FY2026: Transforming Diverse Educator Pathways Grant

Fund Code: 0253

Purpose:

This competitive grant, Transforming Diverse Educator Pathways, aims to provide initial funding to school districts for creating and implementing systems that attract and retain a diverse teaching staff. At the end of this grant period, districts will need to demonstrate how the grant improved educator diversity and will have a plan for sustaining the initiatives financially.

Within this grant, our understanding of diversity is focused on traditional social categories of difference, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, language, and physical and cognitive abilities. For additional guidance please review the Massachusetts Attorney General's Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiatives .

Priorities:

Priority will be given to districts in the Strategic Transformation Region.

Previously awarded districts from Teacher Diversification Grants that used the majority of their awarded funds.

Eligibility:

Any Local Education Agency (district, charter school, or collaborative)

Funding Source:

State 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 $1,300,000 is available. Districts may request up to $75,000 in funding.

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:

These funds can be used to develop systems that directly support the recruitment and retention of diverse educators. Funds cannot be used for indirect costs, retirement contributions, insurance, or membership dues. All fund usage requires departmental approval.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2026

Program Unit:

Center for Strategic Initiatives

Contact:

Eric Washington

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3538

Date Due:

Friday October 31^st, at 5:00pm

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

GEM$ applications will disallow submission after the designated due date and time.

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the LEA Superintendent Approved stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP.

All responses must be submitted through the proper steps and received by the due date/time listed above. Responses not received on time will be disqualified and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

Additional Information:

As part of the application, school districts should provide data demonstrating current efforts to diversify staff, considering student demographics. Highlight any initiatives that have fostered more welcoming and inclusive learning environments through staff diversification.

Districts must conduct a Systems Analysis by downloading the required Excel spreadsheet from the application. Once completed, the spreadsheet needs to be uploaded into GEM$. If the Systems Analysis is not submitted, the application will be disqualified.

Questions and Answers — Applicants can find all the questions asked regarding this funding opportunity and DESE's response.

Teacher Diversification Grant

Grant Requirements if Awarded

Awarded districts will be required to participate in monthly virtual check-in meetings, site visits, three virtual Community of Practice meetings, and research data collection conducted by UMass Amherst Donahue Institute. The Community of Practice meetings will provide a platform for districts to share their progress, receive feedback, and collaborate with other districts across the Commonwealth. Failure to adhere to all of the grant requirements may result in the revocation of grant funds.

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 0253 Transforming Diverse Educator Pathways Grant must be submitted in GEM$. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that DESE utilizes to administer grant funds.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

New organizations that do not have an established LEA with DESE skip to Step 3.

Step 1: Establish and assign proper roles before the grant due date/time. 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.

Step 2: Submit the grant through all LEA steps in GEM$. There are three LEA steps a competitive grant must be submitted through by the due date and time to be considered for funding:

• Grantwriter Submitted
• LEA Fiscal Representative Approved
• LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted once the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the LEA Superintendent Approved stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP. Please plan accordingly.

The Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved Step allows for the organization lead to review and approve the grant application. Removing the requirement for the Part I Standard Contract Form, this step signifies Superintendent /Chief Executive sign off. Any grant budget changes requiring signature will re-execute this step when amended, signifying the organization lead is approving these changes.

Step 3: (If applicable) New organizations request temporary organization access. New organizations are entities that have not been established as an LEA in GEM$. Entities that do not have an organization in GEM$ must contact the DESE Program Unit issuing this grant at a minimum 5 business days prior to the grant due date for temporary organization access.

Temporary Access will need to be created by DESE before you can then assign the proper roles and submit the grant as outlined in Steps 1 and 2.

Failure to provide DESE with GEM$ Temp Organization Access Request at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. DESE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.

COMP grants not submitted through these 3 LEA steps cannot be considered or reviewed.

Last Updated: September 16, 2025