Massachusetts FY2027 Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Federal Entitlement Grant — Fund Code 0262
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is accepting FY2027 applications for the Early Childhood Special Education Program Federal Entitlement Grant, Fund Code 0262. The IDEA Part B Section 619 program supports eligible children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 through special education and related services in the least restrictive environment.
Key facts
- Issuer: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- Fund code: 0262.
- Federal assistance: CFDA 84.173A, IDEA Part B Section 619.
- Deadline: September 30, 2026. DESE’s governing page does not publish a clock time or time zone.
- Submission: Grants for Education Management System (GEM$).
- Eligibility: LEAs with current, approved Special Education Conditions of Assistance: IDEA Part B Funding Certifications.
- Funding: Formula entitlement allocations. DESE states FY27 allocations will be posted when available; no current dollar allocation is published on the governing page.
- Project period: Upon approval through September 30, 2028, with liquidation through November 30, 2028 and final expenditure reporting due by December 31, 2028.
Material requirements and restrictions
Funds support special education and related services for eligible children ages 3 through 5. LEAs must satisfy IDEA maintenance-of-effort requirements and maintain state and local effort. Applicable IDEA equitable-services and proportionate-share requirements remain in force. LEAs may voluntarily use up to 15% of IDEA Part B funds for Coordinated Early Intervening Services, while LEAs identified with significant disproportionality must reserve 15% of their IDEA Part B funds for Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services.
Required submission items include signed FY27 Federal Grant Assurances signature pages and annual Special Education Conditions of Assistance: IDEA Part B Funding Certifications. GEM$ roles for the grant writer, LEA fiscal representative, and Superintendent or Chief Executive must be established before submission.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 80/100. Strong education-funding relevance for Massachusetts LEAs serving preschool children with disabilities. N9+ Fit Score: 15/100. Any technology or equipment fit is conditional and must be tied directly to allowable early-childhood special-education services 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 0262 Early Childhood Special Education Federal Entitlement Grant.