Geo-Regional Experts for Multilingual Students.
NOTE: The application due date for this program has passed.
Funding Description
The Regional English Learner (EL) Lead Agencies program is a competitive grant opportunity for county offices of education (COEs) to lead regional efforts that improve outcomes for multilingual learner students. The selected COEs per the competitive bid process will be referred to as the Geo-Regional Experts for Multilingual Students (GEMS). The GEMS will serve as regional EL lead agencies as required by California Education Code (EC) Section 52073.4, by designating a full-time expert to provide sustained, data-driven support to local educational agencies (LEAs).Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants | Other organizations or agencies |
|---|---|
| Required Eligibility Criteria | To be considered, applicants must demonstrate expertise in the California EL Roadmap Policy, ability to build the capacity of COEs within the defined geographic region, demonstrate capacity to provide sustained, data-driven technical assistance, regional leadership ability, ability to coordinate and calibrate assistance with LEAs. |
| Other Eligibility Considerations | Not applicable |
| Eligible Grade Level(s) | Not Applicable |
| Eligible Age Level(s) | Not Applicable |
Funding
| Legal Authority | Assembly Bill No. CHAPTER 8 121 SEC. 50. Section 52073.4. |
|---|---|
| Source / Type | State / Grant |
| State Fiscal Year | 2026-27 |
| SACS Resource / Revenue Codes | 7810 / 8590 |
| Total Available | $2,000,000 |
| Recipient Amount | Unavailable |
| Match Requirement | No |
| Allocation Formula | Unavailable |
Important Dates
| Date Application Available | November 21, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Due Date | January 14, 2026 |
| Expected Notification Date | March 2, 2026 |
Additional Information
| Application | RFA-26: GEMS [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r28/gems26rfa.asp] |
|---|---|
| Background | Geo-Regional Experts for Multilingual Students [http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ml/gemsprogram.asp] |
| Fiscal | Unavailable |
| Other | The 2026-27 award starts on July 1, 2026, and ends on September 30, 2027. |
Contacts
| Program | Language Policy and Leadership Office, 916-319-0845, GEMS@cde.ca.gov |
|---|---|
| Fiscal | Division Support Office, Multilingual Support Division, GEMS@cde.ca.gov |
| Division | Multilingual Support Division, 916-319-0938 |
Last Modified:
December 1, 2025
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