CTE Frameworks and Competency Based Implementation

CTE Frameworks and Competency Based Implementation is sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This grant requires all districts with state-designated CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs to demonstrate alignment with CTE frameworks and competency-based implementation.

FY2026 Fund Code 0426: CTE Frameworks and Competency Based Implementation - Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs 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 FY2026: CTE Frameworks and Competency Based Implementation This competitive grant will support school districts in crafting, implementing, evaluating, and refining a replicable scope and sequence tool developed in Phase I to guide the implementation of frameworks and the use of competency-based systems within Chapter 74 Career Technical Education (CTE) programs.

The project focuses on integrating this tool into curriculum design and delivery to enhance instruction, assessment, and student engagement in alignment with the CTE Frameworks.

Districts will work collaboratively with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to implement and enhance the scope and sequence tool, which in turn will help foster inclusive, equitable, and rigorous learning experiences that prepare students for college, careers, and civic life.

In addition to supporting school and district implementation, DESE will identify exemplary scope and sequences and instructional resources that emerge from the community of practice to share with districts across the Commonwealth. Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate readiness and capacity to: Implement and refine the scope and sequence tool as a foundational element of competency-based instruction.

Use the tool to strengthen curriculum delivery , lesson planning, assessment design, and differentiation. Integrate the tool with existing systems and make it accessible to students and families. Implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to ensure equitable access to deeper learning, especially for students with disabilities and English learners.

Align practices with the WIDA 2020 Framework and English Learner Blueprint . Train staff in high-leverage best practices for students with disabilities (e.g., scaffolded support, explicit instruction, UDL). Provide professional development and coaching to support effective tool use and framework implementation.

Integrate High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) with competency-based curriculum and assessment. Establish instructional leadership structures that promote culturally and linguistically sustaining practices. Engage in student-led career development planning and foster student ownership and self-monitoring of learning progress.

Partner with students, families, and communities to build a more inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment. Participate in a community of practice to share learnings and collaborate with DESE and other recipients. Priority will be given to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.

Eligible applicants include any school district with State-Approved Career Technical Education (Chapter 74) programs. Federal grant funds must adhere to: EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 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 G. L.

c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

A total amount of $500,000 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. Funds must be used to support robust participation in the project.

Funds may also be used for: Stipends for staff support and time Professional Development related to curriculum implementation Costs to support an inclusive and equitable process to gather input from staff, students, families, higher education partners, and other community stakeholders and institutional partners Upon Approval – 6/30/2026 Office of College, Career, and Technical Education Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.

m. Eastern on the date due. Competitive grant applications are considered submitted when the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step 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 and time listed in the RFP. All responses must be submitted through proper steps and received by the due date/time 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. The FY26 0426 CTE Frameworks and Competency Based Implementation 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$) New organizations that do not have an established LEA with DESE skip to Step 3. Step 1: Establish and assign proper roles before the grant due date/time.

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 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. Step 2: Submit the grant through all LEA steps in GEM$.

There are three LEA steps a competitive grant must be submitted through by the due date and time to be considered for funding: LEA Fiscal Representative Approved LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved Competitive grant applications are considered submitted once the grant application is submitted by the Superintendent or their designee through the "LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved" step 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 and time listed in the RFP. Please plan accordingly. 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. Step 3: (If applicable) New organizations request temporary organization access.

New organizations are entities that have not been established as an LEA 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. Temporary Access will need to be created by DESE before you can then assign the proper roles and submit the grant as outlined in Steps 1 and 2.

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. Last Updated: July 23, 2025 This link will take you to an external website which may or may not be accessible and WCAG 2.

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