FY2025: Career Connected Learning — Program Development, Expansion, and Improvement Grant

Fund Code: 422A

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide resources for developing and expanding Career Technical Education and Innovation Career Pathway Programs to eligible recipients that applied and were determined to move forward to Part B of designations.

Priorities:

This grant must be used to support the development and implementation of state designated pathway programs, including but not limited to:

• The development of work-based learning using the MEFA Pathway tool
• Processes and resources for implementing MyCAP
• Development of scope and sequence for programs aligned to the Career Connected Learning Frameworks on the MA Career Connected Learning Hub
• Development and training for processes and resources aligned to implementation of the Massachusetts Pathway Principles and other required program components.
• Equipment and instructional supplies necessary for implementation of the relevant career connected learning framework.*

*Frameworks must be implemented in full in programs seeking CTE (C74) designation

Eligibility:

Eligible recipients are those that applied and were determined to move forward to Part B of designations.

List here: FY25 0422A - New Program Development and Expansion Grant

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.048

• Federal grant funds must adhere to:
  • UGG (2 CFR 200)
  • EDGAR As Applicable
  • EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

• 7035-0001 Career Technical Partnership Grants
• 7027-0027 Innovation Career Pathways

Funding:

An approximate total amount of $2,100,000 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.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability. Eligible organizations can apply for up to the amount listed here. 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 may be used for services, supplies, equipment, curriculum development and program improvement and delivery expenses.

Funds must be used to ensure program quality and build capacity to serve students in CTE programs, aligned to Perkins Allowable Expenses .

Additional General Grant coding Guidance

Project Duration:

Year 1: Upon Approval – June 30, 2025
Year 2 — Summer Only, subject to funding availability: July 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025

Program Unit:

Office of College, Career, and Technical Education

Contact:

Raven Jordan

Date Due:

Friday February 28, 2025

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

If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

Submission Instructions:

This 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: February 3, 2025