FY2027: Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) Continuation Grant

Fund Code: 0452

Purpose:

The purpose of this federal grant is to:

• Assist state and county correctional agencies with education programs that meet the definition of career and technical education as defined in the Massachusetts Perkins State Plan, outlined below; and
• Support the establishment or substantial improvement of career & technical education programs in correctional institutions that prepare returning citizens to succeed in CORI-neutral, in-demand, career pathways that offer an entry-level sustainable living wage.

Priorities:

Proposed programs of study must:

• Offer a sequence of at least two courses that:
  • Results in an industry-recognized credential (IRC) or certificate , and
  • Provides justice involved individuals (i.e., criminal offenders in correctional institutions and those living in the community while under parole or probation supervision) with coherent and rigorous educational activities that develop the academic, technical, and career management knowledge and skills required to secure employment in an identified career pathway or enroll and complete a postsecondary program in the pathway;
• Demonstrate meaningful collaboration between correctional institutions, community corrections, career and technical education (CTE) providers, and local area employers;
• Include a strategic recruitment and cohort determination plan that yields at least one cohort of ten or more students, or two cohorts with a minimum of six students each, who can begin the CTE program while committed and, if necessary, complete it post-release;
• Have the capacity to be delivered fully, or in part, via technology-based distance learning; and
• Include transition support services that are clearly tailored to support success in the career pathway before and after release.

Eligibility:

This is the third and final year of grant funding for the applicants listed below. The four agencies that received prior funding (listed below) are eligible.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.048

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 $234,000 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.

Agency	Amount
Bristol County Sheriff's Office	$63,208
Essex County Sheriff's Department	$64,100
Franklin County Sheriff's Office	$44,999
Hampden County Sheriff's Office	$61,693
Approximate Total:	$234,000

Fund Use:

Perkins V allocation funds must be used in accordance with the Massachusetts Perkins V Transition Manual. Funds shall supplement and shall not supplant non-Federal funds.

Perkins V is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. For this continuation, applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services. However, not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than five percent may be spent on administrative costs. Please note that indirect costs count as administrative costs.

• Local Education Agencies (LEA) may apply the district rate .
• A non-LEA must reapply to DESE for an FY27 indirect costs rate (2 CFR 200.332 ).
• FY27 Non-LEA's Annual Application for Indirect Cost Rates

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 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

Additional Information:

See GEM$ Funding Application for ISA Guidance Documents

Submission Instructions:

The FY27 0452 Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) Continuation Grant will be submitted in GEM$.

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 5, 2026