The purpose of this federal grant is to assist school districts in improving secondary-level programs that meet Massachusetts's expectations for Career and Technical Education and career-connected learning, defined by the Massachusetts State Plan for implementing the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act Public Law P.L. 115-224 (Perkins V).
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is guided by its Educational Vision where:
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE partners with districts, schools, and programs to:
Cultivate systems to support the whole student and foster joyful, healthy, and supportive learning environments so that all students feel valued, connected, nourished, and ready to learn. Strategic Objective 1 — "Whole Student"
Promote deeper learning so that all students engage in grade-level work that is real-world, relevant, and interactive. Strategic Objective 2 — "Deeper Learning"
Develop and sustain a workforce that is diverse, culturally responsive, well-prepared, and committed to continuous improvement, so that all students have equitable access to effective educators. Strategic Objective 3 — "Diverse and Effective Workforce"
Applicants for this grant opportunity should be intentional in the use of grant funds to support at least one of these strategic objectives.
The priority of this program is to close the achievement gap on the Perkins core indicators of performance for populations who are chronically unemployed or underemployed, including special populations.
A district or consortium is eligible to receive funds based on criteria established by the United States Department of Education (USED). Districts must offer Career Technical Education programs that comply with the various elements of Perkins V. In addition, districts must develop and maintain a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment. Grants are awarded to eligible recipients after the state reviews and approves a submitted grant application.
Federal Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA: 84.048 Perkins - Federal Grant Programs.
Federal grant funds must adhere to:
FY27 FC 0400 Perkins V Secondary Allocations will be posted at Grant Alloctions & Awards, when they become available.
This Request for Proposal 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 for allocation, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this Request for Proposal RFP document.
Allocation funds must be used in accordance with Perkins V. Funds shall supplement and not supplant non-Federal funds.
Grantee Responsibilities:
As grantees, you are responsible for ensuring that your use of federal funds complies with applicable federal statutes and regulations. This includes:
Although membership in certain organizations may be allowable in limited circumstances, federal grant funds may not be used to subsidize any portion of dues that support legislative advocacy or lobbying. Grantees are responsible for requesting appropriate breakdowns of dues and ensuring compliance with 31 United States Code U.S.C. § 1352, 2 Code of Federal Regulations C.F.R. §§ 200.454 and 200.450, and all other applicable law related to lobbying.
Upon Approval (No Earlier than 7/1/2026)* – 6/30/2027
* Grant start date cannot be prior to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this Request for Proposal RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date. The Grant Award Notice (GAN) issued in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ is the official award notice for grant funds.
Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance/Federal Grant Programs
Federal Grant Programs
(781) 338-6230
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
FY27 Federal Grant Assurances — The FY27 Federal Grant Assurances Signature Page (Pages i and ii only) completed and signed by the Superintendent/Executive Director and uploaded in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ in the Local Educational Agency LEA Document Library under Assurances, in folder Federal Entitlement Grant Assurances. We cannot approve any federal entitlement grant without a signed, properly dated and uploaded Federal Grant Assurance signature pages.
Resource Guide on Required Use of Funds — The Six Categories of Required Use of Funds (Section 135(b)) and Examples of How They Can Be Met
Resource Guide — Allowable Costs for Strengthening Career and Technical Education Entitlement Grants
Quick Reference Guide — Perkins Secondary Quick Reference Guide on Allowable and Unallowable Costs
Massachusetts Perkins V Manual
Prenatal through Young Adulthood Family Engagement Framework in Massachusetts
Major Equipment Expenditures: Major Equipment Expenditures — Additional Documentation
For non-construction capital expenditures, including equipment costing $30,000 or more, capital expenditures forms are required for prior approval along with your budget. Capital expenditures are defined as tangible or intangible (software) assets that has useful life greater than one year (or upgrade to existing asset) and meets or exceeds the capitalization level of the organization (usually $5,000). Forms available are in Capital Expense section of the application or available here: Equipment and Capital Expenditures Initial Request for Approval
In addition to a completed and executed form, please upload required documentation (final contract or purchase order) with your funding application in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ with your application. If there is no final contract or purchase order and if the proposed expenditure is $100,000 or more, please upload your organization's procurement policy and procedures with this form.
When final contract or purchase order is available, using an application revision, upload the final, fully executed contract or Purchase Order showing the expenses to be funded with federal grant funds in Grants for Education Management System GEM$. You must upload the final contract or Purchase Order to grant application prior to drawing funds for that expense.
Grants for Schools: Getting Them and Using Them, A Procedural Manual
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)
The FY2027 Fund Code 0400 Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) Secondary Allocation Grant will be completed and submitted in the Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)
Please Note: Grant Submission at the Local Educational Agency LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, Local Educational Agency LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to Grants for Education Management System GEM$, maintained at the Local Educational Agency LEA level or sent in to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Request for Proposal RFP contact as described on the individual forms.
The user guidance documents and forms are found on the Grants for Education Management System GEM$ homepage under Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Resources. These forms can be accessed without logging in to the system.
Last Updated: June 2, 2026