FY2027: Adult Education and Family Literacy Services
Funds Massachusetts Community Adult Learning Centers to provide adult education, literacy, and family literacy services, focusing on skill-building, credentials, and educational equity for eligible adults.
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Due Dates: May 28, 2026: Full proposal submission deadline | June 30, 2027: FY2027 Non-LEA Indirect Cost Rate application deadline
Funding Amounts: ~$55 million total available; typical grant duration is 1 year (FY2027); Outstationing grants in Bristol region: $18,000 each; funding subject to state/federal appropriations.
Summary: Supports Massachusetts Community Adult Learning Centers in providing adult education, literacy, and family literacy services to eligible adults, with a focus on skills, credentials, and educational equity.
Key Information: FY2027 is a continuation year—only FY2026 grantees from the FY24–28 cycle are eligible to apply.
Description
This grant program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), funds Community Adult Learning Centers (CALCs) to deliver adult education, literacy, and family literacy services across Massachusetts' 16 local workforce development areas. The program includes English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), Adult Diploma Programs (ADP), and family literacy initiatives.
The grant aims to:
- Improve literacy and employment skills for eligible adults,
- Help parents support their children's education and family economic opportunity,
- Facilitate attainment of secondary credentials and transitions to postsecondary education or training,
- Support immigrants and English language learners in developing English proficiency and civic understanding,
- Reduce educational disparities through inclusive, high-quality programming and collaboration with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners,
- Support innovative service delivery, including in-person and remote instruction,
- Fund outstationing services to assist with intake, assessment, and referrals at local career centers.
FY2027 is the fourth year in a five-year funding cycle (FY2024–FY2028) and is a continuation grant open only to organizations that were awarded and successfully performed in FY2026.
