Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2022: Innovation Pathways Planning Grant

Fund Code: 418

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide Innovation Pathway program resources to an eligible applicant who intends to seek Innovation Pathway designation from DESE in FY2022.

Priorities:

Priorities for this grant include, but are not limited to:

Supporting applicants in the preparation of their Innovation Pathway designation application materials.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are any Massachusetts school district, charter school, or educational collaborative that plans to seek Innovation Pathways designation in 2021-2022. Applicants submitting an application for a planning grant agree to submit a Part A application to DESE in fall 2021. Preference may be given to an eligible applicant who has not received Innovation Pathway grants in the past.

Funding Type:

Trust

Funding:

A total amount of $600,000 is available to eligible applicants.

An eligible applicant may submit only one application for a maximum award of $30,000.

$25,000 is available for support to prepare Part A of the Innovation Pathways Designation application.

An additional $5,000 of funding may be requested if an applicant is planning for pathways in 2 or more of the eligible industry sectors: Advanced Manufacturing; Information; Environmental and Life Sciences; Health Care and Social Assistance; Business and Finance.

Note: $3,000 of the award must be used for staff participation in the College and Career Advising (MyCAP) Professional Development Series in SY2020-21, provided that the school has not competed the series in the past.

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.

Fund Use:

Funding may be used to support Innovation Pathway's adherence to the five guiding principles .

Allowable funding expenses include:
Program administration and coordination; stipends for K12- and higher education faculty; curricular development; engagement with MassHire boards and industry; professional development; instructional-related supplies and materials; high quality college and career advising and MyCAP development embedded in the pathway.
Computer hardware, (e.g. laptops) and student stipends may not be funded by this planning grant.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2021) – 6/30/2022

Program Unit:

Office for College, Career, and Technical Education

Contact:

Jennifer A. Gwatkin

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3954

Date Due:

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

Required Forms:

Submission Instructions:

Grant applications must be submitted via email to pathways@doe.mass.edu and received by the Department by 5:00 p.m on the date due.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: April 28, 2021