Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2027: Adult Education in Correctional Institutions Continuation

Fund Codes: 0285/0563

Purpose:

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will administer the Adult Education in Correctional Institutions continuation grants to County Jails and Houses of Correction, consistent with Public Law 113-128, Section 225, as follows:

  1. To create a partnership among the Federal Government, States, and localities to provide, on a voluntary basis, adult education (AE) services ABE, pre-ASE, ASE, ADP, family literacy) to:

    1. assist eligible individuals to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency;
    2. assist eligible individuals who are parents or family members to obtain the education and skills that—
      1. are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children, and
      2. result in sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family;
    3. assist eligible individuals in attaining a secondary school credential and in the transition to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways; and
    4. assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners to continue to—
      1. improve their—
        1. (1) reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills in English; and
        2. (2) mathematical skills;
      2. ii. acquire an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom, and responsible citizenship.

  2. To reduce disparity in education by providing, in collaboration with WIOA partners and others, high quality AE programming that provides an inclusive and welcoming environment, rigorous curriculum and instruction, and related services responsive to and supportive of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

  3. To support innovation in the development of AE services to effectively serve eligible individuals most in need of education services in the 16 local workforce development areas through in-person and remote instruction and in coordination and collaboration with WIOA partner services.

  4. To improve and accelerate participant outcomes, especially educational functioning level completion, high school equivalency (HSE) credential or high school diploma (ADP) attainment, and enrollment in post-secondary education or training.

Priorities:

Priority will be given to AECI programs funded in FY26 that successfully met their performance measures.

Eligibility:

FY2027 is a continuation year grant. All recipients awarded through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Services Open and Competitive FY2024-2028 grant funding cycle who received grants in FY2026 are eligible to apply.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 0563 State: 7035-0002
Fund Code 0285 Federal: CFDA 84.002

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

  • UGG (2 CFR 200)
  • EDGAR As Applicable
  • EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

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 $1,567,475 is available.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Grant amounts were determined through a proposal review during the O&C process based on regional allocations, Massachusetts considered the regional educational need, the demand for services, and historical funding and score of the proposal.

FY27 is the fourth year of funding for the 5-year funding cycle FY24–28. Funding is subject to state and federal appropriation.

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:

Funds must be used in accordance with FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide adult education to eligible students; eligible students are:

  • are at least 16 years of age;
  • are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law; and
  • do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or are basic skills deficient; or are English language learners.

As defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR §463.25 and §463.26 , not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities. If awarded, programs may negotiate on an individual basis with DESE to determine an adequate level of funds for non-instructional purposes by submitting a written request and rationale annually with their continuation applications. Administrative costs must be reasonable, necessary, and allocable.

Adult Education and Family Literacy Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction.

Applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services. Please note that indirect costs count as administrative costs.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval *No earlier than 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027

*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:

Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Contact:

Yvonne Gittelson

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3852

Date Due:

Thursday, May 28, 2026 by 5pm Eastern

Proposals must be submitted into GEM$ by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

GEM$ submission at the LEA Fiscal Representative Approved level feature will be locked on Thursday May 28th, 2026, and programs will have to submit a written request to Wyvonne Stevens-Carter to open the portal if they submit after May 28th.

Additional Information:

See GEM$ Funding Application for ISA Guidance Documents

GEM$ Submission Instructions:

The FY27 0285/0563 Adult Education in Correctional Institutions Continuation must be submitted in our GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Please Note: 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 these 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: May 11, 2026

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