Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2027: Charter School Program Expansion Grant and Charter School Program Start-Up Grant

Fund Codes: 0532 0535

Purpose:

The purpose of the Massachusetts Charter Schools Program (CSP) Expansion Grant Fund Code 0532 is to award subgrants to eligible applicants to expand high-quality charter schools.

The purpose of the CSP Start-Up Grant Fund Code 0535 is to award subgrants to eligible applicants to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools (ESEA, 4303 (b)(1) (A–C)¹.

See Definitions under Additional Information for federal and state definitions of a charter school.

Priorities:

Priority will be given to charter schools that provide equitable access to a high-quality public education, specifically:

In year one, priority will be given to charter schools that enroll a demographic composition that mirrors that of the sending districts, by enrolling comparable or greater percentages of low income and other student groups who have been historically underserved in educational settings.
By year two, priority will be given to charter schools that enroll a greater percentage, in comparison with the sending districts, of low income and one other student group who have been historical underserved in educational settings. Examples of student groups include, but are not limited to, students identified as English learners, Hispanic or Latino students, and Black or African American students.

Priority will also be given to charter schools that demonstrate high school and post-secondary success, specifically:

For charter schools that serve students in secondary grades who are residents of districts where the high school graduation rate and/or the ninth-grade course completion and passing rate are below the statewide average and have adopted an educational program that incorporates evidence-based strategies to improve outcomes for students attending secondary schools and alternative high schools.

Eligibility:

This funding opportunity is for new and expanding charter schools that meet the state and federal definition of charter school under ESSA, Sec 4310 (2) (see Part II for definition) and were awarded a new school charter or an expansion amendment by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Expansion is defined as increasing student enrollment and/or adding two or more grades.

Three expanding charter schools are eligible for year two funds. If new expansion amendments or new charters are approved in FY27, these schools will be eligible for planning funds, if available.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.282

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 $3,500,000 is available.

Fund Code 0532 Expansion Grant:
Base amount: $4,000 per pupil up to $1,000,000

Fund Code 0535 Start Up Grant:
Base amount: $1,000,000

Planning Period (if applicable): Up to $500,000 for up to 12-months. Funding is contingent upon satisfactory progress for the required Charter School Opening Procedures, as applicable, which ensures compliance with federal and state law and regulations applicable to charter schools.
Growth Period: Up to $500,000 over 36 months (base amount will not exceed $1,000,000 and funding period will not exceed 36 months). Funding is contingent upon satisfactory progress for the required Charter School Opening Procedures, as applicable, which ensures compliance with federal and state law and regulations applicable to charter schools.

Additional funds are available if a charter school achieves the Priorities listed above:

Priority	Fund Code 0532:	Fund Code 0535:
Priority a:	$250,000	$300,000
Priority b:	$250,000	$300,000
Priority c:	$150,000	$200,000

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:

All expenditures must be allowable, necessary, reasonable, and allocable. An eligible applicant receiving a subgrant shall use the funds for one or more of the following purposes listed in ESSA, Section 4303(h) (outlined in Allowed/Unallowed Costs Guidance under Additional Information).

Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, including the costs associated with providing professional development, and hiring and compensating teachers, school leaders and specialized instructional support personnel during the planning period.
Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), and educational materials (including developing and acquiring instructional materials).
Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with applicable statutes and regulations, and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction).
Providing one-time costs associated with providing transportation to students to and from the charter school.
Carrying out community engagement activities, which may include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.
Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to the expansion of a charter school.

Unallowable costs include the following:

Construction;
Personnel costs that are related to ongoing operations of the charter school;
Indirect costs

Please refer to the Allowable/Unallowable Costs Guidance in Additional Information for more details and examples.

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 DESE receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date. The Grant Award Notice (GAN) issued in GEM$ is the official award notice for grant funds.

Program Unit:

Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign

Contact:

Joanna Laghetto

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3221

Date Due:

FC 0532: Expansion Grant

Schools that received an expansion amendment in FY25: Thursday, June 18, 2026
Schools that receive an expansion amendment in FY27: Monday, March 8, 2027

FC 0535 Start-up Grant:

Schools that are awarded a charter in FY27: Monday, March 8, 2027

Additional Information:

GEM$ Submission Instructions:

The FY27 Fund Codes 0532 and 0535 Charter School Program Grants must be submitted in GEM$. GEM$ 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 for 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. This form can be accessed without logging in to the system.

¹ SEC. 4303. Grants to Support High-Quality Charter Schools. (a) State Entity Defined. —For purposes of this section, the term ''State entity'' means— (1) a State educational agency; (2) a State charter school board; (3) a Governor of a State; or (4) a charter school support organization. (b) Program Authorized.—From the amount available under section 4302(b)(3), the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to State entities having applications approved under subsection (f) to enable such entities to— (1) award subgrants to eligible applicants to enable eligible applicants to- (A) open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools; (B) open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools; or (C) expand high-quality charter schools; and (2) provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), and work with authorized public chartering agencies in the state to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools.

Last Updated: May 21, 2026