FY2026: Career Technical Education Partnership Program Planning and Implementation Grant

Fund Code: 412A

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant is to support planning or implementation of district partners seeking designation for CTE Partnership Programs.

Priorities:

Priority will be given to applicants that:

• Have submitted an Intent to Apply for a new CTE Partnership for SY26-27 in CHAMP (must be submitted by October 3, 2025)
• Intend to submit an Intent to Apply for a new CTE Partnership for SY27-28 in CHAMP (must be submitted by June 30, 2026)
• Has a new designation for CTE Partnership Designation for SY26-27 or began in SY25-26
• Expanding an existing state-designated CTE Partnership Program

For all proposed programs:

• At least one partner has demonstrated success in providing high-quality CTE state-approved technical education programs.
• Establish and implement program models and action plans that will increase student seats and access to Career Technical Education (CTE) training for jobs that are in demand and aligned with current labor market data.
• Demonstrate current and future active collaboration with secondary and postsecondary as well as industry and workforce development partners.
• Convene regional/local partners to expand existing and/or develop new CTE programs and initiatives that increase student access to CTE opportunities.
• Leverage the use of existing resources among the participating partners, to maximize capacity, impact, and sustainability.
• Serve traditionally underserved populations.
• Provide students with a sequence of courses that will lead to technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized credential, and/or an associate degree.
• Propose a concrete strategy for sustainability as an educational option for students upon conclusion of Implementation funding.

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

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants include Districts, Charters, or Collaboratives. Please identify and indicate in the application which partner will serve as project lead for this initiative.

Applicants may pursue funding to plan or to implement a CTE Partnership. Applicants who are planning to implement a CTE Partnership designation which allows school districts offering state designated CTE programs to partner with other school districts or with other schools within a single school district to provide career technical education opportunities must have a submitted Intent to Apply application completed by October 3, 2025 by 5p.m New Career Technical Education Programs (C74) Application and Process

Funding Type:

State, 7035-0001

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.

Applicants who are pursuing implementation funds must already have a current CTE Partnership program.

Implementation awards are not contingent on prior receipt of Planning Grant funding.

Please note that DESE will consider applications from previous recipients of CTE Partnership Planning and/or Implementation funding.

Funding:

Approximately $500,000 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.

Eligible applicants may apply for funds for one (1) planning grant or one (1) implementation grant.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – June 30,2026

Fund Use:

Grant funds must be used to plan or implement programs/activities/initiatives that will increase student seats and student access to CTE pathways/programs, particularly for underserved populations and students residing in Gateway Cities where the regional technical high school serving that Gateway City is oversubscribed. All implementation activities must be appropriate and consistent with all applicable state and federal requirements.

Planning funds may be used for:

• Stipends to support convening and planning;
• Consultant and contract fees to provide planning-related professional development; and
• Other costs that are negotiated with the Department.

Implementation funds may be used for:

• Staffing costs necessary to implement the proposed program/activity;
• Consultant and contract fees necessary to implement the proposed program/activity;
• Supplies and equipment necessary to implement the program;
• Transportation costs that are not otherwise reimbursed via the regional school transportation program (subject to Massachusetts legislative appropriation); and
• Other costs that are negotiated with the Department.

Grantees may not use funds to supplant local resources.

Program Unit:

Office for College, Career, and Technical Education

Contact:

Lisa Weinstein

Date Due:

Friday, October 10, 2025
Completed grant proposals must be submitted to the Department via GEM$ by 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time 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 the 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.

Required Forms:

Please upload signed letters of commitment from any partners

Additional Information:

Questions and Answers — Applicants can find all the questions asked regarding this funding opportunity and DESE's response at Chapter 74 Partnership Program (also known as "After Dark").

Final Report:

Recipients will be required to submit a final report on or before September 30, 2026. The final report must include:

Planning

• The outcomes of the planning process; and
• How the grantee used the funds.

Implementation

• A summary of implementation outcomes, including the number of seats added; expected long-term program outcomes; and potential for replication;
• Challenges encountered during implementation;
• Any plans to institutionalize, continue or scale up the program or project;
• A description of the how the implementation grant addressed the priorities identified in this Request for Proposals;
• What support/resources might be necessary to replicate or expand these programs/activities; and
• How the grantee used the funds.

GEM$ Submission Instructions:

The FY26 Fund Code 412A Career and Technical Education Partnership Planning and Implementation Grant Application will be submitted in GEM$, DESE's cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system.

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:

• Grantwriter Submitted
• LEA Fiscal Representative Approved
• LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved

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 Approved stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP. Please plan accordingly.

The 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$. Entities that do not have an organization in GEM$ 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: October 1, 2025