Reading by grade 3 opens doors to lifelong learning. Early literacy tutoring focuses on building foundational skills including phonological awareness, phonics knowledge and decoding skills to help students become independent fluent readers in the early grades. To help all students become confident, fluent readers, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is accepting applications for DESE-sponsored early literacy tutoring.
Eligible public school districts, collaboratives and charter schools may receive free tutoring services for students in grades K–3, with priority for first grade if selected.
A limited pool of funding is currently available, with the potential for additional funding pending state appropriation. DESE is gathering information now to identify districts and schools that are ready to implement tutoring and can move quickly as funding becomes available.
As part of this opportunity, districts may also indicate whether they are open to having one or more schools participate in the BOOST Pilot Cohort (see details in the application). In SY26-27, the pilot will include high-dosage tutoring for Grade 1 students and a small pilot of lower-dosage tutoring for Grade 2 students, implemented with separate groups of students. This pilot will inform a larger multi-year effort to strengthen early literacy outcomes statewide.
Application Deadline: Friday, June 23, 2026
Before You Begin
Please read these important details carefully before submitting your application:
- This is an application that will be reviewed for selection. Providing complete and detailed responses will help DESE accurately assess your district or school’s readiness.
- Applications must be fully completed to be considered. Submissions with missing information will not be reviewed.
- Only one application per district, collaborative or charter school should be submitted. The District Administrator or a designated School Leader must complete and submit the form on behalf of the district.
- Tutoring matches will be made based on each vendor’s minimum site requirements to ensure quality, compliance, and consistency. Matching decisions will consider both instructional and logistical factors, including your preferred tutoring format, model, and estimated student count.
Eligibility Requirements
- District, collaborative or charter school uses a DESE approved screening tool(s) in grades K-3
- District, collaborative or charter school agrees to the tutor’s administration of DIBELS 8th edition to participating students, pre and posttest for 10-12 week tutoring programs and pre, mid-point, and post for full year tutoring programs
- Curriculum Data Collection: As part of the tutoring initiative, districts, collaboratives and charter schools must complete Curriculum Data Collection for ELA/literacy, Mathematics, Science and Technology/Engineering, and History/Social Science. Your ELA/literacy curriculum data for grades K–3 will be used to score your application based on the use of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) for the full core literacy block, including foundational reading skills. You can view or update your curriculum data via the Curriculum Data Report and access instructions and guidance on data collection on the DESE website.
- Universal screening data sharing: Districts, collaboratives and charter schools receiving this opportunity must agree to participate in research efforts, including providing student-level assessment data from the approved early literacy screening assessment that is administered in all schools during the award period. DESE will request that data be submitted by June 30 of each year awarded. DESE will analyze the data collected for research purposes, including evaluation of this program. Analyses will comply with state and federal confidentiality laws.
The Department will select districts and charter schools to receive early literacy tutoring based on criteria including:
- Quality of the early literacy model in alignment with the statewide goals of this initiative
- Demonstrated need for ELA/Literacy support
- Prior experience implementing tutoring
- Schools in the Accelerating Achievement initiative
Note: All districts and schools must apply to participate, including those that participated in the 2025–26 school year. Priority will be given to districts seeking to continue or build on prior participation in DESE-sponsored tutoring. Need Help or Have Questions?
If you have questions, you’re welcome to join our weekly office hours by registering for Early Literacy Tutoring Office Hours, or email us at LiteracyandHumanities@mass.gov.