FY2026: High School Equivalency

Fund Code: 0850

Purpose:

The purpose of this state-funded grant program is to assist in the day-to-day operation of High School Equivalency Test Centers (HSE) including, but not limited to, the cost for test administration, special needs, and technology upgrades.

Priorities:

The priorities for use of these funds must be in the areas of test center materials, technology, and staffing (including special needs) for approved HSE Test Centers only. Travel to HSE Chief Examiners meetings.

Priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.

Eligibility:

Only approved HSE Test Centers are eligible to apply. Refer to Attachment 1 that lists approved HSE Test Centers and funding amounts available for each center.

Funding Type:

State line item 7035-0002

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 $244,876 is available.

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.

FY26 HSE Test Centers	FY26 Total grant
Clinton Public Schools (Clinton Adult Learning Center)	$3,708
Collaborative for Education Services (DYS)	$2,496
Falmouth Public Schools	$1,300
Foundation for Boston Centers for Youth & Families	$11,436
ISA Barnstable County Sheriff Office (SDC)	$1,000
ISA Berkshire Community College	$4,212
ISA Berkshire County Sheriff's Office (SDB)	$1,200
ISA Bridgewater State College	$6,720
ISA Bristol Community College	$7,116
ISA Bristol County Sheriff's Office (BSD)	$1,300
ISA Bunker Hill Community College	$7,776
ISA Cape Cod Community College	$4,224
ISA Dukes County Sheriff's Office (SDD)	$1,200
ISA Essex County Sheriff's Office (SDE)	$1,000
ISA Franklin County House of Corrections (SDF)	$1,944
ISA Greenfield Community College	$3,192
ISA Hampden County Sheriff's Dept. (SDH)	$1,300
ISA Hampshire Sheriff's Office (HSD)	$1,776
ISA Holyoke Community College	$10,632
ISA Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC)	$12,312
ISA Massasoit Community College	$7,284
ISA Middlesex County House of Corrections (SDM)	$2,160
ISA Mt. Wachusett Community College	$13,128
ISA Norfolk County Sheriff's Dept. (SDN)	$1,300
ISA North Shore Community College	$14,100
ISA Northern Essex Community College	$9,936
ISA Plymouth County Sheriff's Dept. (SDP)	$1,300
ISA Quinsigamond Community College	$6,588
ISA Roxbury Community College	$10,908
ISA School of Reentry (Boston Pre-Release) (EPS)	$2,316
ISA Springfield Technical Community College	$13,080
ISA Suffolk County Sheriff's Dept. (SDS)	$1,300
ISA Worcester County Sheriff's Dept. (SDW)	$3,108
Lawrence Public Schools (Lawrence Adult Education)	$13,788
Lowell Public Schools (Lowell Adult Education)	$6,504
Martha Vineyard Regional School District	$1,200
Nantucket Public School	$1,200
New Bedford Public Schools (New Bedford ALCTR)	$9,564
North Adams Public Schools	$1,000
Quincy College	$1,512
Randolph Community Partnership	$1,300
Somerville Public Schools (SCALE)	$11,268
Springfield Public Schools (OWL)	$8,328
Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical	$1,200
Wakefield Public Schools/Galvin Middle School	$1,300
Wellspring House - Gloucester	$2,592
Wellspring House - Hull	$1,300
Worcester Public Schools (Adult Learning Center)	$9,168
Bridge Over Troubled Waters (new)	$1,300
Total	$244,876

Fund Use:

Funds must be used in any or all of the following areas if needed.

• Non-Instructional Materials — testing materials and office supplies/equipment.
• Staffing — for both Regular and Special Accommodation needs
• Travel to HSE Chief Examiner's Meeting and HSE conference registration

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (No Earlier than 7/1/2025)* – 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.

Program Unit:

ACLS

Contact:

Jolanta Conway

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3853

Date Due:

Monday June 30, 2025 5:00 PM *

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

Required Forms:

Budget Details entered directly into GEM$

Required Program Information — Letter of Assurance

ISAs for Required Programs: State Colleges and Universities; State Agencies & Correctional Facilities

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 0850 High School Equivalency 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$)

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: June 27, 2025