The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide resources that support Designated Early College programs in their ongoing efforts to reimagine the high school experience, ensuring that all students are meaningfully engaged and prepared for post-secondary success. The funds allocated through this grant are intended to assist both the Designated Secondary School and its partnering Institution(s) of Higher Education (IHEs) in the continued development, implementation, and sustainment of their Early College initiatives.
Priority will be given to Designated Early College partnerships that are in their first or second year of implementation.
These funds are available to all Early College Designated programs. Please refer to the FY27 Allocation List , which outlines high schools in each eligibility category.
Programs in Years 1 and 2 of Designation
High schools in their first or second year of Designation are eligible for awards of up to $120,000*.
*This applies to high schools receiving a first-time Designation and not those adding additional partnerships.
Programs in Year 3 and Beyond of Designation
High schools in their third year of their first Designation or beyond are eligible for awards of up to $75,000**.
**High schools with more than one Designated partnership will receive funding for only one partnership.
Early College partnership staff must attend two mandatory funding meetings, one before funding is released and a second midyear review, with each program required to have one fiscal staff member and one Early College programmatic staff member participate.
State Line Item 7009-6600
The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including General Laws G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
Approximately $9,100,000 has been allocated.
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, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this Request for Proposal RFP document.
Targeted state funds are intended to support Designated Early College programs in building and sustaining capacity in an equitable and effective manner.
Early College Support funds may be used for the following purposes:
Prioritizing and serving students underserved in higher education This includes students who may be the first in their family to attend college, students of color, English language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Funds may support strategies that increase access, participation, and success for these student groups.
Advancing a pervasive college going culture focused on student success Allowable uses include activities that promote higher education awareness, workshops, the purchase of textbooks and supplies for Early College students, transportation to college campuses, and a broad range of academic and nonacademic supports.
Building capacity and scaling Early College programs while ensuring strong student supports This includes implementation of supports that help students overcome barriers to postsecondary access and success. Supports may include, but are not limited to, mentors, tutors, structured study sessions, academic skill building software, My Career and Academic Plan MyCAP activities and advising, nontherapeutic social and emotional supports, soft skills workshops, and career development activities. Funding can also be used to develop and align curriculum to prepare more students to participate in Early College.
Please note that these grant funds may not be used for capital expenses or Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System MTRS.
Upon Approval* – 6/30/2027
Summer FY28: 7/1/2027 – August 31, 2027
To enable access to FY28 summer spending, grantees must reduce their School Year allocations in the spring of 2027 in order to free the funds that will be rolled forward into FY28. Then a separate funding application will be required for the FY28 summer allocation.
* 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.
The Office of Early College
Cashay Grant-Woods , Fiscal Manager
(781) 338-3947
Friday, June 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Proposals must be received at the Department via Grants for Education Management System GEMS by 5 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
The FY27 0460 Early College Support Grant must be submitted in Grants for Education Management System GEM$. Grants for Education Management System GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.
Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)
Please Note: Grant Submission at the Local Educational Agency LEA level requires roles to be established for the Grant Writer for the specific fund code, Local Educational Agency LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to Grants for Education Management System GEM$, 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 15, 2026