FY2021: FAFSA Completion Opportunity Grant

Fund Code: 432

Purpose:

Provide direct support to students and families in the completion of the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in high schools with high numbers of economically disadvantaged students.

Priorities:

Due to the COVID pandemic FAFSA completion across the nation and the Commonwealth is significantly low this year as compared to previous years. The priority of this federal funding is to increase the number of students completing FAFSA and attending college through the use of data to identify and support students and their families in completing FAFSA and the financial aid process in fifty identified high schools in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

• Support school counselors and other school personnel to use available data (including Edwin FAFSA completion reports) to target students who have yet to apply for FAFSA and higher education
• Work with college access programs and community organizations to provide supports for students and their families to complete FAFSA and college applications.
• Target first generation college going students and students from populations historically underrepresented in higher education.
• Work with community colleges and state universities to transition students to higher education to avoid "summer melt"
• Support families and students in FAFSA completion and college applications outside of traditional school time (evenings, weekends, vacation) and locations that are responsive to student and family needs in an effective linguistic and cultural approach.

Eligibility:

Districts serving the 50 priority high schools in the Commonwealth with the highest number of economically disadvantaged graduates.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.425

Funding:

Districts may apply for funds to serve priority high schools identified in their district. Amounts are based on numbers of economically disadvantaged students enrolled in those priority schools.

District	Priority High Schools	Amount
Boston	Boston Latin Academy, Brighton High School, East Boston High School, Madison Park High School, O'Bryant Math Science High School, Tech Boston Academy	45,000
Brockton	Brockton High School	25,000
Cambridge	Cambridge Rindge and Latin School	10,000
Chelsea	Chelsea High School	10,000
Chicopee	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	5,000
Everett	Everett High School	15,000
Fall River	Durfee High School	20,000
Fitchburg	Fitchburg High School	10,000
Framingham	Framingham High School	10,000
Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical School	10,000
Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical	Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical School	15,000
Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical	Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School	15,000
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical	Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical School	10,000
Haverhill	Haverhill High School	10,000
Holyoke	Holyoke High School	15,000
Lawrence	Lawrence High School	25,000
Lowell	Lowell High School	20,000
Lynn	Classical High School , Lynn English High School , Lynn Vocational Technical School	40,000
Malden	Malden High School	15,000
Medford	Medford High School	5,000
Methuen	Methuen High School	10,000
New Bedford	New Bedford High School	20,000
Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical	Northeast Metro Technical School	5,000
Peabody	Peabody High School	5,000
Quincy	North Quincy High School , Quincy High School	15,000
Revere	Revere High School	15,000
Salem	Salem High School	5,000
Somerville	Somerville High School	10,000
Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical	Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical School	10,000
Springfield	High School of Commerce, Putnam Vocational High School, Springfield Central High School, Springfield High School of Science and Technology	70,000
Taunton	Taunton High School	10,000
Waltham	Waltham High School	5,000
West Springfield	West Springfield High School	5,000
Weymouth	Weymouth High School	5,000
Worcester	Burncoat High School , Doherty High School , North High School, South High School , Worcester Technical High School	60,000

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Additional funding of up to $10,000 may be available for districts in FY2022 that meet or exceed last year's FAFSA completion rate by May 1, 2021.

Fund Use:

Districts may designate funds for use in priority high schools for stipends to identify a school FAFSA lead to coordinate FAFSA completion efforts; stipends for school counselors, other school personnel, retired educators and/or trained community members who will support students and their families in the financial aid and college application process. Funds may also be used to support community organizations and college access programming to support this effort. Funds may not be spent on technological hardware or equipment.

Project Duration:

Upon approval – 06/30/2021*

* Districts that meet or exceed last year's FAFSA completion rate by May 1, 2021 may be eligible to apply for FY2022 funds under Fund Code 432 for up to $10,000. These FY2022 grants will run upon approval (no earlier than 7/1/2021) through 6/30/2022. Eligible entities will be notified prior to July 1^st.

Program Unit:

Office of College, Career and Technical Education

Contact:

Nyal Fuentes

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3593

Date Due:

Applications will be approved on a rolling basis as received until Friday, March 5, 2021.

Required Forms:

Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

 

Part II — Budget Expenditures (to be entered directly in EdGrants)

Part III — Required Program Information

Additional Information:

Districts that meet or exceed last year's FAFSA completion rate by May 1, 2021 will be notified that they are eligible for FY2022 funds under FC 432 for up to $10,000.

Once notified, FY2022 grants should be entered in EdGrants with a

FY2022 Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants

In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FY21 432 FAFSA Completion Opportunity Grant (Applicant Name)

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature and all required forms. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: February 12, 2021