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The purpose of this RFP is to administer state legislative earmarks to Public School districts as outlined in the FY26 state budget.
Eligible entities as listed in the state budget.
State Funded Earmarks Line Item 1596-2517
Approximately, $10,472,500 is available for various earmarks.
As outlined in the state budget:
1596-2517 (Fund Code 2517) Fair Share Earmarks
To provide for supplementing certain activities and projects in each district. A complete list of eligible districts and associated earmark language may be found here: List of Allocations and Project .
7/1/2024 – 6/30/2028*
*Earmarked Grant funds cannot be drawn down prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date unless otherwise noted in the budget language associated with that earmark.
DESE encourages recipients to expend these funds by June 30, 2026.
RASP/Federal Grants Unit
For questions regarding the grant application submission in GEM$, email the RASP / Federal Grants unit .
Rolling but no later than Friday, October 24, 2025
Earmarks can have a start date of 7/1/2024, if needed by the earmark recipient, provided an application is submitted in a timely manner. To guarantee access to these earmark funds the recipients must act and apply in the GEM$ grants system.
If you have any questions regarding the funds earmarked in this account, please contact the state legislative contact on this funding.
The application for the earmarks referenced in this RFP will be submitted in the GEM$ system.
Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)
Earmarks will follow the exact same application process and workflow as an entitlement or targeted grant in GEM$.
Just as with all other grants in GEM$, grant submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for the Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign-off.
All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate User forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, maintained at the LEA level or sent in to the DESE RFP contact as described on the individual forms.
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: September 18, 2025