Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Geo-Regional Experts for Multilingual Students.


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
Related Content
Recently Posted in Funding
  • Res-25: Title IV (updated 12-Dec-2025)
    Funding results web page for Title IV, Part A for fiscal year 2025-26.
  • Res-24: Title IV, Part A (updated 12-Dec-2025)
    Funding results page for Title IV, Part A for fiscal year 2024-25.
  • Res: 25-21st CCLC Supplemental Funding (added 11-Dec-2025)
    FY 2025-26 21st CCLC Supplemental Funding Results.
  • Funding Results (added 11-Dec-2025)
    Achieving Success in Positive Interactions, Relationships, and Environments (ASPIRE) FY 2025-26 Funding Results.
  • Res-25: Title III, Imm (updated 11-Dec-2025)
    Funding results web page for Title III, Immigrant Students for fiscal year 2025-26.

  • RFA-26: FFVP Grants 2026–27 (updated 10-Dec-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division, through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), will grant funds to eligible elementary schools. The grant period is July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027.
  • RFA-26: GEMS (updated 10-Dec-2025)
    Request for Applications, Fiscal Year 2026-27 for the Geo-Regional Experts for Multilingual Students (GEMS) program.
  • 2025 Special Education ADR Grant Funding Results (added 10-Dec-2025)
    Funding information for the Special Education Alternate Dispute Resolution grant for fiscal year 2025.
  • Res-23, Title III, EL (updated 10-Dec-2025)
    Funding results page for Title III, English Learners for fiscal year 2023-24.
  • Res-25: CCEE SSRP (updated 10-Dec-2025)
    Funding results web page for the CCEE Secondary School Redesign Pilot Program.