FY2026: Targeted Tiered Math Academy Off Ramp Grant

Fund Code: 0130

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 additional funding to continue the training of educators that was started in their engagement with the Tiered Math Academy, strengthening supports for Tier 2 and 3 intervention including professional training and/or instructional materials.

Priorities:

Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Already have strong work and training of educators with the previous vendor for Tiered Math Academy and would like to continue with that specific training as it is integral to their programming that they've established.
• Plans will have a clear connection to sustainability.

Eligibility:

School districts participating currently in the Tiered Math Academy are eligible to participate in the Tiered Math Off Ramp Grant. 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.

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:

Approximately $100,000 is available.

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 toward:

• Professional Training for educators
• Instructional Materials that are used in the training of educators

Funds may not be used for:

• Stipends of any kind as they are not funded through this grant
• Substitute costs, teacher stipends, consultants, or staffing
• Technology (e.g., iPads, headphones, smartboards)
• Travel expenses

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 0130 Targeted Tiered Math Academy Off Ramp 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: September 3, 2025