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Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2023: Early College Support Grant

Fund Code: 460

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide support resources to Designated Early College programs. Designated K-12 districts will be the primary fiscal recipients and lead education agencies for these funds, however, the resources allocated are intended to support both the Designated secondary school and institute of higher education (IHE) partners in the development and sustainment of their Early College work. These resources are intended to support partners' work during SY23, and through August 31, 2023.

Priorities:

Each Early College Designated high school with Designated programs in years 1–4 of Designation is eligible for $50,000 in baseline funding (per high school).

In addition to the baseline funding, Designated high schools are eligible for additional funding if they meet the priorities described below.

  1. Launching a new Designation: High Schools with programs in their first year of Designation are eligible for Implementation funds to support recruiting and start-up costs of their newly Designated program: Up to an additional $25,000

  2. Prioritizing Underrepresented Students: K–12 partners with one or more Designations that enroll 50 or more students where 50% or more of the enrolled Early College students are from low-income backgrounds (to be confirmed by Fall SIMS data): Up to an additional $25,000, applicants will be informed of their eligibility for these funds early December. Eligibility is to be determined by enrollment data.

    K–12 partners with two or more Designations that enroll 100 or more students where 50% or more of the enrolled Early College students are from low-income backgrounds (to be confirmed by Fall SIMS data): Up to an additional $50,000

    K–12 partners in Year 1 of Implementation are eligible for these funds, to be confirmed by Fall SIMS data.

  3. Community Outreach Funds: Designated Programs in years 1–4 can apply for funds to support local outreach to inform their community about Early College: Up to an additional $25,000 per Designated high school.

  4. Scaling and Targeted Expansion: Designated high schools in years 2 through 4 of implementation may indicate a need for additional funding as it becomes available under the categories delineated below. Expansion and Full School grantees (FC 175), will not be prioritized in funding and will only be awarded after other programs have been considered.
    Up to an additional $50,000 in one-time funds is available per Designated high school.


Note, though partners can choose more than one funding category, their overall budget must be within the total allowable amount. These additional funds will be allocated starting in Late Fall.

To be considered for these one-time funds applicants should complete part III responses and email them to Rebekah Barr by October 31, 2022.

Funding Categories:

  • Student Recruitment
  • Academic/ Student Support
  • Curriculum Alignment, Academic Skill Building
  • Transportation
  • Other

While these funds for Priority 3 and 4 will not be competitive, a review will be conducted to determine the appropriation of request and demonstration of need. Applicants seeking these additional funds will need to complete Part III and indicate prioritized funding needs.

Eligibility:

These funds are available to the K–12 district partner for each Designated Early College high school in Year 1–4 of their Designation. See linked allocation list .

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $4,425,000 million dollars has been allocated for these Early College Support Grants.

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:

Targeted funds from the state will help Designees build or sustain capacity in their Designated Early College programs in an equitable manner.

Early College Support funds may be used for the following purposes:

Increasing strategies to prioritize and serve students traditionally underserved in higher education through Early College programming. Such students may include: students who may be the first in their family to go to college, students of color, students who may be English language learners, students with disabilities, low-income students, or students who may otherwise not yet possess a perception that they may be a college going student.

Perpetuating a widespread college going culture, focused on student success. This may include: promoting higher education through awareness activities and workshops, purchasing textbooks and supplies for Early College students, arranging transportation to college campuses, and providing a wide range of academic and non-academic supports for EC students.

Building capacity and bringing Early College programs to scale, while ensuring that students are strongly supported in their Early College pathways. Programs should specifically address how they will implement supports to help students overcome barriers to postsecondary access and success. This includes on-ramping support for students who would not traditionally qualify for dual enrollment coursework. Support can include but are not limited to: mentors, tutors, defined study sessions, academic skill-building software, MYCAP activities and advising, non-therapeutic social and emotional support, soft skills workshops, and career development activities.

This grant cannot be applied towards capital expenses or MTRS.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 06/30/2023
Summer: 7/1/2023 – 8/31/2023

Program Unit:

Early College Office

Contact:

Rebekah Barr

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3310

Date Due:

Friday, September 30, 2022

Monday, October 31, 2022 for Part III

Required Forms:
Submission Instructions:

To be considered for additional one-time funding, email part III responses to Rebekah Barr .

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:

  • FY23 FC460 Early College Support 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 as well as Schedule A form, if applicable to your district. 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 in order 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: October 5, 2022

 
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