Massachusetts FY2027 IDEA Federal Special Education Entitlement Grant — Fund Code 0240
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is accepting FY2027 applications for the IDEA Part B Section 611 Federal Special Education Entitlement Grant, Fund Code 0240. The program supports eligible students with disabilities ages 3 through 21 through special education and related services.
Key facts
- Issuer: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- Fund code: 0240.
- Federal assistance: CFDA 84.027A, IDEA Part B.
- Deadline: September 30, 2026. DESE’s governing page does not publish a clock time or time zone.
- Submission: Grants for Education Management System (GEM$).
- Eligibility: Public school LEAs with current, approved Special Education Conditions of Assistance: IDEA Part B Funding Certifications.
- Funding: Formula entitlement allocations. DESE states FY27 allocations will be posted when available; no current dollar allocation is published on the governing page.
- Project period: Upon approval through September 30, 2028, with liquidation through November 30, 2028 and final expenditure reporting due by December 31, 2028.
Material requirements and restrictions
LEAs must meet IDEA maintenance-of-effort requirements and use the funds to supplement rather than supplant state and local special education funding. Applicable LEAs must reserve proportionate-share funds for equitable services for parentally placed private-school and home-schooled students. LEAs may voluntarily use up to 15% for Coordinated Early Intervening Services. LEAs identified with significant disproportionality must reserve 15% for Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services. In FY27, LEAs with a Needs Intervention special education determination for school year 2024-2025 must reserve at least 2% of their Fund Code 0240 allocation for Making Money Matter targeted improvement activities.
Required submission items include signed FY27 Federal Grant Assurances signature pages and annual Special Education Conditions of Assistance: IDEA Part B Funding Certifications. GEM$ roles for the grant writer, LEA fiscal representative, and Superintendent or Chief Executive must be established.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. Strong education-funding relevance for Massachusetts public-school LEAs. N9+ Fit Score: 18/100. Any technology or equipment fit is secondary and must remain strictly within allowable IDEA special-education costs and the LEA’s approved program needs. Dr. Miltie is not an eligible direct applicant because this is an LEA entitlement program. New applicant outreach is held because the controlling DESE page does not publish the deadline clock time or time zone, preventing an exact 48-hour cutoff from being established under Atlas rules.
Authoritative source
Verified against the current DESE governing RFP. DESE FY2027 Fund Code 0240 IDEA Federal Special Education Entitlement Grant.