The purpose of this competitive Computer Science (CS) Professional Development (PD) and Devices grant is to support Massachusetts public school teachers in learning Computer Science content and in purchasing student learning devices (e.g., circuit boards, Makey Makey, Beebots, micro:bits) for their classrooms. Funds under this grant may be used to attend select summer Professional Learning workshops run by our CS professional development provider CSforMA and purchase classroom devices and accessories associated with that workshop. Optionally, schools may use these funds to purchase devices or accessories for teachers using a CS curriculum marked as "comprehensive" in the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Guide .
Competitive priority will be given to:
All Massachusetts public LEAs (including Regional and Charter districts) that:
Federal CFDA# 84.367A, Account # 7043-2001
Federal grant funds must adhere to:
Approximately $181,721 is available.
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.
Schools may apply for Option 1, Option 2, or both Option 1 and Option 2 as part of the same application:
Option 1: Teacher summer PD with associated Student Learning Devices
Teachers may attend one of the specified workshops being offered in June and July of 2025 by CSforMA. The cost for each workshop is shown in bold.
June 24–26, 2025
Intro to CS for elementary educators. 3 days. $1,200 [recommended devices: Beebots or Ozobots]
Intro to CS for Middle/High school educators. 3 days. $1,200 [recommended devices: micro:bit or circuit playgrounds]
PreK–6 Research Skills. This course provides 1 Subject Matter Knowledge requirement towards the 12 required for a DLCS PreK–6 license. 1 day in-person on 6/24/25, and 2 (two) 90-minute virtual sessions. $500 [no materials]
July 21–25, 2025 or July 28–August 1, 2025
PreK–6 Computer Science. This course provides 7 Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) requirements towards the 12 required for a DLCS PreK–6 license. 5 days in the summer, 4 additional weekend days during the school year. $3,600 [recommended devices: Makey Makey, micro:bit, or Hummingbird]
PreK–6 Digital Literacy. This course provides 5 Subject Matter Knowledge (SMK) requirements towards the 12 required for a DLCS PreK–6 license. 5 days. $2,000 [no devices]
Introduction to Text-based Programming for Educators. This course introduces educators to text-based programming. Pre-requisite: basic understanding of block-based coding (e.g., Scratch or Scratch Jr.). 5 days. $2,000 [no devices]
Civics + Data. This course, for high school history teachers, will explore how to develop data-rich civics projects by developing data questions and learning tools that will help students query, analyze and synthesize information. 5 days. $2,000 [no devices]
Algebra 2 + Data. This course is a new approach that introduces a set of Data Science lessons in a regular Algebra II or Math 3 course. 5 days. $2,000 [no devices]
In addition to the cost of the workshop, the grant will allow for an additional $500 per educator who completes a workshop that has associated "recommended devices". Once an educator successfully completes the workshop, the district/school may purchase the recommended materials associated with the workshop for those which have recommended materials listed.
Option 2: Student Learning Devices
A teacher who is, or will be, teaching in SY24-25 and/or SY25-26 with a CS curriculum marked as "comprehensive" in the Massachusetts DLCS Curriculum Guide may use up to $300 to purchase student learning devices associated with that curriculum. The course must be taught at the school listed in the grant during school hours. The devices may additionally be used during after-school or summer activities at the school; however, their primary use must be for classes during the school day. Ownership of the devices belongs to the school.
Funds may also be used for accessories for the devices such as, but not restricted to, alligator clips, LED lights, or protective cases.
Upon Approval – 9/30/2025
Center for Instructional Support Office / STEM
Paula Moore, DLCS Content Lead
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP.
All responses must be submitted through 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.
This Application Planning Template contains the questions asked in the Program Narrative. While it may be used as a planning and organizing tool, responses to all Program Narrative questions must be submitted through GEM$ in order to be reviewed.
Questions and Answers — Due to the competitive nature of this grant program, all questions about this funding opportunity will be addressed on our website. Any questions must be emailed to paula.b.moore@mass.gov (with the subject: "CS PD and Devices Grant") by March 21, 2025 4:00 p.m. Questions and DESE's response will be posted at STEM Grants and Opportunities on an ongoing basis as questions are received.
Curriculum Data Collection: In order to be eligible for this grant, LEAs must have completed their Curriculum Data Collection. The data should be viewable and up to date here: Curriculum Data. Directions about the expectations and how to provide the data can be found here: Curriculum Data Collection.
A cap of five (5) teachers per district will be imposed if the eligible grant application requests exceed the available funding.
The FY25 0142 Computer Science Professional Development and Devices 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$)
New organizations that do not have an established LEA with DESE skip to Step 3.
Step 1: Establish and assign proper roles before the grant due date/time. Grant Submission at the LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, LEA fiscal for financial review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign off.
All roles should be established prior to the grant due date and all appropriate forms should be either uploaded to GEM$, 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$. There are three LEA steps a competitive grant must be submitted through by the due date and time to be considered for funding:
Competitive grant applications are considered submitted once the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" stage by the due date and time listed in the RFP. Please plan accordingly.
The "LEA 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$. Entities that do not have an organization established in GEM$ 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: February 18, 2025
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