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The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering a targeted grant to continue implementation support for a cohort of districts in Year 2 of Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program implementation. Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs) in Massachusetts are innovative pathways into teaching designed to build a diverse and effective teaching workforce that reflects the rich cultural backgrounds of our students. At the heart of RTAP is a commitment to providing equitable opportunities for aspiring educators, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to enter the teaching profession for little to no cost.
RTAP offers a new pathway to earning an Initial license in Massachusetts. RTAP integrates on-the-job training with academic coursework, allowing participants to earn while they learn. This hands-on approach ensures that apprentices gain practical classroom experience under the supervision of experienced educators while simultaneously completing the requirements for Initial licensure.
The main priority of the grant is to support Year 2 implementation of RTAPs in seven inaugural MA districts, with the goal of:
Cultivating a Diverse and Effective Pipeline in Local CommunitiesRTAP addresses the need for a teaching workforce that mirrors the diversity of Massachusetts's student population. By focusing on recruiting and supporting aspiring teachers from the increasingly diverse communities in which they live, RTAP will help to ensure that our classrooms are led by educators who represent the lived experiences and diverse perspectives of all Massachusetts communities.
Supporting Job-Embedded Preparation in Hard-to-Staff RolesRTAP aims to create better teachers — particularly in some of our hardest-to-staff roles such as special education, early childhood, ESL, and STEM — by providing apprentices with on-the-job learning opportunities, personalized support and mentoring, professional development, and access to a network of experienced peers and education leaders. This ensures that RTAP graduates are well-prepared and positioned to thrive in today's classrooms from day one.
Expanding Cost-Effective and Equitable Access to the Teaching ProfessionRTAP is committed to expanding access to the teaching profession. By offering a no-cost pathway through full-time employment with job-embedded learning and wrap-around supports, RTAP opens doors for individuals who might otherwise be unable to afford traditional teacher preparation programs, creating a more inclusive and equitable education system.
Eligible applicants are those that are currently implementing an approved RTAP program or have received prior approval from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to apply to run an RTAP, including the following Massachusetts public school districts, charter schools, and educational collaboratives
State Line Item 7061-9408
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, ยง 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
Approximately $1,750,000 is available for this grant.
Note: Grant awards are contingent upon the availability of state funds.
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.
Funds may support RTAP implementation activities, including:
Journeyworker/Mentor Stipends: Stipends for journeyworkers who supervise and support apprentices.
Apprentice Salaries (non-teacher): Salary support for apprentices working in paraprofessional or instructional support roles as they progress through the program.
Substitutes: Costs for substitutes so mentors, apprentices, and staff can participate in required RTAP activities, including training and meetings.
Tuition and Fees: Tuition and related coursework expenses for apprentices enrolled in an EPP.
Program Coordinator: Salary support for district-level and EPP-level coordinators responsible for daily program management and compliance.
Marketing and Recruitment Activities: Development and distribution of promotional materials and outreach to prospective apprentices and journeyworkers.
Data System Development: Development or enhancement of systems to monitor apprentice progress, track hours, record assessments, and evaluate program outcomes.
Community Partnerships: Partnerships with community organizations that support culturally responsive programming, mentorship, and apprentice success.
Upon Approval (No Earlier than 7/1/2026)* – 6/30/27
The FY27 grant ends on 6/30/27. Pending appropriation and meeting grant requirements, awarded grantees may be eligible for similar targeted grant(s) in Fiscal Year(s) 2028.
* 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 Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.
Center for Strategic Initiatives
EducatorApprenticeships@mass.gov
Friday, May 1, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
Application Review and NotificationDESE will review applications within 30 days of submission. During this review period, DESE will evaluate alignment with RTAP programmatic goals and requirements and may conduct interviews with applicants.
Curriculum Data Collection: In order to be eligible for this grant, districts must have completed Curriculum Data Collection for ELA/literacy, Mathematics, STE, and History/Social Science. The data should be viewable and up to date at: Curriculum Data. Directions about the expectations and how to provide the data can be found at: Curriculum Data Collection.
Universal screening data sharing: LEAs receiving this award will be required to participate in research efforts, including providing student-level assessment data from the approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in all schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by June 30 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the data collected for research purposes, including evaluation of this program. Analyses will comply with state and federal confidentiality laws.
Questions and Answers: Any grant-related questions must be submitted no later than Thursday, January 29th, 2026, to EducatorApprenticeships@mass.gov . Responses will be posted by Thursday, February 5th, 2026. Responses will not be sent directly to the questioner. Applicants can find all questions related to this funding opportunity and DESE's responses on the MA's Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP) - Center for Strategic Initiatives
Application Review and NotificationDESE will review applications within 30 days of submission. During this review period, DESE may conduct interviews with applicants. Grant applicants will receive notification upon Commissioner approval.
The FY27 FC221I Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program Implementation Grant will be submitted in our new GEM$ 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$)
Please Note: Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off. All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, 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. These forms can be accessed without logging in to the system.
Last Updated: April 6, 2026