FY2020: Increased Access to Quality Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs

Fund Code: 528

Purpose:

The purpose of this new state competitive grant is to increase access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs.

Priorities:

1. Supports the creation of new afterschool and summer programs and/or existing programs to serve more students most underserved (including but not limited to students designated as economically disadvantaged, English language learners, special education, in foster care and living in rural areas);

2. Offers engaging and innovative hands-on programming that builds core academic knowledge and skills, as well as social and emotional competencies;

3. Offers enrichment activities that will help to close opportunity gaps;

4. Creates a culturally responsive and welcoming environment; and

5. Partners with schools and/or community-based organizations.

Eligibility:

Massachusetts public school districts, non-public schools, and public and private community-based organizations (CBOs) are eligible to apply for funding.

Please Note: All applicants other than public school districts, cities or towns must demonstrate the capacity to administer through:

• Proven fiscal responsibility as demonstrated, for example, through an annual audit; and
• Previous experience with similar amounts of funding from government (state/federal/local), foundation, or private grants.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $3,300,000 is available through the state After-School and Out-of-School Grants line item 7061-9611.

See Part III for more details on requirements by category type. Applicants may apply for up to two sites/schools in the same or different categories:

• Category A (New Sites): up to $80,000 per site

• Category B (New Sites — *Deeper Learning School Partnership): up to $95,000 per site (*See additional expectations in Additional Information section below)

• Category C (Existing Sites — To Serve More Underserved Students): up to $50,000 per site

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Applicants may apply for up to two sites/schools to serve students in grades PK-12. Funds must be used in alignment with the purpose and priorities outlined and as described in a budget, budget narrative, and required program information that is submitted to the Department's Office of Student and Family Support. Important Note: Students being served by these funds cannot be charged to participate. Additionally, funds cannot be used to pay students to participate in these programs.

Project Duration:

School Year: Upon Approval – 6/30/2020 (for school year programming)
Summer: 7/1/2020 – 8/31/2020 (for summer programming).
Funding may also continue in Year 2 (9/1/2020–8/31/2021) and Year 3 (9/1/2021–8/31/2022) pending state budget appropriation, submitting of all required documents and successful utilization of prior funding, and awarding of funds after a continuation grant process. Pending sufficient appropriation, Year 2 and Year 3 amounts are projected to be up to 25% higher than Year 1 award to account for the longer grant period.

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Allison Smith
781-338-3232

Required Prior to Grant Submission:

Department Notification of Intent to Apply by Thursday, October 24, 2019, via email noting the applicant name and the number of sites/schools to be included in application to asost@doe.mass.edu.

Important Note: Submission of the Intent to Apply does not obligate the applicant to submit a proposal.

Date Due:

Intent to Apply: Thursday, October 24, 2019
Full Proposals: Thursday, November 7, 2019

Required Forms:

 

Part I — General Program Unit Signature Page (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

Part I — School Year

Part I — Summer

Part II — Budget Workbook

Part III — Required Program Information

Assurance

Note: Applicants must submit a separate signature page (Part I) and budget (Part II) for both school year (upon approval – 6/30/2020) and summer (7/1/2020 – 8/31/2020) activities/expenditures.

Additional Information:

• Questions Webinars: Due to the competitive nature of this grant program, all questions about the Funding Opportunity documents and process will be addressed during Grant Question Webinars. Any questions must be emailed to asost@doe.mass.edu (with the subject: FC 528 Question) and then a date(s) and time(s) for webinar(s) will be confirmed after question(s) are received. If you would like to listen in on any webinars even if you did not submit a question, please also email asost@doe.mass.edu (with subject FC 528 Webinars).

• A grant-end report on the funded activities and outcomes of the program(s), including a section specifically on lessons learned that could be shared with others, is requested by the Department by September 30, 2020.

• The Assessment of Program Practices Observation Tool (APT-O) must be utilized during both the school year and summer programs to inform areas for improvement. A free online training on how to use the tool will be available to any recipients not yet trained.

• For Category B — *Deeper Learning School Partnership only recipients will be required to:

  • Be a school district or an organization with a strong partnership with school district;
  • Have students attend a minimum of 2 times per week during school year and 80% of summer program;
  • Send 2–3 staff (including at least one school day teacher) working in the afterschool/summer program to either a Service-Learning (SL) OR Project-Based Learning (PBL) trainings if none previously attended and implement SL or PBL in programming;
  • Utilize the Survey of Academic and Youth Outcomes (SAYO) for all students served by these funds. This may include a school day teacher (T) version so a plan with school principal/administration for pre and post survey collection should be addressed in Part III. A free online training course will also be provided to recipients on the SAYO tool; and
  • Include a DESE assigned outside observer/assigned coach on APT-O team to gain additional insight on areas for improving program quality.
  
  

• For Grant Management processes, including the Request for Funds, information about requesting funds beyond the initial payment, and additional details on managing your grant, see this webpage: EdGrants: User Guides and Information.

Submission Instructions:

Email one (1) complete set of all required documents, in their original Word or Excel formats (i.e., not converted to a PDF), and one scanned version of both Part I documents (school year and summer), to asost@doe.mass.edu by the date noted above.

Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget in EdGrants and upload required documents. Once selected, grant recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: October 2, 2019