FY2025: High School Equivalency

Fund Code: 0850

Purpose:

The purpose of this state-funded grant program is to assist in the day-to-day operation of High School Equivalency Test Centers (HSE) including, but not limited to, the cost for test administration, special needs, and technology upgrades.

Priorities:

The priorities for use of these funds must be in the areas of test center materials, technology, and staffing (including special needs for approved HSE Test Centers only. Travel to HSE Chief Examiners meetings.

Priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.

Eligibility:

Only approved HSE Test Centers are eligible to apply. Refer to Attachment 1 that lists approved HSE Test Centers and funding amounts available for each center

Funding Type:

State Line Item 7035-0002

Funding:

Approximately $247,248 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.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used in any or all of the following areas if needed.

• Non-Instructional Materials — testing materials and office supplies/equipment.
• Staffing — for both Regular and Special Accommodation needs
• Travel to HSE Chief Examiner's Meeting

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – 6/30/2025

* 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.

Program Unit:

ACLS HSE Unit

Contact:

Michael Farma

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3836

Date Due:

Wednesday July 31, 2024 5:00 PM

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

Additional Information:

Budget Details entered directly into GEM$

Required Program Information — Letter of Assurance

All grants issued to state colleges/universities or state agencies and Correction Facilities must have an executed ISA in GEM$.

Grant Amendment vs ISA Amendment (for State Agencies & Correctional Facilities)

ISA MMARS Timeline (for State Agencies & Correctional Facilities)

State ISA Grant Amendment Process (for State Agencies & Correctional Facilities)

Federal ISA Grant Amendment Process (for State Agencies & Correctional Facilities)

Submission Instructions:

The FY25 FC0850 High School Equivalency 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$)

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 form can be accessed without logging in to the system.

Last Updated: July 2, 2024