FY27 0342 Fair Share Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Services

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is soliciting competitive grant applications for FY27 Fair Share Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Services to expand the Public Adult Education system's capacity, with applications due September 18, 2026.

Applicants must consult the full grant posting at https://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2027/0342/ for programmatic eligibility, funding amounts, project duration, required forms, and detailed submission instructions. All current DESE funding opportunities and updates are maintained at https://www.doe.mass.edu/Grants/current.html.

The source documents establish mandatory terms and conditions that applicants must acknowledge upon submission. All materials and deliverables developed using Commonwealth funds become DESE property unless otherwise noted in the grant agreement, with potential posting on the DESE website and distribution beyond the grant period. Applicants must obtain necessary permissions or licenses for DESE to use any intellectual property incorporated into deliverables. Digital deliverables must comply with the Commonwealth's Digital Accessibility Standards, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 levels A and AA, and vendors must cooperate with digital accessibility testing at no additional cost.

DESE is authorized to conduct Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background checks on all vendor staff or subcontractors who will work with students, in educational settings, or at DESE offices. Vendors must notify the Department of staffing changes and any issues affecting personnel eligibility. Completion of CORI checks is a final requirement prior to contract execution.

DESE reserves the right to reject any or all applications, award based on proposal quality and service acceptability, request personal interviews prior to execution, require proposal modifications, and award multiple grants to different vendors to ensure service availability. Procurement follows Commonwealth of Massachusetts laws and regulations overseen by the Operational Services Division, consistent with federal procedures under 34 CFR Part 74.40-8 and Part 80.36.