FY2026: Early College Support Grant

Fund Code: 0460

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide resources to support Designated Early College programs seeking to continue to reimagine the high school experience so that all students are engaged and prepared for post-secondary success. The resources allocated are intended to support both the Designated Secondary School and institute of higher education (IHE) partners in the development and sustainment of their Early College work. These resources are intended to support partners' work during SY26 through August 31, 2027.

Priorities:

Priorities will be given to designated Early College partnerships that are in years one and two of implementation.

Eligibility:

These funds are available to Early College designated programs. Please see the attachment with the FY26 grantee award amount that charts high schools in each category.

Programs in Years 1 and 2 of Designation

1. High schools in year one and year two of Designation are eligible for up to $125,000*

*High schools with a first-time designation, not adding an additional partnership.

Programs in Year 3 and beyond of Designation*

2. High schools in year three and beyond Designation are eligible for up to $80,000**

**High schools that have more than one designated partnership will only be awarded funding for one partnership.

Early College partnership staff*** must attend one of the three Early College webinars before funding is released.

***Staff is one fiscal agent and one Early College programmatic staff.

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7009-6600

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 a total of $6.8 million has been allocated.

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:

Targeted funds from the state will help Designees build and sustain capacity in their Designated Early College programs in an equitable manner.

Early College Support funds may be used for the following purposes:

Increasing strategies to prioritize and serve students traditionally underserved in higher education through Early College programming. Such students may include students who may be the first in their family to go to college, students of color, students who may be English language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students.

Perpetuating a widespread college-going culture, focused on student success. This may include promoting higher education through awareness activities and workshops, purchasing textbooks and supplies for Early College students, arranging transportation to college campuses, and providing a wide range of academic and non-academic supports for EC students.

Building capacity and bringing Early College programs to scale, while ensuring that students are strongly supported in their Early College pathways. Programs should specifically address how they will implement supports to help students overcome barriers to postsecondary access and success. This includes on-ramping support for students who would not traditionally qualify for dual enrollment coursework. Support can include but is not limited to mentors, tutors, defined study sessions, academic skill-building software, MYCAP activities and advising, non-therapeutic social and emotional support, soft skills workshops, and career development activities.

This grant cannot be applied toward capital expenses or MTRS.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2026
Summer FY27: 7/1/2026 – August 31, 2026

To allow access for summer FY27 spending, grantees must reduce their School Year grants in the spring of 2026 to free up funding which will be rolled into FY27. There will be a separate funding application to submit for the FY27 summer portion.

*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:

The Office of Early College

Contact:

Cashay Grant-Woods , Fiscal Manager

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3947

Date Due:

Thursday, July 31, 2025

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

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 0460 Early College Support Grant will be submitted in the GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system used for grant submissions.

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 9, 2025