FY2026: Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM), PreK–12

Fund Codes: 0509/0510

Purpose:

Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM), PreK–12 grants will support deep and lasting improvements to schools' multi-tiered system of support for literacy, enabling schools to better serve all students, especially historically underserved students; and ensuring that all students can reach their literacy potential. Fund Code 0509 is for grades PreK–5. Fund Code 0510 is for grades 6–12.

Priorities:

DESE seeks to award GLEAM grants to entities that:

• Are committed to prioritizing literacy equity and excellence, and want to collaborate with other districts statewide to make this a reality
• Demonstrate favorable conditions and the resources, including time and commitment, necessary to make and sustain meaningful Literacy program improvements, across multiple schools if applicable
• Bring together a diverse coalition of stakeholders committed to the activities articulated in the grant proposal, including families, diverse staff members, administrators, school committee, and students where appropriate
• Are actively investing in equity, inclusion, and culturally and linguistically sustaining literacy practices for all learners

Eligibility:

This continuation grant is intended for FY25 GLEAM Cohort 2 FC0509 and FC0510 recipients. The eligible districts include:

• Barnstable Public School (FC0509)
• Everett Public Schools (FC0509)
• Fall River Public Schools (FC0510)
• Framingham Public Schools (FC0509)
• Malden Public Schools (FC0510)
• Marlborough Public Schools (FC0510)
• Milford Public Schools (FC0510)
• New Bedford Public Schools (FC0510)
• Peabody Public Schools (FC0510)
• Revere Public Schools (FC0510)
• Salem Public Schools (FC0509)

Curriculum Data must be up to date on DESE District Profiles for K–8 ELA/Literacy, K–12 math, and 6–8 Science by the time of the grant due date. To check if this information is complete, check the statewide Curriculum report. Or, visit your District Profiles page via Profiles Home, and select Curriculum Data from the left-hand navigation. If the required data is not complete or up-to-date, details and directions on how to enter or update this data can be found on Curriculum Data Collection.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.371 Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM) Grant Program - Center for Instructional Support

Federal grant funds must adhere to:
Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD)

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

• UGG (2 CFR 200)
• EDGAR As Applicable
• EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

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:

There is approximately $480,000 available in FY26. Recipients will need to provide detailed cost information to DESE to demonstrate compliance with grant priorities and approved fund uses in order to draw down funds over the grant period.

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:

This grant is an optional continuation of the FC0509 and FC0510 FY25 grants. Eligible districts may apply to continue their approved grant activities from FYF25 into FY26. This may include:

1. Purchase of instructional materials. This grant will fund 50% of procurement of instructional materials, with the other half paid by the applicant.
   1. GEM$ Instructions:
      1. Object Code: 05 Supplies and Materials
      2. Function Code: MATL — Instructional Materials and Technology
2. Professional development to support skillful and culturally and linguistically sustaining implementation of curricular materials, interventions, assessments, or materials for any selected tier(s) of focus.
   1. GEM$ Instruction:
      1. Object Code: 04C Contracted Services (if under $25,000); 04MC Contracted Services (if over $25,000)
      2. Function Code: PDEV — Professional Development
3. Customized onsite support from an expert literacy consultant.
   1. GEM$ Instruction:
      1. Object Code: 04C Contracted Services (if under $25,000); 04MC Contracted Services (if over $25,000)
      2. Function Code: PDEV — Professional Development
4. Stipends for GLEAM Leadership Team members
   1. GEM$ Instruction:
      1. Object Code: 01M (Professional Salaries MTRS)
      2. Function Code: ADMN (District Administration), LDRS (Instructional Leadership), TCHR (Teachers)

For more information on funding, including district-specific maximum amounts, please see the Fund Use Details document. Eligible districts can budget for any of the line items above. Eligible districts cannot exceed their total amount listed on the Fund Use Details .

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – FY26 no earlier than October 1, 2025 – June 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:

Office of Literacy and Humanities
Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Allison Pickens; Email: allison.d.pickens@mass.gov

Phone Number:

(781) 338-6240

Date Due:

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

Additional Information:

GLEAM recipients will be required to prepare and provide data requested by the Department in order to evaluate the effectiveness of grant funds and activities.

This data will mainly focus on inputs, such as teacher training numbers, and curricular materials used, as well as outcomes, such as student performance in assessments. In addition, a national evaluation of this federally-funded program is being conducted; recipients will have the option to opt in to this national evaluation and to access additional related funding through the evaluator.

Early Literacy Universal Screening: LEAs receiving this award for ELA/Literacy will be required to participate in future research efforts related to early literacy assessment, including providing student-level assessment data from any approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in the recipient schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by June 30 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the statewide data collected for research purposes. Analyses will only be reported in the aggregate (e.g., by grade-level, region, etc.) in order to meet state and federal confidentiality laws. The identities of districts and schools will not be reported. All reporting will protect the identities of students, educators, schools, and districts.

Any questions about this continuation grant should be sent to Allison Pickens at allison.d.pickens@mass.gov .

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 0509/FC00510 GLEAM Grant will be submitted in our GEM$ 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. This form can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025