The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will administer the Adult Education in Correctional Institutions continuation grants to County Jails and Houses of Correction, consistent with Public Law 113-128, Section 225, as follows:
Priority will be given to AECI programs funded in FY25 that successfully met their performance measures.
FY2026 is a continuation year grant. All recipients awarded through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Services Open and Competitive FY2024-2028 grant funding cycle who received grants in FY2025 are eligible to apply.
Fund Code 0563 State: 7035-0002 Fund Code 0285 Federal: CFDA 84.002
Federal grant funds must adhere to:
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.
Approximately $1,567,475 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.
Grant amounts were determined through a proposal review during the O&C process based on regional allocations, Massachusetts considered the regional educational need, the demand for services, and historical funding and score of the proposal. In addition, funding was adjusted based on increases awarded in FY25.
Programs that have met or exceeded their enrollment target(s) in FY25 will receive increases on their base award. Programs that did not meet their enrollment targets will receive decreases on their base award. See the chart below regarding decreases/increases based on FY25 enrollment targets.
FY26 is the third year of funding for the 5-year funding cycle FY24–28. Funding is subject to state and federal appropriation.
Funds must be used in accordance with FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide adult education to eligible students; eligible students are:
As defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR §463.25 and §463.26 , not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities. If awarded, programs may negotiate on an individual basis with DESE to determine an adequate level of funds for non-instructional purposes by submitting a written request and rationale annually with their continuation applications. Administrative costs must be reasonable, necessary, and allocable.
Adult Education and Family Literacy Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services.
Upon Approval (No Earlier 7/1/2025)* – 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.
Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)
Yvonne Gittelson
(781) 338-3852
Friday, June 13th, 2025 by 5:00pm
Proposals must be submitted into GEM$ by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
GEM$ submission at the LEA Fiscal Representative Approved level feature will be locked on June 13th and programs will have to submit a written request to Wyvonne Stevens-Carter to open the portal if they submit after June 13th.
State Director's Letter
The FY26 0285 0563 Adult Education in Correctional Institutions Continuation will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system.
Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)
Please Note: Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, 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: May 23, 2025