2023-2025 Advanced Course Access (ACA) Program

Application in PDF | Application in Word

To increase equity in access to advanced courses, including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual-credit courses, for high school students who currently have very limited or no access to advanced courses, through online, distance, blended, or other evidence-based learning methods. 

The grant period is for two years, from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2025 A budget for Year One must be submitted with this application, together with a two-year budget narrative. Funding beyond Year One will be contingent upon the State Legislature appropriating funds, satisfactory performance in the previous year, and timely receipt of the annual report.

Aid to Localities Enacted Budget Bill (S.8003-D, A.9003-D)

Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)-led consortia and the Big 5 public school districts (New York City, Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo).

• BOCES-led consortia must include, at minimum, one BOCES and six (6) Rest of State (RoS) districts.
• If more than one BOCES is part of a consortium, one BOCES must lead the consortium. The non-lead BOCES would not count as one of the required six (6) Rest of State districts.
• Non-BOCES Component school districts are eligible to join a BOCES-led consortium.
• BOCES-led consortia may include any RoS districts, including non-component districts and districts that are components of other BOCES.
• Any district can only participate in one consortium.
• Big 4 School Districts may submit individual proposals or join BOCES-led consortia, but the BOCES must be the lead applicant.

$2,250,000 per year will be awarded.
The maximum annual award amount is $500,000.

Funding after Year One is contingent upon the State Legislature appropriating funds, satisfactory performance in the previous year, and timely receipt of the annual report. Please see the Funding and Awards Section of this RFP for additional information.

Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Participation Goals Pursuant to Article 15-A of the New York State Executive Law for this grant is thirty percent (30%) of each applicant’s total discretionary non-personal service budget each year of the grant. See the M/WBE Participation Goals section and Appendix G of this RFP for further information and forms for completion.

A complete electronic application in Microsoft Word (.docx) or portable document format (.pdf) must be sent to ACAgrant@nysed.gov by no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 23, 2023. 

Applicants must also mail in one original and two copies of the signed FS-10 budget.  These materials must be postmarked by the application deadline, June 23, 2023.

Mailing address for the FS-10:
New York State Education Department 
Office of Educational Design & Technology
89 Washington Avenue Room 860 EBA
Albany, NY 12234
Attn:  Brielyn Smith

All questions must be submitted by email to ACAgrant@nysed.gov by close of business on May 26, 2023. A complete list of all Questions and Answers will be posted here no later than close of business on June 9, 2023.

Application in PDF | Application in Word