Deeper Learning Implementation Grant

Deeper Learning Implementation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Amount: Up to US $16,000
Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Summary

The Deeper Learning Implementation Grant, offered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, aims to enhance educational outcomes for underserved students through targeted funding and support. It encourages schools to engage in collaborative practices and professional development, fostering deeper learning. Eligible public and charter schools can apply for stipends to support instructional priorities and improve leadership systems. This initiative focuses on achieving sustainable changes in teaching methodologies and enhancing student engagement through innovative learning strategies.

Overview

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides leadership, oversight, funding, support, and accountability for the Commonwealth's approximately 400 school districts that educate close to 1 million public school children each year. We also oversees programs that serve 20,000 adult learners each year. Deeper Learning Implementation Grant Purpose The vision of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is that all students, as a result of their public education, attain academic knowledge and skills, understand and value self and others, and engage with the world so that they can be curious and creative, shape their path, feel connected, and be empowered. To achieve this vision, we believe schools and systems must create conditions, goals, and outcomes to ensure all students, especially those historically underserved, regularly engage in Deeper Learning. In these schools, all students have consistent access to grade-level work that is relevant, real-world, and interactive so that all students demonstrate mastery, identity, and creativity. In partnership with the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning team, leadership teams will collectively engage around a set of shared goals to advance deeper learning in their schools and districts. Leaders will reflect, plan and make explicit shifts to support school-wide coherence. Teams will identify one or two instructional priorities that are aligned to Deeper Learning, as outlined in the Deeper Learning Guidance Tool and DESE Classroom Observation Tool , and use twelve-week implementation cycles to create and implement action plans, set goals and benchmarks, and monitor progress. As part of action planning, schools will leverage and make explicit shifts to at least one instructional system or structure; for example, shifting the use of teacher collaborative time, instituting stronger coaching and feedback cycles, etc. to support and sustain school-wide progress. This is a targeted grant that will extend and support the work of these schools and districts to further strengthen the effectiveness and impact of implementation cycles to advance growth toward their instructional priorities. The funds may be used for stipends for professional development or collaborative activities (e.g., teacher team meetings, leader planning meetings, etc.) that happen before or after school and to support growth toward the instructional priorities identified with the Kaleidoscope team through the Deeper Learning Implementation Network. Priorities DESE seeks to award Deeper Learning Implementation Grants to entities that: Have been accepted into the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning's Deeper Learning Implementation Network in SY25-26 Have instructional priorities informed by data Are committed to improving one or more instructional leadership systems or structures (i.e., teacher collaborative time, professional development, instructional leadership teams, coaching, observations and feedback) to support whole school change that will last beyond the Deeper Learning Implementation Network Have consistent time for professional learning, and a commitment and plan to improve the effectiveness and quality of this time to support progress on the instructional priorities Use teacher collaborative time to practice planning routines, such as the DESE collection of Instructional Planning tools, to internalize, adapt, and skillfully implement high-quality instructional materials or to document and discuss instructional materials Are committed to building teacher capacity and leadership to skillfully implement high-quality instructional materials with culturally and linguistically sustaining practices in service of deeper learning Are committed to identifying desired outcomes for the use of funds, monitoring the impact of the use of funds, and providing feedback to ensure funds are used to advance growth on the instructional priorities Are willing to participate in progress monitoring and program evaluation

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. This grant is available to any public and charter school and district accepted into the Deeper Learning Implementation Network via application during SY25-26. The following are allowable costs: Stipends for professional development, collaborative activities, and/or curriculum and planning work that occurs before or after contractual school hours and that support growth towards the instructional priorities (To ensure complete use of proposed funds, we encourage applicants to ensure there is interest in and commitment to engaging in proposed stipend activities within their school.)Contracted services or partnerships: Up to 50% of funds may be used for professional development that supports the instructional priorities; must happen within the grant period ending June 30, 2026Up to 10% of funds can be allocated for the cost of instructional materials that support progress toward the instructional priorities

Ineligibility

The following are not allowable costs and will not be funded by this grant: Food and refreshmentsTravelStaff salariesMaintenance/repairsPurchase of technology, computer software, or hardware