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The purpose of the competitive state-funded grant is to support the implementation of programs designed to design programming to prevent hate crimes and incidences of bias in public schools as defined under M.G.L. Chapter 22C, Section 32 .
Competitive priority will be given to:
Applicants that have experienced and clearly articulate in the proposal hate crimes or incidences of bias within the last 2 school years (since the start of school year 2023-2024) or are in chronically underperforming status.
Applicants who have recent and current incidences of bias and hate crimes; and are adapting quickly to emerging situations.
Applicants who currently have existing and ongoing collaboration with local human rights organizations that have expertise in promoting equity, building positive school climate, preventing hate crimes, and addressing bias-motivated incidents. This collaboration includes, but is not limited to: activities and opportunities for guardians and families to discuss the importance of recognizing, reporting and addressing hate crimes and bias incidents.
Applicants who take action against hate-related bullying and harassment while upholding students' rights of freedom of speech and expression; detail required affirmative steps to create a positive school climate and prevent hate and bias incidents from happening in the first place; and provide examples of best practices to combat hate in our schools
Applicants who have showed success and progress in working to prevent bias and hate crimes.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) reserves the right to consider additional factors that include recency, egregiousness and/or frequency of hate crimes or incidents of bias, and geographic distribution in making final award decisions.
All Massachusetts public school districts, including charter schools, are eligible to apply on behalf of their schools. Applicants must include a letter of support from the head of their local law enforcement agency, which should also document whether there is a School Resource Officer(s) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding that role and procedures for reporting and tracking hate crimes.
State 7061-9815
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.
There is $400,000 available for this grant.
The maximum amount for which new applicants can apply for is $50,000, school districts receiving funding in the past two years under this line item may apply for up to $25,000.
This grant will prioritize at least 25% of available funds available for schools and districts in chronically underperforming status. If applications are not received from schools in status, funds will be distributed to other 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 must be used in alignment with the purpose and priorities outlined and as described in a budget, budget narrative, and required program information that is submitted to the Department's Office of College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE).
Applicants' proposals should outline the applicants' need and how the applicants will utilize grant funds to address the need and implement strategies and programs based on recommendations from the Governor's Task Force on Hate Crimes and the Hate Crimes Prevention Resource Guide that include:
Supporting the implementation of evidence-based curriculum and programs for students that promote awareness and understanding, and are specific to helping to prevent hate crimes and incidents of bias-motivated conduct, including professional development for educators and school staff;
Establishing and sustaining collaboration with local organizations that have expertise in preventing hate crimes and addressing incidents of bias, including partnering to offer family events to discuss the importance of recognizing, reporting and addressing hate crimes and bias;
Improving policies, procedures and protocols for reporting and responding to incidents of hate crime and bias, in a timely, consistent, and effective manner, including disciplinary policies and programs that not only protect victims, but also seek to educate offending students and reintegrate them into the school community; proposals should identify potential partnerships with local law enforcement and other community-based organizations to provide training and support for school educators and staff.
No funds should be used for the purchase of technology. Supplies and materials that are not specific to the purchase of curriculum materials used for the program must not exceed 10%.
Additional General Grant coding Guidance is available: CCTE Resource for Grants .
Upon Approval* through 6/30/2026
* 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.
Office of College, Career, and Technical Education
Nyal Fuentes
781-338-3593
Friday, July 25, 2025
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5 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.
This grant will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. 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$)
New organizations that do not have an established LEA with DESE skip to Step 3.
Step 1: Establish and assign proper roles before the grant due date/time. Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off.
All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, 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 / Chief Executive Approved" stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP. Please plan accordingly.
The "LEA 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$. Entities that do not have an organization established in GEM$ 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: June 11, 2025