Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2027: MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL

Fund Codes: 0671/0661/359b

Purpose:

MassSTEP models offer adults the opportunity to acquire adult education (AE), workforce training (occupational skills training1), and workplace preparation activities simultaneously.

MassSTEP ABE2 models provide AE concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities and workforce training to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of a high school credential, one or more relevant industry-recognized credentials (IRCs), and living wage employment in high-demand occupations.

MassSTEP ESOL3 models provide ESOL instruction concurrently and contextually with civics education, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training to accelerate learning outcomes, including student attainment of one or more relevant IRCs and living-wage employment in high demand occupations.

MassSTEP grants are competitive grants designed for partnerships among education providers, approved workforce training providers, employers, and workforce partners to implement a MassSTEP model. Grants must be developed consistent with Public Law 113-128, Sections 201 through 243 .

Occupational training partners provide the workforce training component. Occupational training providers are State-approved Career Technical Education Chapter 74 (CTE) Programs, apprenticeship programs, postsecondary institutions, and job training programs listed as approved vendors on the state's approved vendor list . Applications that do not include an approved occupational training partner will not be reviewed.

Please note: Priority will be given to applications with a State-approved Career Technical Education Chapter 74 (CTE) Program workforce training partner.

MassSTEP models are intended to accelerate entry into employment and are generally 16 weeks or less. If the number of weeks are more than 16, applicants must provide a rationale.

Programs may submit proposals. For example, an applicant could submit a proposal for a MassSTEP ESOL advanced manufacturing program and another for a MassSTEP ABE welding program. (Note: Each proposal will be reviewed and scored separately, and each must include all required documents.)

Note: Culinary Arts or Hospitality proposals will NOT be accepted in this competition.

Priorities:

The following priorities have been established for MassSTEP models that are informed by evidence-based practices. Applicants may wish to consult the Integrated Education and Training Design Toolkit when reviewing these priorities.

Priorities are to support applicants that demonstrate:

Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.

Eligibility:
  1. a for profit entity;
  2. a local educational agency;
  3. public entities that are able to demonstrate effectiveness in operating adult education and/or career and training programs in correctional institutions;
  4. a community-based organization or faith-based organization;
  5. a volunteer literacy organization;
  6. a public or private nonprofit agency;
  7. community colleges or other higher education institutions;
  8. vocational education institutions;
  9. nonprofit education, training, or other service providers;
  10. a library;
  11. a public housing authority;
  12. a nonprofit institution not described in any of subparagraphs which has the ability to provide services to eligible students;
  13. a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in (a) through (l); a partnership between a for-profit entity and an entity described in (B) through (l).

Note: As required by WIOA the applicant must demonstrate past effectiveness by submitting past performance data in serving eligible participants. Applications that do not provide demonstrated effectiveness data in the Adult Education Data Workbook will not be reviewed.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 661: State Line Item 7035-0002

Fund Code 671 and 359b: Federal CFDA 84.002

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.

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

  • UGG (2 CFR 200)
  • EDGAR As Applicable
  • EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76
Funding:

Approximately $300,000 is available for implementation grants. Applicants may request up to $60,000 per cohort of students for up to two cohorts or $120,000 for grants to deliver MassSTEP ABE or MassSTEP ESOL services. If the costs per cohort are above $60,000, applicants must provide a rationale.

The 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:

Funds must be used in accordance with the FY24-FY28 Policies for Effective MassSTEP Programs in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide services to eligible students; eligible students are:

  • at least 16 years of age; and
  • are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law, and
  • do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not acquired an equivalent level of education or are basic skills deficient or are English language learners.

Funding must be used to:

Not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than 5 percent may be spent on administrative costs (related to planning, administration, (including carrying out performance accountability requirements), professional development, providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, carrying out one-stop partner responsibilities, and state approved indirect costs charged to the grant.

Programs may negotiate a higher administrative cost percentage by submitting a written request and rationale with application.

Adult Education Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Grantees are required to use a restricted indirect cost rate of 8%, unless your calculated indirect cost rate is less than 8%, than you must use the lower rate for your budget. If you have an approved negotiated federal indirect cost rate, it must be submitted to DESE. If you do not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, you must apply annually to DESE for an approved indirect cost rate. The indirect cost rate is calculated using costs specified in the grantee's indirect cost plan. Those specified costs may not be charged as direct costs to the grant or to any other grant under any circumstances.

Applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services. Please note that indirect costs count as administrative costs.

Applicants are required to provide an auditable matching share of 20% of the total amount of the requested grant award.

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.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2026) – 6/30/2027. Pending appropriation and the meeting of grant requirements, awarded grantees may be eligible for continuation grants in Fiscal Year 2028.

Renewals are subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation. Total grant award duration will not exceed two years (initial year plus renewal).

Program Unit:

Adult and Community Learning Services

Contact:

Derek Kalchbrenner

Bidders' Conference:

A virtual Bidders' Conference will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Microsoft Teams meeting. Join on your computer, mobile app or room device:
Join the Teams meeting .

Date Due:

Proposals must be received at the Department by 3:00 PM Eastern on Friday, May 29, 2026.

Proposals must be received at the Department by 3:00 PM. Eastern on the date due.

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the LEA Superintendent Approved stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP.

All responses must be submitted through the proper steps and received by the due date/time listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not received on time will not be reviewed. Applicants applying after the due date may be notified their application was received late and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

Required Forms:

  • Appendix A: Adult Education Curriculum Sample

  • Appendix B: Workforce Training Curriculum Sample

  • Employer Letter(s) of Support

Additional Information:

All inquiries must be submitted in writing to the MassSTEP RFP Questions Form by Friday, May 22, 2026. All answers will be posted to the ACLS Funding Opportunities website.

FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions

Additional resources can be found on the ACLS MassSTEP webpage.

Submission Instructions:

The FY27 FC 0671/0661/0359b MassSTEP ABE and MassSTEP ESOL Requests for Proposals will be submitted in GEM$. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

New organizations that do not have an established LEA with DESE skip to Step 3.

Step 1: Establish and assign proper roles before the grant due date/time. 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 sign off.

All 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. These forms can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Step 2: Submit the grant through all LEA steps in GEM$. There are three LEA steps a competitive grant must be submitted through by the due date and time to be considered for funding:

  • Grantwriter Submitted
  • LEA Fiscal Representative Approved
  • LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted once the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the LEA Superintendent Approved stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP. Please plan accordingly.

The Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved Step allows for the organization lead to review and approve the grant application. Removing the requirement for the Part I Standard Contract Form, this step signifies Superintendent /Chief Executive sign off. Any grant budget changes requiring signature, will re-execute this step when amended signifying the organization lead is approving these changes.

Step 3: (If applicable) New organizations request temporary organization access. New organizations are entities that have not been established as an LEA in GEM$. Entities that do not have an organization in GEM$ must contact the DESE Program Unit issuing this grant at a minimum 5 business days prior to the grant due date for temporary organization access.

Temporary Access will need to be created by DESE before you can then assign the proper roles and submit the grant as outlined in Steps 1 and 2.

Failure to provide DESE with GEM$ Temp Organization Access Request at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. DESE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.


1 As defined by WIOA 20 CFR § 681.540 .

2 Massachusetts has branded its WIOA Integrated Education and Training Programs (WIOA 34 CFR §463.35 ) as MassSTEP ABE.

3 Massachusetts has branded its WIOA Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Programs (WIOA 34 CFR 463.70 ) as MassSTEP ESOL.

Last Updated: April 7, 2026

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