Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2023: Adult Education Transition to Community College

Fund Code: 668

Purpose:

The purpose of this grant program is to provide a foundation of services within Massachusetts community colleges that enable adult learners to transition into and ultimately complete postsecondary education.

Priorities:

The priority is to support programs in community colleges that:

successfully enroll and retain at least 15 adults, 12 of whom were previously enrolled in DESE-funded Community Adult Learning Centers (CALCs) or Correctional Institutions; any ACLS funded program or services
are fully integrated into the community college;
include at least one cohort strategy (e.g., students' enrollment in a common course, ongoing group advising, a study group, etc.);
provide academic instruction, including a required College for Success course, and advising support to ensure that students function successfully in postsecondary education;
offer at least two credit-bearing courses (3 credits per course);
provide students access to credit-bearing courses at no cost through participation in the program; priority funding will be given to proposals that propose high numbers of credit-bearing courses above the required minimum; and
create clear, effective pathways to degree and certificate programs for students upon completion of the Transition Program

Eligibility:

This is a continuation grant. All recipients awarded in the FY2021 Open and Competitive process are eligible to apply.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

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.

Bristol Community College	$161,995
Bunker Hill Community College	$162,000
Cape Cod Community College	$120,625
Greenfield Community College	$129,801
Holyoke Community College	$162,000
Massasoit Community College	$162,000
Middlesex Community College	$162,000
Mount Wachusett Community College	$162,000
Northern Essex Community College	$162,000
Quinsigamond Community College	$162,000
Springfield Technical Community College	$129,600

Fund Use:

Funds must be used in accordance with the FY 2021 – 2023 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Transition to Community College Programs to provide adult education services. Programs should adhere to the community college's policies around student eligibility when determining the eligibility of prospective students.

Not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than 5 percent may be spent on administrative costs (related to planning, administration, (including carrying out performance accountability requirements), professional development, providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, carrying out one-stop partner responsibilities, and state approved indirect costs charged to the grant.

Programs may negotiate a higher administrative cost percentage by submitting a written request and rationale with application. The state will not grant administrative cost requests that exceed 15% of grant funds.

The Adult Education Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Grantees are required to use a restricted indirect cost rate of 8%, unless your calculated indirect cost rate is less than 8%, then you must use the lower rate for your budget. If you have an approved negotiated federal indirect cost rate, it must be submitted to DESE. If you do not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, you must apply annually to DESE for an approved indirect cost rate. The indirect cost rate is calculated using costs specified in the grantee's indirect cost plan. Those specified costs may not be charged as direct costs to the grant or to any other grant under any circumstances.

Applicants are required to provide an auditable matching share of 30% of the total amount of the requested grant award. Currently funded grantees must provide a matching share that is not less than their FY 2021 matching share (maintenance of effort amount) or 30% of the requested amount, whichever is greater.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2022) – 6/30/2023

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

Derek Kalchbrenner

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3812

Date Due:

Friday, May 20, 2022

Required Forms:

Additional Information:

Budget Workbook Instructions
Negotiation Form for Admin Costs (if needed)
FY 2021 – FY 2023 Massachusetts Guidelines and Policies for Effective Transition to Community College Programs, posted on the ACLS Transition webpage
Adult and Community Learning Services Disability Guidelines, posted on the ACLS Disability Services webpage
DESE Grants Management Procedural Manual

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:

FY23 (INSERT FUND CODE NUMBER and PROGRAM 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. Part I signatures of CEO/Superintendent/Executive Director must be scanned uploads of wet signatures. We can also take electronic signatures such as Adobe or DocuSign. We cannot take digital signatures where the name is typed in with script font. 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: April 19, 2022