be solved through a collaborative approach. Please watch the "news" section of the MassGrad homepage for details about this upcoming solicitation.

MassGrad Gateway to College Start-Up Awards - Through MassGrad, the Department will provide start-up funding and intensive technical assistance and training support (provided by the Gateway to College National Network) for three institutions of higher education that partner with at least one MassGrad-eligible school district. As of October 2011, two community colleges were selected to receive these start-up funds: Bristol Community College (in partnership with Fall River Public Schools) and Quinsigamond Community College (in partnership with Worcester Public Schools). Please watch the "news" section of the MassGrad homepage for details about selection of the 3rd Gateway to College site.

MassGrad Leadership Council - A cross-sector, state-level Leadership Council helps to guide all of the MassGrad activities. The Leadership Council also serves as the state-level portion of the MassGrad Coalition.