Select language, current language English
Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2027: Student Support and Wellbeing Systems (SSWS) Grant

Fund Codes: 9600 / 9605 / 9610

Purpose:

The purpose of this state- and federally- funded competitive grant is to support grantees to build and strengthen systems for creating safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students. Grant funding is intended to support grantees to create safe and supportive learning environments, in partnership with families, so every learner is known, valued, nourished, and has voice and agency. Grantees will build systems that promote whole-child development and foster joyful, inclusive school communities.

These efforts support increased student engagement and attendance, and contribute to improved student success across academic, health, and well-being domains.

Priorities:

Grantees with support from and in partnership with DESE, will identify teams to build and strengthen systems through the following grant priorities:

  • Using Data to Guide Planning and Continuous Improvement
    Grantees will collect, analyze, and use data, including results from a chosen self-assessment, to inform planning, identify areas of need, monitor progress, and support continuous improvement efforts related to safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments.

  • Strengthening Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
    Grantees will build and strengthen coordinated systems of support, grounded in the Safe and Supportive Schools Essential Elements , MTSS Blueprint core components, and the School Health Index (SHI) modules, that address students' academic, social-emotional, behavioral, mental health, and physical health needs across all tiers of prevention, intervention and support.

  • Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies and Interventions
    Grantees will implement evidence-based strategies, practices and interventions that promote social-emotional learning, behavioral and mental health, prevention, student wellness, and positive school climate.

All of the above will be done with the following overarching grant priorities:

  • Advancing Equity and Culturally Responsive Practices
    Grant activities will incorporate equitable, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive approaches that support the diverse strengths and needs of all students, families, and school communities.

  • Engaging Students, Families, and Community Partners
    Grantees will foster meaningful and sustainable collaboration with students, families, community-based organizations, and other partners to strengthen student well-being, student voice, and to support school improvement efforts.

Grantees will participate in networking opportunities, professional learning, coaching, and technical assistance aligned with these priority areas, including to support systems building efforts.

Competitive priority will be given to:

  • Districts with one or more schools identified for Accelerating Achievement and/or in the strategic transformation region.

  • Districts and schools identified as part of Rethinking Discipline Initiative's Phase II Cohort III

  • Applicants that prioritize racial equity and cultural responsiveness.

  • Districts, or districts with one or more schools, where the proportion of high needs students enrolled in school year 2025-2026 was at least 56% (the 2026 statewide average). NOTE: "high needs" students are students who belong to one or more of the following student groups: students with disabilities, English learners (ELs) and former ELs, and students from low-income families

Additional considerations include:

  • The Department may consider factors such as geographic distribution when making awards.

  • For applicants selecting to implement the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), priority will be given to communities prioritized by MA Department of Public Health for the Adolescent Sexuality Education program.

  • For applicants selecting to create cell phone free schools, priority will be given to those that do not currently have equipment and that have not done training on this issue or received previous grant funding.

Eligibility:

All public school districts, charter schools and collaboratives are eligible to apply.

Funding Source:

State line items: 1596-0111 , 1596-2436 (FY27 , FY26 supplemental ), 7061-0028 , 7061-9612 and 7061-9650

Federal CFDA: 93.092

Federal grant funds must adhere to:

  • UGG (2 CFR 200)
  • EDGAR As Applicable
  • EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 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 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.

Funding:

Approximately $4,500,000 is available

Of the available funds:

  • at least $1,000,000 will support districts with schools identified for the Accelerating Achievement Partnership,
  • approximately $1,000,000 will support grantees choosing to participate in Universal Mental Health Screening Pilot or expansion efforts,
  • at least $1,000,000 will support grantees choosing to implement Cell Phone-Free Schools (FC9610),
  • at least $175,000 will support grantees choosing to implement Personal Responsibility Education Programming (PREP, FC 9605), and
  • at least $200,000 will support grantees choosing to convene a district and one or more school teams (including but not limited to teachers, nurses, counselors, family members, students, etc.) to review and respond to the questions in the Safe and Supportive Schools Self-Reflection Tool and to create action plans based on the responses to the Tool.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Applicants are eligible to apply for a base funding amount up to $50,000 to support all grant activities. Applicants may apply for additional funds if selecting to implement the grant options outlined below.

Applicants may apply for additional funds to implement the following grant options (related to Strengthening MTSS) and access related DESE-supported professional learning:

  • $10,000 to pilot or expand a Universal Mental Health Screening system,
  • $10,000 to engage in a Mental and Behavioral Health Metrics Self-Review;
  • $10,000 to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid, and/or
  • Up to $20,000 based on district size to implement Cell Phone-Free Schools activities in FC 9610. Applicants serving:
    • Up to 1,000 students may apply for up to $10,000
    • 1,001–6,000 students may apply for up to $15,000
    • 6,001 or more students may apply for up to $20,000

Applicants may apply for additional funds to implement the following strategies (related to Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies and Interventions) and access related DESE-supported professional learning:

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 support the grant's purpose and priorities and should have a reasonable likelihood of being sustained or having lasting impact beyond the grant period.

Allowable uses of grant funds include, but are not limited to:

  • Salaries or stipends for employees or contracted staff coordinating or directly implementing grant activities;

  • Stipends for staff for planning time, team meetings, travel, and local professional development, including DESE-sponsored professional learning opportunities. Travel must directly support grant priorities;

  • Professional development and coaching for educators, student support staff, administrators, and other personnel;

  • Evidence-based and/or evidence-informed curricula or interventions, related training, and other relevant resources or materials;

  • Materials or licenses to support cell phone-free school policy implementation, including lockable phone storage and technology that limits device access during the school day;

  • Community-based contracted services and partnership coordination activities, including but not limited to, contracting with partners to provide:

    • Evidence-based universal mental health screening tools, data analysis, and related supports;

    • Professional development, facilitation, consultation and coaching aligned with grant priorities, including to support action planning and implementation;

    • Bridge programs to support school re-entry after prolonged absences and promote healing, wellness, and academic success; and

    • Other services aligned with the grant priorities.

Items that may not be funded with this grant:

  • Out of state travel,

  • Food or any other costs associated with district/school events for staff, students, or family/other stakeholders, and

  • Electronics (e.g., iPads, computers, tablets) or construction.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2027

Pending appropriation and the meeting of grant requirements, awarded grantees may be eligible for three (3) continuation grant(s) in Fiscal Year(s) 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Program Unit:

Student and Family Support

Contact:

Emily Caille

Phone Number:

(781) 338-6303

Date Due:

Wednesday, October 21, 2026*

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

DESE Competitive Grant Submission Policy

*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:

All required information and forms must be entered into or uploaded in GEM$.

  • Program Narrative (entered directly into GEM$)

  • FC9600 Program Budget Request (entered directly into GEM$)
    • If applying for Cell Phone-Free Schools, FC9610 Program Budget Request (entered directly into GEM$)
    • If applying for PREP, FC9605 Program Budget Request (entered directly into GEM$)

  • FY27 Grant Assurances

Additional Information:

Questions and Answers

The Department will hold a Question and Answers Session(s) via webinar. Register here to participate. During this session, the Department will answer applicants' questions. Questions may be submitted in advance of the session to achievement@mass.gov with the Subject Line: FY27 SSWS Grant Question. Due to the competitive nature of this grant, questions and responses will be shared during this session so that all potential applicants have the opportunity to hear the information.

Applicants can also find all the questions asked regarding this funding opportunity and DESE's responses posted in the Q&A document found in the DESE Resources section of GEM$.

Submission Instructions:

The FY27 9600-9605-9610 Student Support and Well-being Systems Grant must be submitted in GEM$.

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.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

Top