The purpose of the federally funded Fund Code (FC) 0645/645S 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Continuation and Enhancement grant is to continue to support implementation of academically enriching out-of-school time (summer and school year) programming that contributes to deepening student learning.
Support the Department’s Educational Vision, including the whole student strategic objective; the Department’s attendance and engagement Power of Presence priority; and the Massachusetts Vision of a Graduate .
Supporting students and families from all identities and cultures, including a focus on those that have been historically underserved so all students can be empowered to make informed choices in life after high school and prepared for college and/or a career.
Strengthening student learning during the school year and summer through engaging programming that is real world, relevant, and interactive.
Strengthening student learning by combining content knowledge with a deeper approach to learning that emphasizes the skills necessary to apply that knowledge successfully.
Implementing high interest and high engagement interactive and relevant teaching and learning strategies during the school year and summer.
Leveraging assessment data to design programming that is tailored to the needs and interests of students and demonstrates continuous program improvement efforts.
Contributing to the development of skills and knowledge that support career pathways for students.
Developing systems of support that engage students and families in ways that are culturally relevant, and leverage the knowledge, strengths, and assets of students, families, educators, and communities.
Developing sustainable models for supporting additional quality learning time.
Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.
Fund Code FC 0645 – Continuation: Current 21st Century Community Learning Centers CCLC grantees are eligible for sites originally awarded under Fund Code FC 0647 in Fiscal Years (FY) 2024 and/or 2025 and/or Fund Code FC 0646 in Fiscal Year FY25 and/or 2026.
Fund Code FC 645S – Final Summer Continuation: Current 21st Century Community Learning Centers CCLC grantees are eligible for sites for which Fiscal Year FY26 is the final year of the site’s current funding cycle and that reserved funds for the final summer (July and August 2026).
Enhancements: Grantees eligible for this Fiscal Year FY27 grant that are in full compliance with grant requirements may be eligible to apply for one or more of the enhancement opportunities outlined in the Purpose section of this Request for Proposal RFP. Priority consideration will be given to schools in the accelerating achievement initiative.
Eligible Entities and Continuation Funding Amounts: See this list of eligible entities, respective sites, fund codes, funding amounts, and enhancement eligibility and amounts.
Federal Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA 84.287
Federal grant funds must adhere to:
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 $16,000,000 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.
Base level amounts of funding must be used to support the purpose and priorities of this grant, as outlined above. This grant will also support programs in the following enhancement opportunities:
Further enhancement opportunities for this grant, pending funding availability, may include, but are not limited to:
Details about additional enhancement opportunities will be shared with grantees upon confirmation.
Funds must be used solely to support, enhance, and/or provide related programming and activities that address the Purpose and Priorities detailed above, and may include salaries, stipends, contracts, instructional materials, and other expenses associated with 21st Century Community Learning Centers CCLC program implementation.
These funds may not be used to supplant existing costs, which would otherwise be funded (in the absence of these grant funds) from other sources (e.g., current salary levels, current transportation costs, instructional materials already being used during the school day, etc.).
No more than 10% may be used for program materials/applicant/site. Any single purchase over $500 must be pre-approved by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers CCLC Program Coordinator.
Fund Code FC 0645: Upon Approval (No earlier than 7/1/26)* – 8/31/27 Fund Code FC 645S: Upon Approval (No earlier than 7/1/26)* – 8/31/26
* Grant start date cannot be prior to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this Request for Proposal RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date. The Grant Award Notice (GAN) issued in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ is the official award notice for grant funds.
Student and Family Support
Karyl Resnick
(781) 338-3515
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
The following required forms must be submitted in Grants for Education Management System GEM$.
Summer Program Planning Document
Addendum A – Funding Request and Summer Program Logistical Information
All funded sites must continue to provide programming for:
School Year: a minimum of 4 days /week for at least 2 hours/day
Summer: Summer programming must be offered at least 64 Hours (4 days/week for a minimum of 4 hours/day for a minimum of 4 weeks). Students must enroll for the entire length of the summer program and attend for at least 80% of the program hours offered.
Fund Code FC 0645 grantees will be required to submit an Fiscal Year FY26 year-end evaluation and Fiscal Year FY27 program plan by September 25, 2026.
The Fiscal Year FY27 0645/645S 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program must be submitted in Grants for Education Management System GEM$. 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.
Applicants will submit in Grants for Education Management System GEMS in one or more of the following grants, depending on eligibility (see Addendum A for details):
Fund Code FC 0645 21st Century Community Learning Centers Continuation and Enhancement Grant (for sites for which Fiscal Year FY26 is not the final year of the site’s continuation funding)
Fund Code FC 645S 21st Century Community Learning Centers Continuation and Enhancement Grant (for sites for which Fiscal Year FY26 is the final year of the site’s current funding cycle and that reserved funds for the final summer — July and August 2026)
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: June 15, 2026