The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is accepting applications for the FY2027 Supporting Arts & Cultural Vitality Grant, Fund Code 0718. The program supports school and district teams using DESE’s Arts & Cultural Vitality Index for program review, action planning, implementation, and monitoring.
Funding and deadline
Approximately $80,000 is available statewide. Applications must be received by Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern. DESE states that proposals must complete the required GEM$ approval steps by the deadline.
Eligibility
All Massachusetts public school districts, charter schools, and collaboratives may apply. An LEA may have a single school or a group of schools participate. Competitive priority is given to new applicants and to districts and schools in the strategic transformation region.
Eligible and ineligible costs
Funds may support stipends for Arts & Cultural Vitality team members and limited grant-related administrative supplies. Staff team members may receive up to $1,000 each for approximately 8 to 10 hours of work outside regular school hours, subject to district policy and contract language. Applicants may also request up to $225 for grant-related administrative costs.
Funds may not be used to purchase technology such as iPads or headphones, data systems, instructional resources, costs of hiring/onboarding a new position, contractor procurement costs, or existing staff positions.
Program requirements
Applicants must select one of four tracks: initial Arts & Cultural Vitality review, action planning, implementation/monitoring, or advanced implementation with mentoring. At least one grant facilitator must participate in required virtual Professional Learning Community sessions. DESE also requires a grant facilitator to attend the virtual launch meeting and exit interview, and the program includes specified review/action-plan deliverables.
Submission, forms, and contacts
Applications are submitted through GEM$. Required application content includes the FY27 Fund Code 0718 application questions and Superintendent Agreement. The three required LEA workflow steps are Grantwriter Submitted, LEA Fiscal Representative Approved, and LEA Superintendent/Chief Executive Approved. New organizations needing temporary GEM$ access must contact DESE at least five business days before the deadline. Grant questions are due to Dawn M. Benski at Dawn.M.Benski@mass.gov by September 21, 2026; DESE states that responses will be posted by September 25.
Atlas fit analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. School Funding Score: 90/100. N9+ Fit: 0/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The grant expressly excludes technology and contractor-procurement costs, so a Nonagon N9+ or Dr. Miltie vendor pathway is not legitimate for this funding opportunity. Dr. Miltie, LLC is not an eligible direct applicant. No mandatory non-Federal match is stated in the controlling RFP.
Official source
https://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2027/0718/