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The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide program improvement resources to districts eligible for Federal Perkins funds. All funds must be expended by September 30, 2025.
This grant must be used to provide resources for Perkins program improvement to Secondary and Postsecondary Perkins Recipients. Expenditures, including equipment, must align with Perkins allowable cost requirements and drive program improvement. All expenses should be aligned to recipient Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment.
Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.
Secondary and Postsecondary Recipients
Federal CFDA 84.048
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, ยง 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
An approximate total amount of $340,000 for eligible postsecondary applicants and $880,000 for eligible postsecondary applicants.
This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.
Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.
Funds may be used for services, supplies, equipment, curriculum development and program improvement and delivery expenses. Funds must be used to ensure program quality and build capacity to serve students in CTE programs, aligned to Perkins Allowable Expenses .
Additional General Grant coding Guidance
Upon Approval * – 9/30/2025
* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.
Office of College, Career, and Technical Education
Nicole Smith
Tuesday July 15, 2025
Proposals must be received 7/15/2025 at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
The FY26 0422 Perkins Program Improvement and Equipment Grant must be submitted in GEM$. 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: July 8, 2025