Funding opportunity summary
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is administering FY2027 Special Support Earmarks (Fund Code 1192) for public school districts and other entities specifically designated in the FY2027 Massachusetts state budget. This is a state-funded legislative earmark program, not a competitive grant open to general applicants.
Funding and award structure
- Funding available through Fund Code 1192: approximately $1,910,566.
- Funding type: State-funded legislative earmarks.
- Award structure: Funding is tied to the recipients and purposes identified in state budget line item 7010-1192.
- Match/cost share: The governing DESE page does not state a general matching requirement. Any recipient-specific conditions in the budget language and DESE instructions remain controlling.
Who is eligible
Eligibility is limited to the public school districts and other entities listed for the applicable earmarks in the Massachusetts state budget. Organizations that were not designated for an earmark do not have a general statewide application path under this fund code.
Application deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but no later than Friday, October 23, 2026.
Important deadline control: DESE does not publish a clock time or time zone on the governing Fund Code 1192 page. Recipients should confirm the exact submission cutoff with DESE rather than assume one.
Project period and access to funds
The project period is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. DESE states that an earmark may carry a July 1, 2026 start date if the recipient submits a timely application. Funds cannot be drawn down until DESE receives a substantially approvable application submission, and costs cannot extend beyond the project-period end date unless the applicable budget language provides otherwise.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the Grants for Education Management System (GEM$). At the LEA level, DESE requires the appropriate Grant Writer role for the fund code, LEA Fiscal review/approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign-off. Required forms must be uploaded, retained locally, or sent to DESE as directed by the individual form and governing instructions.
Atlas relevance
The governing 7010-1192 educational-improvement earmarks include initiatives relevant to school health, behavioral health, student wellness, clinical and health-career education, and related student-support services. Applicability is recipient-specific and must be matched to the exact earmark language and DESE instructions.
Because the recipients are predetermined by the state budget, this opportunity does not create a general direct-applicant path for Dr. Miltie or for organizations that were not designated for an earmark.
Official sources
- Massachusetts DESE — FY2027 Special Support Earmarks, Fund Code 1192
- Massachusetts FY2027 state budget — line item 7010-1192
Last verified September 17, 2026.