The purpose of the County House of Corrections (CHC) Program Development Grant is to support Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School, Springfield, in its development and implementation of its charter school programming at Hampden County CHC locations.
Targeted: Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School, Springfield
State 7010-2901 Administration and Cost Allocation for Central Services
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 $100,000 is 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 it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this Request for Proposal RFP document.
This funding is designed to support organizations, vendors, or individuals with a demonstrated track record of success in providing educational services to youth incarcerated at a County House of Corrections CHC, but have not yet provided full programming to support students on their path to earning a high school diploma at a County House of Corrections CHC. This funding will invest in organizations, vendors, or individuals to build their capacity to deliver a pathway to a high school diploma for students incarcerated at a County House of Corrections CHC, with the potential of scaling the programming to other County Houses of Corrections CHCs in the Commonwealth. Applicants will participate in regular check-ins with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE and report out on progress in program implementation and meeting outcome goals such as: credits earned, number of students on track to receive a high school diploma, or the number who earn a high school diploma.
Indirect costs are not allowed.
An eligible applicant receiving a grant shall use the funds for one or more of the following purposes:
Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, including the costs associated with providing professional development, and hiring and compensating teachers and specialized instructional support personnel during the capacity building period.
Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), and educational materials (including developing and acquiring instructional materials).
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 implementation of the County House of Corrections CHC program by the charter school.
Upon Approval* – 6/30/2027
*The grant start date is the date on which Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receives a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this Request for Proposal RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to the submission of a substantially approvable application. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.
Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign
Joanna Laghetto , Finance Coordinator
(781) 338-3221
Monday, November 16, 2026
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
The FY27 0536 County House of Corrections CHC Program Development 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$)
Grant Submission at the Local Educational Agency LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, Local Educational Agency LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to Grants for Education Management System GEM$, 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: September 30, 2026