Massachusetts FY27 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Supporting Additional Learning Time (SALT) Grant
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has opened Fund Code 0647 for new 21st Century Community Learning Centers sites. This competitive federal grant supports school-year and summer out-of-school-time programming designed to deepen academic and social-emotional learning through engaging, project-based and enrichment experiences.
Key facts
- Issuer: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Fund code: 0647.
- Intent to apply deadline: October 2, 2026. Submission of the intent does not obligate an applicant to submit a proposal.
- Application deadline: October 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern.
- Total projected funding: Approximately $4,000,000.
- Per-site funding: Up to $225,000 for sites serving approximately 40-60+ students per day, or up to $190,000 for sites serving approximately 25-39 students per day.
- Optional transportation: Up to $25,000 per site for eligible school-year and summer transportation costs.
- Minimum federal award: $50,000.
- Submission: DESE Grants for Education Management System (GEM$), through the LEA Superintendent / Chief Executive Approved stage by the deadline.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include Massachusetts public school districts, public charter schools, and collaboratives serving qualifying low-income student populations. Community-based organizations, other public or private entities, and consortia may also apply when they have a demonstrated partnership with an eligible school or schools. Applicants in communities or partner schools with at least 40% low-income enrollment may apply for up to two sites; applicants in the 20-39% range may apply for one site.
Competitive priority is given to schools in the Accelerated Achievement Initiative and Strategic Transformation Region, with additional priority consideration for Title I schoolwide schools and applicants that have not previously received 21st CCLC funding.
Allowable use and material restrictions
Funds may support a required full-time 21st CCLC coordinator, site facilitators, staff salaries or stipends, staff planning time related to the funded program, partner or provider contracts, instructional materials, an education liaison, and other approved implementation expenses. Materials and supplies are limited to no more than 10% of funds per site, and up to 30% of the total award may support the coordinator position. Funds must supplement, not supplant, existing spending and may not support required remedial or summer-school models, current salaries, current transportation, or instructional materials already used during the school day.
Receipt of funds is contingent on applicable Massachusetts legal compliance, including the MBTA Communities Act where applicable. Awarded sites must meet ongoing attendance, low-income, special-education and English-learner participation requirements and employ a full-time program coordinator.
Important application integrity rule
DESE states that applicants may use artificial intelligence as a supportive thought partner for brainstorming and outlining, but it should not replace original human authorship. Direct copying and pasting from generative AI is strongly discouraged, and AI use must be clearly disclosed and properly cited. Atlas-assisted package work for this opportunity should therefore preserve applicant authorship and human oversight rather than substitute generated prose for the applicant’s own final narrative.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 94/100. School Funding Score: 98/100. This is a large, current statewide education opportunity with multi-year continuation potential, substantial per-site awards, strong school/community partnership pathways, and clear priority populations.
N9+ Fit Score: 10/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100. The grant can support partner/provider contracts and limited materials, but it is fundamentally an out-of-school-time learning program rather than a healthcare equipment opportunity. Any health, wellness, telehealth, diagnostics, or clinical-learning component would need to be programmatically justified, age-appropriate, and allowable within the approved enrichment model. Dr. Miltie is not a natural direct applicant.
Authoritative source
DESE FY2027 Fund Code 0647: 21st Century Community Learning Centers SALT Grant