The purpose of this Request for Proposal RFP is to administer state legislative earmarks to Public School districts as outlined in the FY27 state budget.
Eligible entities as listed in the state budget.
State Funded 1596-2517 (Fund Code 2518) Fair Share Earmarks
Approximately, $30,362,911 is available for various earmarks to public schools.
As outlined in the state budget:
To provide for supplementing certain activities and projects in each district.
List of Eligible Districts and Associated Earmark Language
7/1/2025 – 6/30/2029*
*Earmarked Grant funds cannot be drawn down prior to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this Request for Proposal RFP’s Submission Instructions. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date unless otherwise noted in the budget language associated with that earmark.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE encourages recipients to expend these funds by June 30, 2027.
Strategy, Monitoring and Compliance/Federal Grant Programs
For questions regarding the grant application submission in Grants for Education Management System GEM$, email the Federal Grant Programs Office .
Rolling but no later than Friday, October 23, 2026
Earmarks can have a start date of 7/1/2025, if needed by the earmark recipient, provided an application is submitted in a timely manner. To guarantee access to these earmark funds the recipients must act and apply in the Grants for Education Management System GEM$ grants system.
If you have any questions regarding the funds earmarked in this account, please contact the state legislative contact on this funding.
The application for the earmarks referenced in this Request for Proposal RFP will be submitted in the Grants for Education Management System GEM$ system.
Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)
Earmarks will follow the exact same application process and workflow as an entitlement or targeted grant in Grants for Education Management System GEM$.
Just as with all other grants in Grants for Education Management System GEM$, grant submission at the Local Educational Agency LEA level requires roles to be established for the Grant writer for the specific fund code, Local Educational Agency LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign-off.
All these roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate User forms should be either uploaded to Grants for Education Management System GEM$, 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. This form can be accessed without logging in to the system.
Last Updated: August 25, 2026