FY2024: Early College Planning Grant

Fund Code: 461

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide planning resources for Early College applicants to the Massachusetts Early College Designation:

Early College provides a framework and criteria to rethink high school, college, and the pathway through both, facilitating college access and success. The MA Early College Designation intentionally prioritizes underrepresented students in higher education as an effective strategy for addressing equity gaps in postsecondary education. These resources are intended to support both the secondary school partner and institutes of higher education (IHE) partner in their planning and design of the Early College program.

Priorities:

Priorities for this grant include, but are not limited to:

Developing Early College programs which include:

• Creating and implementing strategies to prioritize and intentionally serve students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, including those who are first in their family to go to college, students of color, English language learners, students with disabilities, low-income students.

• Creating thoughtful academic pathways aligned with MassTransfer courses that also meet Mass Core and high school graduation requirements

• Creating widespread and supportive college-going culture, particularly among student populations underrepresented in higher education.

• Creating redesigned schedules that allow program participants to onboard to college coursework, pursue college coursework, and access academic supports for their coursework during their school day.

• Building out academic and career advising and activities to foster participation in postsecondary pursuits.

• Building out career activities which allow students to relate college coursework to potential careers.

• Supporting professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to ensure equitable access in programs and develop strong Early College programming.

Priority will be given to funding K–12 institutions applying for their first Early College Designation for SY25

Priority will be given to districts and schools where the majority of the school population represents populations underrepresented in higher education.

Eligibility:

Early College Full School Impact and Early College Incubator Grantees are excluded from eligibility.

Option A — Planning for SY25 Designation: These funds are available for Early College applicants seeking Designation beginning in Fall of 2025. This option will provide 9 months of funds to develop infrastructure for current applicants, up to $50,000

These competitive funds are geared towards MA Early College Designation Applicants who have submitted a Part A Application in August of 2023. Awardees will be determined by the approval by DESE and DHE of their reviewed Part A Early College Designation application, as well as their grant responses in Part III of this application. Eligible partnerships will have met the Part A requirements outlined in the Early College Designation Companion Document.

Option B — Pre-Planning for SY26 Designation: These funds are available for potential Early College applicants seeking to submit applications in Fall of 2024 or Fall of 2025. This funding will provide 12 months of planning and development funding for programs to assess Early College program designs.

If funds are available after the awarding of Option A grantees, these funds will be made available for potential Early College Designation applicants who are pre-planning to apply for an FY24 or FY25 Designation.

Either the K–12 institution or institution of higher education (IHE) partner can serve as the fiscal sponsor. However, given that funds will be disbursed through EdGrants management system, we recommend for ease of the grant submission process that the K–12 institution serves as the fiscal sponsor.

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7009-6600

Funding:

A total of $600,000 is available through this FY24 grant. Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. Option A will be awarded before Option B and may impact the funds available for Option B.

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 for allocations, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Option A- Planning for SY24 Designation:
K–12 institution applying for its' first Early College Designation is eligible for up to $50,000.

Option B- Pre-Planning for SY25 Designation:
The funding amounts will be made available when final budget amounts have been approved.

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:

This grant cannot be applied toward capital expenses or MTRS.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 06/30/2024
FY25 Summer 7/1/2024 – 8/31/2024

Program Unit:

Early College Office

Contact Person:

Cashay Grant-Woods

Date Due:

Option A: Planning Grants Date Due: Friday, September 15, 2023*

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

* All responses must be received by the due date and time listed in this RFP. All responses must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions section of this RFP. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not submitted on time will not be reviewed. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed in this RFP.

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
  • FY24 Part I
  • FY25 Part I Summer (if applicable)
  
  
• Part II — Budget
  • FY24 Part II
  • FY25 Part II Summer (if applicable)
  
  

• Part III — Responses

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants
In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

• FY24 FC461 Early College Planning Grant
• Applicant Name

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as Schedule A form, if applicable to your district. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings.

Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: August 6, 2024