The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has opened the FY2027 Massachusetts 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Supporting Additional Learning Time (SALT) Grant for New Sites, Fund Code 0647. This federally funded ESSA Title IV, Part B opportunity supports school-year and summer out-of-school-time programming designed to deepen academic and social-emotional learning through engaging project-based learning and enrichment.
Funding and deadlines
DESE projects approximately $4,000,000 in total funding. Applicants may request up to $225,000 per site for sites serving approximately 40-60+ students per day or up to $190,000 per site for sites serving approximately 25-39 students per day. Optional transportation funding of up to $25,000 per site may be requested for eligible home transportation during the school year and transportation to and from summer programming. Federal rules set a minimum award of $50,000.
A required Intent to Apply is due October 2, 2026. Full proposals are due Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern. Applications are submitted through DESE’s Grants for Education Management System (GEM$) and are considered submitted only after the Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved step is completed.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Massachusetts public school districts, public charter schools, and collaboratives serving communities with at least 20% low-income students. Community-based organizations, other public or private entities, and consortia may also apply when they have a demonstrated partnership with an eligible school meeting the low-income threshold or equivalent research-based quantitative evidence. Applicants in communities with at least 40% low-income students may apply for up to two school/sites; applicants serving communities with 20-39% low-income students may apply for one site.
Competitive priority is given to schools in the Accelerated Achievement Initiative and Strategic Transformation Region, Title I schoolwide-eligible schools, and applicants that have not previously received 21st CCLC funding. Previous recipients that are not currently funded must explain what will be different in the proposed program.
Allowable and restricted costs
Funds may support the required full-time 21st CCLC coordinator, site facilitators, staff salaries and stipends, planning time related to grant programming, partner/provider contracts, instructional materials, an education liaison, and other approved program implementation expenses. Materials and supplies are capped at 10% of funds per site, and up to 30% of the total award may support the coordinator position. DESE recommends setting aside up to 5% for family engagement.
Funds must supplement, not supplant, existing spending. Funds may not support required academic/remedial or summer-school-like models, current salaries, current transportation costs, or instructional materials already used during the school day. Optional transportation funds do not cover specialized transportation required by an IEP or transportation to off-site locations or field experiences. Applicants requesting indirect costs must have a DESE-approved indirect cost rate.
The current FY27 public page does not state a mandatory applicant match or cost-share percentage. Federal UGG/2 CFR 200, EDGAR, and applicable federal fiscal and procurement requirements govern the award. The FY27 page does not separately establish equipment or technology as an allowable category, so Atlas does not infer N9+ allowability from prior-year materials; any equipment or technology purchase should be confirmed against the current GEM$ budget instructions and grant addenda before procurement.
Program requirements, forms, addenda and Q&A
Awarded sites must employ a full-time coordinator. At least 50% of students served must be low income, and sites must meet stated representation requirements for students with disabilities and English learners. DESE references Addendum A – Additional Requirements and Competitive Priorities and Addendum E – Documentation of Organizational Capacity for additional requirements. All required program information and final forms are submitted through GEM$. New organizations without an established DESE organization in GEM$ must request temporary organization access at least five business days before the application deadline.
DESE will hold an informational webinar on September 24, 2026 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM and Q&A sessions on October 6, 8, 13, and 15 from 10:00 to 10:30 AM. Applicants should rely on the current DESE RFP page, GEM$ materials, posted addenda, and Q&A guidance for controlling requirements.
Atlas fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 94/100. School Funding Score: 98/100. N9+ Fit: 10/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100. The program is a strong Massachusetts school and community learning funding vehicle, but the current FY27 rules do not establish a legitimate remote-exam technology pathway, so Atlas is not forcing an N9+ fit.
Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100. The RFP permits certain other private entities to apply, but only with a demonstrated partnership with an eligible Massachusetts school and subject to the organizational-capacity requirements in the current addenda. Dr. Miltie does not presently have a verified qualifying school partnership or 21st CCLC operating role for this opportunity, so no direct application should be advanced on the current record.
Contact
Program contact: Karyl Resnick, karyl.a.resnick@mass.gov. Official source: Massachusetts DESE FY2027 Fund Code 0647.