FY2026: Primary Instruction by Volunteers

Fund Code: 0287

Purpose:

The purpose of this continuation grant program is to provide access to highly effective adult education services to eligible adults who cannot or will not enroll in class based instructional services at a Community Adult Learning Center.

Priorities:

The priority is to support one statewide stand-alone program that offers volunteer tutoring services to approximately 1,000 eligible adult students annually in cities and towns in the Commonwealth including Gateway cities and that:

• provides one-on-one adult education instruction through the use of well-trained and well-supported volunteer tutors;

• for ABE services, uses the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education (CCRSAE) to guide its curriculum and instruction;

• for ESOL services, uses the Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education (MA ELPS) to guide its curriculum and instruction;

• provides services that are effective in assisting adults to develop the college and career readiness skills needed to successfully transition to higher education and stable jobs that provide a family-sustaining wage; and

• provides services that are aligned with the strategies and goals identified in the local plan packages .

Eligibility:

FY2026 is a continuation year of the FY2024 – FY2026 funding cycle. The recipient awarded funding in the FY2024 open and competitive funding process is eligible to apply.

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7035-0002

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 $550,000 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 must be used to provide adult education instructional services, delivered by well-trained volunteers, including basic skills, pre-adult secondary education, adult secondary education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Personnel costs may include paid staff time for: recruitment; volunteer/student orientation; volunteer training and ongoing support; required and ongoing assessment of student progress; establishing and maintaining tutor/student matches; advising; follow-up; referral; data collection/entry including professional development; and administration. A portion of the funds may be used to support non-personnel related costs.

The FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions should be used as guidance to provide adult education to eligible students. Eligible students:

• are at least 16 years of age;
• are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law; and
• do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or who require instruction in basic skills; or are English learners.

Students under 18 must provide a letter of withdrawal from the local school district in order to enroll in the program. Students who are home schooled must provide a letter from the local school district stating that they are not enrolled.

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. For this competition, applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services.

• Local Education Agencies (LEA) may apply their district rate .
• A non-LEA that has a current federally approved restricted indirect cost rate may use that rate.
• A non-LEA that has an FY25 approved indirect cost rate may use that rate for purposes of an application under this funding opportunity. However, if awarded a grant, the agency must reapply to DESE for FY26 and annually through the grant cycle (2 CFR 200.332 ).
• A non-LEA that does not have either a Federal or DESE approved indirect cost rate may budget up to 8% percent of the agency's proposed budget to recover certain business-related expenses. However, if awarded a grant, the agency must apply to DESE for FY26 and there is no guarantee that the rate will be approved (2 CFR 200.332 ).

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (No Earlier than 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.

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

Marie Troppe

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3840

Date Due:

Monday, June 30^th, 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 13^th and programs will have to submit a written request to Wyvonne Stevens-Carter to open the portal if they submit after June 13^th.

Additional Information:

Indirect Cost application

• A non-LEA must reapply to DESE for FY26 and annually through the grant cycle (2 CFR 200.332 ).

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 0287 Primary Instruction by Volunteers must be submitted in GEM$. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.

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: June 11, 2025