The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering the FY27 Intensive Assistance Grant (IAG) Renewal, Fund Code 0539, a continuation award supporting high-quality instruction at the schools in the IAG renewal cohort.
Funding and deadline
Approximately $2.9 million is available in FY27 through federal School Improvement Grant and Title I funds, subject to availability. Completed applications must be received through GEM$ by Monday, November 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern.
Eligibility
Eligibility is restricted to schools that received FY26 IAG funding during the 2025-26 school year and that are located in districts currently served by the Massachusetts Statewide System of Support. DESE links a current School Eligibility List from the governing FY27 page. Applicant action should be checked against that current FY27 eligibility list before submission.
Allowable and unallowable use
Expenditures must closely align with the identified school’s instructional priority and directly support implementation of the proposed intervention. A detailed FY27 budget is required. DESE expressly lists contract buyouts and capital expenses as unallowable. Technology, computer software, and hardware are also unallowable unless the applicant makes a compelling case that they are necessary to fully implement the proposed intervention. Goods and services cannot be procured before DESE receives and approves a substantially approvable application.
The award is federally funded under CFDA 84.010 and is subject to UGG/2 CFR 200 and applicable EDGAR requirements. Grantees must also satisfy the stated Massachusetts MBTA Communities Act certification condition. The governing FY27 page does not state a mandatory non-Federal match or cost share.
Submission and contacts
Applications are submitted through GEM$. LEA submission requires an established grant writer for the fund code, LEA fiscal review and approval, and Superintendent/Chief Executive sign-off, with forms handled as directed in GEM$. The program contact is Michael Seymour at michael.j.seymour@mass.gov and 781-338-3514.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. School Funding Score: 94/100. N9+ Fit: 0/100. The program is focused on instructional improvement and generally excludes technology unless a compelling intervention-specific case is established, so Atlas is not forcing a remote physical-examination use case. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100.
Official source: Massachusetts DESE — FY27 IAG Renewal, Fund Code 0539.