FY27 Strengthening English as a Second Language Programming and Services

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is soliciting competitive grant applications for FY27 Strengthening English as a Second Language Programming and Services, with applications due July 30, 2026.

The grant supports school districts in providing English learners with high-quality ESL curriculum and increasing the number of qualified ESL teachers. Applicants must consult the full grant posting on the DESE Grants Management website at https://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2027/0182/ for complete programmatic eligibility requirements, funding details, project duration, required forms, and submission instructions.

All deliverables developed with Commonwealth funds become DESE property and may be posted on the DESE website or distributed beyond contract duration. Vendors must obtain all necessary permissions and licenses for intellectual property incorporated into deliverables to enable DESE's full use of contract materials. Digital assets must meet the Commonwealth's Digital Accessibility Standards based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 levels A and AA. Vendors must cooperate with accessibility testing at no additional cost and provide Commonwealth access to digital products for evaluation.

DESE is authorized to conduct Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background checks on all vendor staff and subcontractors who will work with students, in educational settings, or at DESE offices. Vendors must notify DESE of staffing changes and any issues affecting personnel eligibility, with CORI check completion required as a final step before contract execution. All vendors must comply with Commonwealth of Massachusetts procurement laws and regulations overseen by the Operational Services Division and federal procedures outlined in 34 CFR Part 74.40-8 and Part 80.36.