FY2027: Intensive Assistance Grant (IAG) Renewal

Fund Code: 0539

Purpose:

The purpose of this continuation grant is to support the delivery of high-quality instruction in every classroom, every day.

Priorities:

Improving the quality of instruction in every classroom, every day.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for this award, a school needs to have received this FY26 grant in the 2025–26 school year.

Schools were originally eligible for this initially competitive funding opportunity if they had an overall performance in the 1–3 percentiles on state accountability determinations for at least the past five consecutive years that are not identified as Underperforming on our state accountability system.

The schools must reside in a district that is currently being served by the Statewide System of Support.

Funding is contingent upon Department receipt of federal Title I funds.

Funding Type:

Federal Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA: 84.010

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

• Uniform Grant Guidance UGG (2 Code of Federal Regulations CFR 200)
• Education Department General Administrative Regulations EDGAR As Applicable
• Education Department General Administrative Regulations EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 Code of Federal Regulations 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 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.

Funding:

Approximately $2,900,000 dollars of funding in FY27 is available for this cohort through Massachusetts’ federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) allocations and federal Title I funds, for expenditure in the 2026–27 school year. Local Educational Agencies LEAs are awarded a Intensive Assistance Grant (IAG) from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. A detailed FY27 budget is required.

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.

Fund Use:

Fund use must be consistent with applicable state and federal requirements. All expenditures must closely align with the identified school instructional priority. Local Educational Agency LEA level expenditures must directly support the implementation of the instructional priority at the identified school(s).

Unallowable expenditures:

• Contract buyouts.
• Capital expenses.
• Purchase of technology, computer software or hardware, unless a compelling case can be made for how these materials are necessary to fully implement the proposed intervention.

All expenditures will be closely reviewed as they relate to the priorities of this grant opportunity.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – June 30, 2027.

Being awarded these funds is contingent upon approval of the grant application.

*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 Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Planning, Research, and Evaluation

Contact:

Michael Seymour 781-338-3514

Date Due:

Monday November 30, 2026

Completed grants must be received at the Department via Grants for Education Management System GEM$ by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

Additional Information:

• School Eligibility List

Submission Instructions:

The 0539 Intensive Assistance Grant (IAG) Renewal will be submitted in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ system.

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 these 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: August 18, 2026