Adult Education and Family Literacy Services (Massachusetts)

Adult Education and Family Literacy Services (Massachusetts) is sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) (Federal Pass-Through). This program provides adult education services, including ESOL, ABE, pre-ASE, ASE, and family literacy, to assist eligible individuals in becoming literate, obtaining knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency, and assisting immigrants and other …

FY2027 Fund Codes 0340 / 0345 / 359a: Adult Education and Family Literacy Services - Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs Select language, current language English Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs Educational Collaboratives Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Budget Inter-District School Choice School Finance Regulations Chapter 74 Nonresident Tuition FY2027: Adult Education and Family Literacy Services Fund Codes: 0340 / 0345 / 359a The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ( DESE ) will administer the Adult Education and Family Literacy Services continuation grants to Community Adult Learning Centers (fund code 0340/0345) including Outstationing, consistent with Public Law 113-128, Sections 201 through 243, across 16 local workforce development areas for Community Adult Learning Centers CALCs , as follows: To create a partnership among the Federal Government, States, and localities to provide, on a voluntary basis, adult education ( AE ) services ( English for Speakers of Other Languages ESOL , Adult Basic Education ABE , pre- Adult Secondary Education ASE , Adult Secondary Education ASE , Adult Diploma Program ADP , family literacy) to: assist eligible individuals to become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiency; assist eligible individuals who are parents or family members to obtain the education and skills that— are necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children, and result in sustainable improvements in the economic opportunities for their family; assist eligible individuals in attaining a secondary school credential and in the transition to postsecondary education and training, including through career pathways; and assist immigrants and other individuals who are English language learners to— (1) reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills in English; and acquire an understanding of the American system of government, individual freedom, and responsible citizenship.

To reduce disparity in education by providing, in collaboration with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA partners and others, high quality Adult Education AE programming that provides an inclusive and welcoming environment, rigorous curriculum and instruction, and related services responsive to and supportive of diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ).

To support innovation in the development of Adult Education AE services to effectively serve eligible individuals most in need of education services in the 16 local workforce development areas through in-person and remote instruction and in coordination and collaboration with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA partner services.

To improve and accelerate participant outcomes, especially educational functioning level completion, high school equivalency ( HSE ) credential or high school diploma ( Adult Diploma Program ADP ) attainment, and enrollment in post-secondary education or training.

The purpose of outstationing is to help eligible individuals access adult education services by assisting MassHire Career Center staff with intake, assessments, and referrals to adult education programs in the local area and educate current students about career center services. Priority will be given to Community Adult Learning Centers CALC programs funded in FY26 that successfully met their performance measures.

FY2027 is a continuation year grant. All recipients awarded through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Services Open and Competitive FY2024-2028 grant funding cycle who received grants in FY2026 are eligible to apply. Fund Code 0345 and 359a: State Line Item 7035-0002 Fund Codes 0340: Federal Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA 84.

002 Federal grant funds must adhere to: Uniform Grant Guidance UGG (2 Code of Federal Regulations CFR 200) Education Department General Administrative Regulations EDGAR As Applicable Education Department General Administrative Regulations EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 Code of Federal Regulations CFR Part 76 The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including General Laws G.

L. c. 40A, § 3A, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA Communities Act.

Compliance with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Approximately $55,000,000 is available. Outstationing funding in the amount $18,000 is available to agencies in the Bristol Workforce region that would like to provide outstationing services in that area.

Interested (and eligible agencies) can apply in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ application to provide these services. See Grants for Education Management System GEM$ for fund codes 0345/0340/359a.

Grant amounts were determined through a proposal review during the O&C process based on regional allocations, Massachusetts considered the regional educational need, the demand for services, and historical funding and score of the proposal. In addition, funding was adjusted based on increases/decreases applied in FY24–FY26. FY27 is the fourth year of funding for the 5-year funding cycle FY24–28.

Funding is subject to state and federal appropriation. This Request for Proposal 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 Request for Proposal RFP document.

Funds must be used in accordance with FY24-FY28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education in Community Adult Learning Centers and Correctional Institutions to provide adult education to eligible students; eligible students are: are at least 16 years of age; are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law; and do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or are basic skills deficient; or are English language learners.

Students under 18 must provide a letter of withdrawal from the local school district in order to enroll in the program. Students who are home schooled must provide a letter from the local school district stating that they are not enrolled. As defined by the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 Code of Federal Regulations CFR §463.

25 and §463. 26 , not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities. If awarded, programs may negotiate on an individual basis with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE to determine an adequate level of funds for non-instructional purposes by submitting a written request and rationale annually with their continuation applications.

Administrative costs must be reasonable, necessary, and allocable.

Not less than 95 percent of funds must be spent on adult education direct services and literacy activities; not more than 5 percent may be spent on administrative costs (related to planning, administration, (including carrying out performance accountability requirements), professional development, providing adult education and literacy services in alignment with local workforce plans, carrying out one-stop partner responsibilities, and state approved indirect costs charged to the grant.

Programs may negotiate a higher administrative cost percentage by submitting a written request and rationale with application. Applicants may include indirect cost rates to recover certain business-related expenses necessary to support the proposed services. Please note that indirect costs count as administrative costs.

Local Education Agencies ( LEA ) may apply the district rate . A non- Local Educational Agency LEA must reapply to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE for an FY27 indirect costs rate ( 2 Code of Federal Regulations CFR 200. 332 ).

FY27 Non- Local Educational Agency LEA 's Annual Application for Indirect Cost Rates Adult Education Services is a restricted rate program that is subject to a statutory "supplement not supplant" restriction. Grantees are required to use a restricted indirect cost rate of 8%, unless your calculated indirect cost rate is less than 8%, than you must use the lower rate for your budget.

If you have an approved negotiated federal indirect cost rate, it must be submitted to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE . If you do not have an approved indirect cost rate agreement, you must apply annually to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE for an approved indirect cost rate. The indirect cost rate is calculated using costs specified in the grantee's indirect cost plan.

Those specified costs may not be charged as direct costs to the grant or to any other grant under any circumstances. Applicants are required to provide an auditable matching share of 20% of the total amount of the requested grant award. 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 Request for Proposal RFP document.

Upon Approval* (no Earlier than 7/1/2026) – 6/30/2027 * Grant start date cannot be prior to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this Request for Proposal 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.

Adult and Community Learning Services ( ACLS ) Thursday, May 28 th , 2026 Proposals must be received at the Department by 5pm p. m. Eastern on the date due.

Grants for Education Management System GEM$ submission at the Local Educational Agency LEA Fiscal Representative Approved level step must be submitted by the due date. See GEM$ Funding Application for ISA Guidance Documents Grants for Education Management System GEM$ Submission Instructions: The FY27 FC 0340 / 0345 / 359a Adult Education and Family Literacy Services must be submitted in Grants for Education Management System GEM$ .

Grants for Education Management System GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system. Grants for Education Management System ( GEM$ ) Grant Submission at the Local Educational Agency LEA level requires roles to be established for Grant writer for the specific fund code, Local Educational Agency 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 Grants for Education Management System GEM$ , maintained at the Local Educational Agency LEA level or sent in to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Request for Proposal RFP contact as described on the individual forms.

The user guidance documents and forms are found on the Grants for Education Management System GEM$ homepage under Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE Resources. These forms can be accessed without logging in to the system. Last Updated: May 5, 2026 This link will take you to an external website which may or may not be accessible and WCAG 2.

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