FY2026: Targeted Tiered Math Academy Tutoring Grant

Fund Code: 0129

Purpose:

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ("Department" or "DESE") is announcing a targeted grant opportunity to local education agencies (LEAs), currently participating in the Tiered Math Academy. The purpose is to provide funding for high dosage math tutoring to assist with Tier 2 and/or 3 interventions. This initiative aims to strengthen and expand interventions to accelerate student learning in mathematics for students below grade level.

Targeted grade levels; K–8 to support tiered intervention in accordance with the work within the Tiered Math Academy and the Massachusetts High Dosage Tutoring Master Agreement.

Priorities:

Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region. DESE seeks to award LEAs to support:

• Targeted, individualized small group math tutoring aligned with Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and the school's Core HQIM Tier 1 Math Materials.
• Leverage the instructional strategies developed through the Tiered Math Academy.
• Support equitable access to Tier 2 and 3 interventions including students with disabilities, English learners and low-income students.

Eligibility:

School districts participating currently in the Tiered Math Academy are eligible to participate in the Tiered Math Tutoring program. These districts include Amesbury, Cambridge, Conservatory Lab Charter, Gateway, Gill-Montague, Hampden-Wilbraham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Lynn, Monson, North Adams, Northampton, Petersham, Pioneer Valley, South Hadley, Waltham, Westfield.

Willingness to work with a third-party evaluator for data collection.

Curriculum Data must be up to date on DESE District Profiles by the time of the grant due date. To check if this information is complete, check the statewide Curriculum report. Or, visit your District Profiles page via Profiles Home, and select Curriculum Data from the left-hand navigation. If the required data is not complete or up-to-date, details and directions on how to enter or update this data can be found at Curriculum Data Collection page.

Funding Type:

Trust: 7010-2100

The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Funding:

There is approximately $500,000 available in FY26 pending appropriation. Each awarded district will be eligible to receive approximately $15,000 to support high dosage math tutoring. Funding may be altered based on the amount of grant awardees.

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 be used for the following:

• Districts will be required to individually contract with vendor under Master Agreement and DESE will help facilitate.
• Tutoring should be taking place in district consistent with expectations outlined in High Dosage Tutoring Master Agreement.
• All costs per student related to delivery of tutoring cycles including all coordination with tutoring vendor and related teacher orientation.
• This does not include physical materials such as headphones, devices, manipulatives, or teacher stipends.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* (No earlier than 9/1/2025 – 6/30/2026)

*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:

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Jennifer Sauriol, Grant Lead

Date Due:

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 5:00PM

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

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 FC 0129 Targeted Tiered Math Tutoring Grant must be submitted in GEM$.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, maintained at the LEA level or sent in to the DESE RFP contact as described on the individual forms.

The user guidance documents and forms are found on the GEM$ homepage under DESE Resources. These forms can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Last Updated: August 26, 2025