The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide significant support planning and resources to support a district and/or high school and college partner in designing and developing an impactful, large-scale full school immersive Early College program model. Typically, these models will be either full school or scale to approximately 400 students. In addition, the program model would be structured to award a minimum of 30 college credits to Early College students prior to their high school graduation.
For this grant, examples of full-school models that may be considered.
Districts and/or high school and college partners working to design and develop a full school Early College program model during the SY23 and submitted FY23 Report indicating SMART Goals.
Priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.
Priorities for this grant include, but are not limited to:
Designing a program that includes:
Building large scale Early College programs with intentional scope and sequencing that allows Early College students to pursue a minimum of 30 college credits.
Creating large-scale and intentional strategies to target and serve students traditionally underserved in higher education. Such students may include: Black and Latinx students, English language learners, students with disabilities, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and/or first generation to college students.
Developing widespread supportive school culture around postsecondary access and success. This includes promoting higher education through awareness activities, integrating Early College courses into the high school curriculum, arranging transportation and textbook acquisition, and ensuring Early College students have intentionally designed wrap around support services available.
Programs whose K–12 partner serving over 50% of students with high needs will be prioritized. Priority will also be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.
Currently, this grant is open to Districts and/or high school and college partners working to design and develop a full school Early College program model during the SY23 and submitted FY23 Report indicating SMART Goals.
State Line Item 7009-6600
Approximately $2,100,000 in funding is available.
These applicants are eligible for up to $500,000 but a budget review will be conducted to account for funding being allocated to programs from related state-supported 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.
This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.
These funds can be used to support first-time planning and resources to support a district and/or high school and college partner in designing and developing an impactful, large-scale full school immersive Early College program model. Typically, these models will be either full school or scale to at approximately 400 students. In addition, the program model would be structured to award a minimum of 30 college credits to Early College students prior to their high school graduation. Examples of full-school models that may be considered.
100% of school student participation (referred to as "Wall to Wall" programs),
A school within a school (referred to as Early College Academy") with at least 400 early college students.
Upon Approval* – 06/30/2024Summer FY25 7/1/2024 – 8/31/2024
* 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.
The Office of Early College
Cashay Grant-Woods
781-338-3947
Friday, October 20, 2023
The information below is intended for state entities that require ISAs as part of their grant award process. Not intended for Private or Community Based Organizations.
ISA process timeline
MA Expenditure Classification Handbook
MA Comptroller's Office Fringe Information
ISA and EdGrants Amendment Requirements
Process for waiving indirect costs (state agencies only)
Indirect Waiver Request form (state agencies only)
Section 5D: Indirect and fringe benefit costs expended from the General Fund: recovery by the comptroller (state agencies only)
Federal Grants Cost Allocation
Submit all required grant materials through EdGrantsIn EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:
FY24 466 Early College Full School Impact 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: November 9, 2023
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