The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide Innovation Career Pathway program resources to an LEA who intends to seek Innovation Career Pathway designation from DESE process beginning Fall 2024.
Priorities for this grant include, but are not limited to:
Supporting applicants in the preparation of their Innovation Career Pathway designation application materials and preparing to implement school-wide MyCAP as part of the pathway development.
Competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status and schools that have not received an Innovation Career Pathway designation.
All Massachusetts public school districts, including charter schools, regionals school districts, collaboratives, approved special education schools and other LEAs.
Eligible applicants are any Massachusetts school district or charter school that plans to seek Innovation Career Pathways designation in 2024-2025. Applicants submitting an application for a planning grant agree to submit an application for Innovation Career Pathway designation to DESE in fall 2024 for implementation in school year 2025-2026.
State Line Item 7027-0019
An approximate total amount of $400,000 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.
An LEA may submit only one application for a maximum award of $15,000 to prepare Innovation Career Pathways Designation applications.
This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.
Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.
Funds may be used for costs associated with out-of-school time training and meeting time for team members to create the scope and sequence and implementation plan. Allowable uses include, but are not limited to, the following:
Additional Notes:
Funds must be used in alignment with the purpose and priorities outlined and as described in a budget, budget narrative, and required program information that is submitted to the Department's Office of College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE).
Upon Approval – 6/30/2025
Office of College, Career, and Technical Education
Jennifer A. Gwatkin
Round 1: Friday July 12, 2024*
Round 2: Friday September 13, 2024*
Round 3: Friday October 11, 2024*
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.
*All responses must be received by the due date listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not received on time will not be reviewed. Applicants applying after the due date may be notified their application was received late and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.
Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the Superintendent / Chief Executive approves the grant application in GEM$. 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.
The 0436 Innovation Career Pathways Planning 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
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