FY2025: Innovation Career Pathways Implementation Grant

Fund Code: 0419

Purpose:

The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide designated Innovation Career Pathways with resources to support program implementation.

Priorities:

Supporting designees in the execution of their approved designation plan such that the Innovation Pathway program meets all criteria requirements.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants will be districts that have receiving Innovation Career Pathway Designation from DESE in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7027-0020

Funding:

An approximate total amount of $4,550,000 is available to eligible applicants.

This grant will prioritize at least 25% of available funds available for schools and districts in chronically underperforming status. If applications are not received from schools in status, funds will be distributed to other applicants.

Funding preference will be given to districts that serve greater than 50% low income students, as reported via the October 2024 Student Information Management System (SIMS) collection.

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 that were approved for their first Innovation Career Pathways program for SY24-25 are eligible for up to $75,000, all other schools with Innovation Career Pathways are eligible for up to $50,000.

Fund Use:

Funds from the state will be used to support designated Innovation Career Pathway's adherence to the five guiding principles . Allowable funding expenses include:

• Program administration and coordination;
• Stipends for K12- and higher education faculty;
• Curricular development;
• Engagement with MassHire boards and industry;
• Providing work-based learning opportunities for students;
• Professional development;
• Instructional-related supplies and materials;
• High quality college and career advising and MyCAP development throughout the school and embedded in the pathway;
• Industry recognized credentials;
• Expenses associated with student participation in dual-enrollment courses.

Student stipends may not be funded by this grant. This grant cannot be applied towards the secondary school's capital expenses.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2025

Program Unit:

Office of College, Career, and Technical Education

Contact:

Jennifer A. Gwatkin

Date Due:

Round 1: Friday July 12, 2024*

Round 2: Friday September 13, 2024*

Round 3: Friday October 11, 2024*

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 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.

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the Superintendent / Chief Executive approves the grant application 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 listed in the RFP.

Submission Instructions:

The 0419 Innovation Career Pathways Implementation Grant 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$)

Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the Superintendent / Chief Executive approves the grant application in GEM$. In order to be considered for competitive funding, applicants must submit a grant application by the due date listed in the RFP.

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.

New Organizations: Grant Submission requires applicants to have their organization established 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.

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.

Please Note: 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 these 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.

Last Updated: October 2, 2024