FY2024: Connecting Activities

Fund Code: 0428

Purpose:

This targeted grant is intended to enhance a regional system of support for high schools and high school students to engage in career immersion learning opportunities for career readiness. Programming should expose students to a variety of career opportunities based on labor market research and allow for targeted workforce and career skills development, career counseling, and elements of experiential and work-based learning.

Priorities:

Increase the number of students placed in work-based learning immersion experiences (e.g., internships, whether paid or for school credit, pre-apprenticeships, career capstones, etc.) and youth employment aligned to student interest and planning, including where schools have implemented MyCAP, documented and aligned in student MyCAP.

Increase the number of employers partnering with districts/schools to provide career development opportunities to all students. A deliberate focus should be on WBL opportunities in high wage, high demand and other fields identified as growth areas that will provide family sustaining wages in the Commonwealth.

Support the efforts of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Executive Office of Education (EOE) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) to improve equity and access to career development education opportunities for underserved student populations. (Including underserved racial/ethnic populations, low-income students, English learners and students with disabilities as well as students from cities and towns with high youth unemployment)

Support school and districts' efforts to increase MyCAP implementation for all students.

Provide at least one annual regional convening open to all schools in the region that provides school and district staff with updated regional workforce data, reflection on regional work-based learning opportunities, opportunity to learn of resources and best practices related to providing high quality career immersion activities.

Eligibility:

The Commonwealth's 16 Workforce Development Boards

Funding Type:

State 7027-0019

Funding:

A total of approximately $6,782,375 is projected to be available. Funding is contingent upon availability. Eligible organizations can apply for up to the amount listed here to address grant priorities. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same priorities that appear in this RFP document.

DESE, in consultation with EOE and EOLWD, will distribute additional funding to grantees by evaluating responses to Part III based on alignment to the identified priorities.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

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:

Funds may not be used for the purchase of equipment, furniture, computers/technology etc. without the previous approval of DESE staff to show specific need for the fulfillment of program objectives. Fund use may include:

• WFB and school staff FTEs and Stipends to coordinate WBL opportunities. Including career specialists / Connector Role to deliver on grant priorities
• Supplies related to delivering Career Awareness, exploration and immersion activities and recruiting business/industry
• Student transportation
• Indirect Costs may be sought as long as the region has obtained an approved indirect cost rate through DESE procedures

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2023)* through 6/30/2024

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

College, Career, Career and Technical Education

Contact:

Elizabeth Bennett

Phone Number:

(781) 338- 3949

Date Due:

Monday, July 17, 2023

Required Forms:

Required Questions and related grant forms in GEM$

Submission Instructions:

The FY24 0428 Connecting Activities will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will be taking the place of EdGrants.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Last Updated: July 13, 2023