FY2026: Massachusetts 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program (21^st CCLC) — Continuation / Summer Enhancement Grants

Fund Codes: 0645/0644/0245

Purpose:

The purpose of the federally funded Fund Code (FC) 0645 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) Continuation grant is to continue to support funded 21st CCLC grantees to implement academically enriching programming that contributes to deepening student learning during the summer and school year.

The purpose of the federally funded targeted FC 0644/0245 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Summer Enhancement Grant is to provide supplemental funding to:

• FC 0644 — Increase access to high quality academically enriching summer programming that contributes to deepening learning and supports students' physical and mental health and wellness in welcoming, affirming, and safe spaces.
• FC 0245 — In collaboration with the Office of Special Education Planning and Policy (SEPP), enhance the capacity of programs to provide the supports needed to ensure students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) have meaningful access and are fully included in all aspects of summer programming.

Priorities:

Supporting students and families from all identities and cultures, including a focus on those that have been historically marginalized so all students can be empowered to make informed choices in life after high school and prepared for college and/or a career.

Strengthening student learning during the school year and summer through engaging programming that is real world, relevant, and interactive.

Strengthening student learning by combining content knowledge with a deeper approach to learning that emphasizes the skills necessary to apply that knowledge successfully.

Implementing high interest and high engagement interactive and relevant teaching and learning strategies during the school year and summer.

Leveraging assessment data to design programming that is tailored to the needs and interests of students and demonstrates continuous program improvement efforts.

Contributing to the development of skills and knowledge that support career pathways for students.

Developing systems of support that engage students and families in ways that are culturally relevant, and leverage the knowledge, strengths, and assets of students, families, educators, and communities.

Developing sustainable models for supporting additional quality learning time.

In addition to the above priorities, for FC 0644/0245:

• Providing a blended approach to deepening learning during the summer that will engage and increase student motivation to learn.
• Supporting the implementation of Playful Learning into programs serving grades K–3 (note: must have attended playful learning training) and/or implementation/piloting of High Quality Project Based Learning (HQPBL) in summer programming.
• Supporting the successful transition of students to elementary school (including kindergarten), middle school, high school, and/or post-secondary options.
• Meaningfully engaging students with IEPs into academically enriching programming that contributes to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps between students with disabilities and their age-appropriate non-disabled peers.

Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.

Eligibility:

FC 0645 Eligible entities are grantees with sites originally awarded under FC 0647 in Fiscal Years (FY) 2023, 2024 and/or 2025 and/or FC 0646 in FY2024 or 2025.

For a list of eligible entities, respective sites and funding amounts, see Addendum A — Eligible Entities & Continuation Funding Amounts (in the Additional Information section).

FC 0644/0245 — All those eligible for an FY2026 FC 0645. Eligible applicants must be in full compliance with grant requirements. Recipients of an FY 2023 FC 0646 Grant must also have reserved funds for summer programming or demonstrate availability of other funding sources to be eligible.

Funding Type:

FC 0645 and 0644: Federal CFDA 84.287

FC 0245: Federal CFDA 84.027

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:

FC 0645 — Approximately $15,000,000 is available.

FC 0644 — Approximately $400,000 is available

• Grantees may apply for up to $10,000/site for up to three sites

FC 0245 — Approximately $121,600 is available

• Grantees may apply for up to $5,000/site for up to three sites

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.

The Department reserves the right to adjust the total funding allocated based on application submissions.

For FC 06440245 should the request exceed the available funds priority will be given to schools/sites that receive lesser FC 0645 grant award amounts.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used solely to support, enhance, and/or provide related programming and activities that address the Purpose and Priorities detailed above, and may include salaries, stipends, contracts, instructional materials, and other expenses associated with implementing additional time.

These funds may not be used to supplant existing costs, which would otherwise be funded (in the absence of these grant funds) from other sources (e.g., current salary levels, current transportation costs, instructional materials already being used during the school day, etc.).

• No more than 10% may be used for program materials/applicant/site. Any single purchase over $500 must be pre-approved.
• Budgets for sites awarded an exemplary grant may not include any indirect costs.

Project Duration:

FC 0645 — Upon Approval (No Earlier than 7/1/2025) – 6/30/2026

FC 0644/0245 — Upon Approval (No Earlier than 7/1/2025) – 8/31/2025

Pending appropriation and the meeting of grant requirements, FC 0645 awarded grantees may be eligible for additional continuation grant(s) for the years outlined in the original competitive RFP through which the site(s) were funded.

*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 Student and Family Support

Contact:

Karyl Resnick

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3515

Date Due:

Thursday, May 29, 2025

The Department cannot guarantee that applications (Summer Plans and Budgets) submitted in GEM$ after the above date will be reviewed and approved (with a Grant Award Notice generated) by July 1^st. However, applications submitted through the LEA Fiscal Representative Approved step on or before July 1^st may have a July 1st start date pending review/approval.

Required Forms:

All required forms will be submitted through GEM$, see GEM$ Submission Instructions below for details.

Additional Information:

• Addendum A — Eligible Entities & Continuation Funding Amounts

FC 0645 Funded sites must continue to provide programming for a minimum of 4 days /week for at least 2 hours/day.

FC 0644/0245 — Offer a minimum of 120 total hours of programming for at least 4 days/week during July/August.

GEM$ Submission Instructions:

The FY 2026 Massachusetts 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Continuation / Summer Enhancement Grants will be submitted in GEM$ through these two funding applications:

• FC 0645 MA 21^st CCLC Continuation
• FC 0644/0245 MA 21^st CCLC Summer Enhancement

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$)

The following will be required in GEM$

• Budget (entered directly into GEM$ for each of the FCs for which an applicant is applying)
• Summer Program Plans — Uploaded in GEM$ (submitted through an applicant's FC 0645 application, unless otherwise discussed with the DESE grant contact)

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. These form can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Last Updated: May 5, 2025