The purpose of this state funded competitive grant program is to provide funding to school districts (and their selected schools) to organize, integrate, and sustain school and district-wide efforts to create safe and supportive school environments. Additionally, this grant is designed to coordinate and align student support initiatives based on grantee's findings from completing the Safe and Supportive Schools (SaSS) Framework and Self-Reflection Tool * (SaSS Tool).
*The SaSS (originally Behavioral Health and Public Schools — BHPS) Framework and Self-Reflection Tool was created by the BHPS Taskforce and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department), pursuant to the 2008 Massachusetts G.L. c. 321, § 19 . The resource is periodically updated in consultation with the Safe and Supportive Schools Commission (Commission).
The main priorities for this grant are to help ensure that each participating school creates an equitable, safe, positive, healthy, culturally-competent, and inclusive whole-school learning environment for all students, and makes effective use of a system for integrating services and aligning initiatives that promote students' behavioral health and wellness, through one of two grant options:
Option One: Action PlanningThese grantees will convene a school team composed of various stakeholders (e.g., including but not limited to teachers, nurses, counselors, family members, students, etc.) to review and respond to the questions in the SaSS Tool and to create an action plan based on the responses to the tool.
These grantees will begin or continue to implement school-focused action plans (and associated district-support plans) that were created in prior year(s), i.e., during or before school year 2024-2025. Implementation activities may include but are not limited to the development of school-based models for coordinated support of students in need, implementation of research-based educational programs that are proven to prevent substance use and misuse, activities that address and reduce substance use related problems, and/or development of information systems to help identify students at risk, track interventions and evaluate progress and outcomes.
These grantees will also serve as support for Option One grantees; other new SaSS Tool users; schools and districts that are new to implementation; as well as the Department, Commission, and others as needed and appropriate.
Both options also prioritize student voice throughout their grant activities.
Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.
Please see Attachment A: Option One and Option Two Additional Information for more details about priorities and grant activities for each option.
Massachusetts public school districts and educational collaboratives are eligible to apply for funding.
Each applicant may only apply for one of the two options detailed above (Option One: Action Planning or Option Two: Action Plan Implementation and Support).
Note: Former Fund Code (FC) 335 grantees are among the entities eligible to apply for either of the above options, provided the specific requirements are met for the schools to be included in the application under that option. For Option 1: Action Planning, former FC 335 grantees may apply for schools that have not yet utilized the SaSS Self-Reflection Tool and used it to inform action planning.
Please see Attachment B for more information about Educational Collaborative eligibility.
State: 7061-9612
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.
Pending appropriation, approximately $150,000 is expected to be available to support these grants.
Applicants may apply for up to $10,000.
Reminder: Applicants may only apply for one option. It is anticipated that approximately 75% of the funds will be awarded through Option One: Action Planning, and approximately 25% through Option Two: Implementation and Support.
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.
Additional factors:
Option One: Action PlanningThese funds must be used to support the time and effort for a team to reflect and complete the SaSS Tool in order to develop an action plan that incorporates all six lever areas of the SaSS Tool upon completion of the SaSS self-reflection.
Option Two: Implementation and SupportThese funds must be used to implement action plans that incorporate all six lever areas of the SaSS Tool, as submitted with the application. These funds must also be used for leadership efforts associated with support activities.
All applicantsAll applicants may consider partnering with consultants to help facilitate the action planning and/or implementation process.
All applicants may also consider partnering with community-based organizations including early childhood education and after-school or out-of-school time providers for alignment and collaboration.
Funds cannot be used for electronics (such as iPads, computers, tablets, etc.) or construction.
See Attachment A: Option One and Option Two Additional Information for more details on fund use.
Upon Approval – 6/30/2026
Pending appropriation and the meeting of all grant requirements, all grantees will be eligible for a one-year continuation grant in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 (upon approval – 6/30/2027) to support implementation of the action plan developed through this FY2026 grant and to continue implementation and support activities. Eligibility for this continuation grant is contingent upon submission of the required action plans or implementation status reports and a continuation application, and funding availability.
Student and Family Support
Emily Taylor
(781) 338-6313
Thursday, June 12, 2025 – 5:00 p.m.
Proposals must be received by the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
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 proper steps and received by the due date/time listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not received on time will not be reviewed. Applicants applying after the due date may be notified their application was received late 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.
See GEM$ Submission Instructions below.
Questions and Information Webinar
Due to the competitive nature of this grant program, all questions about the Funding Opportunity documents and process will be addressed during the Grant Information Webinars and Q & A session. Please see online registration form for more details about the optional sessions: May 20, 2025 9:00–10:00 AM (Information Webinar), May 21, 2025 3:00–4:00 PM (Information Webinar), and June 5, 2025 2:00–3:00 PM (Q & A session).
Application Planning Templates
Please use the Option 1 Application Planning Template or the Option 2 Application Planning Template to draft your program narrative. While these may be used as a planning and organizing tool, responses to the questions in the templates must be submitted through GEM$ in order to be reviewed.
The following will be required to be submitted or uploaded directly into GEM$ (see submission instructions below):
Program Evaluation and Professional Development
Grantees are expected to participate in professional development (e.g., conferences, webinars, and/or regional events, etc.) to be held by the Department, as well as in an evaluation of this grant program. In addition, the Department and Safe and Supportive Schools Commission will use feedback from grantees to inform continuous improvements to the Framework and Tool. Details will be provided to all grantees once information is confirmed.
Attachment A: Option One and Option Two Additional Information
Provides additional information and clarification about the priorities and fund use for each option of the grant.
Attachment B: Collaborative Eligibility
Provides additional information and clarification about the eligibility of collaboratives.
The FY26 FC 0335 Safe and Supportive Schools Grant should 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$. There are three LEA steps a competitive grant must be submitted through by the due date and time to be considered for funding:
Competitive grant applications are considered submitted once the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. 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.
Last Updated: May 7, 2025