Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2027: Proficiency Outcomes in World Languages

Fund Code: 0189

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive program is to support districts to prepare increasing numbers of students to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy by implementing standards-aligned, data-based, outcomes-driven world language programs for foundational and heritage learners of languages. Funds from this grant support districts to collect and analyze student proficiency and course participation data, alongside meaningful stakeholder engagement at both state and local levels. These efforts will contribute to the development of state-level resources designed to promote standards-aligned World Languages (WL) programs that lead to high levels of language proficiency for all students—especially those historically underserved. With an explicit focus on equity, grant recipients will implement high-quality language assessments across a broad range of WL students, including those in Heritage Language (HL) courses. In partnership with local WL advisory teams, recipients will examine assessment implementation and results, and analyze course-taking patterns to identify gaps in access and opportunity. Grantees will also engage with the Department’s statewide World Languages Advisory Team (WLAT), supporting the creation of new tools and recommendations for the field.

Grantees must:

  • Commit to ongoing participation in the State Seal of Biliteracy program
  • Commit to three years of data collection, analysis, and engagement with the statewide WLAT;
  • Assess representative samples of students at various milestones within their WL programs (including those in HL courses if applicable);
  • Convene a local WL Advisory Team to analyze assessment data and study course enrollment trends;
  • Actively engage in all DESE WLAT meetings, sharing local analyses with the Department;
  • Attend all OLA Network Meetings, and be available to present at least a session;
  • Ensure alignment to the 2021 WL Curriculum Framework by designating a representative to attend one or more MAFLA professional development offerings, including the MAFLA annual conference, MAFLA Proficiency Academy, and / or the MAFLA Core Practices Institute, which provides targeted support and guidance; and
  • Agree to permit DESE to observe and record classroom instruction, staff meetings, and/or advisory team meetings if requested.
Priorities:

Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region, and/or to LEAs with at least one participating school in the bottom 25% of proficiency rates on MCAS.

Additional competitive priority will be given to applicants:

  • With 350 or more English Learners;
  • Who engaged in the SY2025–26 WL Advisory Teams;
  • With WL offerings that address gaps in current state resources, such as Heritage Language programs, vocational WL/HL programs, immersion or dual language programs, elementary FLES programs, and languages reflective of community needs;
  • Who provide a concrete plan to leverage their WLAT experience to measurably improve outcomes for all students, particularly those historically underserved, through clearly defined goals, progress-monitoring, and data-driven adjustments;
  • Who equitably and effectively implement high-quality WL assessments which provide scores clearly aligned to proficiency levels (AAPPL, STAMP, or ALIRA);
  • Who have begun or completed alignment to the 2021 WL Framework; and
  • Who engage or plan to engage a diverse set of stakeholders through a local WL Advisory Team and conduct annual disaggregated course enrollment and assessment data analysis.
Eligibility:

This competitive grant program is designed for districts, charter schools, regional schools, collaboratives and partnerships with WL programs. Please consult the document FC189 Funding Structure in GEM$ to determine the amount of funding your district is eligible to apply for.

Funding Type:

State 7027-1004

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 $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.

Fund Use:

Fund use must be consistent with the priorities described above and the requirements associated with DESE’s Educational Vision (Strategic Plan Summary ). This grant supports engagement in local and state WL advisory teams, implementation of high-quality WL assessments, analysis of course-taking patterns, and participation in DESE-sponsored Framework supports—all to advance equitable, data-driven, standards-aligned programming across Massachusetts.

Items that may not be funded with this grant:

  • Out of state travel
  • Food or any other costs associated with district/school events for staff, students, or family/other stakeholders.
Project Duration:

SY: Upon Approval – 6/30/2027

Summer: 7/1/2027 – 8/31/2027 — Optional*

*To allow access for summer FY28 spending, grantees must reduce their School Year grants in the spring of 2027 to free up funding which will be rolled into FY28. There will be a separate funding application to submit for the FY28 summer portion.

Program Unit:

Teaching & Learning

Contact:

Diana.Gentile@mass.gov

Date Due:

Friday, August 28, 2026**

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 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.

DESE Competitive Grant Submission Policy

Additional Information:

An informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 5th at 10:00 a.m. You can register here. The presentation and a Questions and Answers document will be posted to Headlines on the English Learner Education page. Please submit questions to diana.gentile@mass.gov . Questions and Answers — Applicants can find all the questions asked regarding this funding opportunity and DESE’s response.

Universal screening data sharing
LEAs receiving this award will be required to participate in research efforts, including providing student-level assessment data from the approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in all schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by June 30 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the data collected for research purposes, including evaluation of this program. Analyses will comply with state and federal confidentiality laws.

Submission Instructions:

The FY27 0189 Increasing Access to Dual Language Bilingual Education grant will be submitted in our GEM$ 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$. Entities that do not have an organization established in GEM$ 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: July 24, 2026

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