FY2023: Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) — Continuation

Fund Codes: 528 (School Year) / 530 (Summer)

Purpose:

The goal of this state funded continuation grant program is to enhance the quality of and increase access to afterschool and out-of-school time (ASOST*) programs in order to improve the academic, physical, social, and emotional wellness of school-age youth during the school year and the summer months.

*ASOST is inclusive of before-school, after-school, vacation and summer programming hours beyond school time.

Priorities:

The main priorities for this grant are to improve the quality of and access to ASOST programs and services by:

• Supporting activities that enhance one or more of the quality criteria areas outlined in the Guidelines for Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-School Time (Category A — Quality Enhancements);
• Increasing access to quality ASOST programs for students who have previously been underserved including but not limited to students considered as low-income, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), English learners, special education, migrant, experiencing homelessness, in foster care and/or living in rural areas (Category B — Increased Access); and
• Providing regional and statewide professional development (PD), which may include networking opportunities, for other ASOST providers (Category C — Regional or Statewide PD/Networking).

Eligibility:

Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 FC528-530 recipients

Funding Type:

State Line item 7061-9611

Funding:

Approximately $10,295,000 is projected to be available through state After-School and Out-of-School Time Grants line item 7061-9611, pending appropriation.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding allocations are anticipated to be the same as FY2023 awards and 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:

Funds must be used to support activities that enhance quality and/or increase access to programs and services as outlined in this Funding Opportunity RFP.

Budget expenditures may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Staff and coordinator salaries related to the quality enhancements;
• Professional development (PD) activities that meet Massachusetts Standards for PD;
• Stipends for staff involved in the delivery of services;
• Activities to promote family engagement;
• Additional costs associated with serving students with disabilities and/or students who are English learners;
• Activities to promote linguistically sustaining practices/cultural responsiveness/anti-racism and equity;
• Activities to support program evaluation;
• Program materials and supplies related to quality enhancement; and
• Transportation. (Please note: vehicles may not be purchased with these funds.)

General notes on fund use (applicable to applicants in all categories):

• Funds from this grant may not be used to support tuition directly to families for individual participants; and
• Indirect and equipment costs are not allowable.

Project Duration:

Upon approval (no earlier than 9/1/2023) — 8/31/2024 and pending budget appropriation

Note: School Year (FC528) includes afterschool and any planning or summer services from Upon Approval – 6/30/2024. Summer (FC530) covers services from 7/1/2024 – 8/31/2024.

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Allison Smith

Phone Number:

781-338-3232

Date Due:

Friday, September 29, 2023

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form) (Note: Include both if application includes summer funding)
  • FC 528 School Year
  • FC530 Summer if application includes summer funding
  
  

• Part II — Budget FC 528 and FC 530

• Part III — Required Program Information

• Addendum — Grant Assurances

Additional Information:

The following, in addition to submitting a year-end grant/data report (details will be provided to grantees), are required of all recipients in each respective category:

Category A/B: Quality Enhancements & Increased Access

• Implement Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) required program evaluation observation tool to be used to support continuous program improvement.

Category C: Regional or Statewide PD/Networking

• Provide PD that may include networking opportunities to meet identified needs of the ASOST field, including but not limited to those receiving ASOST Category A or B funding, and provide the Department with a schedule and registration information that the Department will distribute to ASOST grantees and other ASOST providers (as appropriate).

Submission Instructions:

See below based on timeframe (school year and/or summer) for funds requested.

Important Note on School Year 2023-2024 and Summer 2024 funds:
Applicants must complete the Application Submission in EdGrants by entering the School Year FY2024 budget and attach all other required forms listed in this RFP to the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission.

These applicants must also attach the Summer 2024 (from FY2024 state funds but processed under FY2025 in EdGrants) proposed budget in the Attachments List.

Applicants will be notified in Spring of 2024 when to enter in the Summer 2024 (FY2025) portion of the budget. Summer only applicants should email forms to asost@mass.gov by due date but not enter anything in EdGrants until notified.

Important Notes on EdGrants:
In EdGrants, grantees are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

• FY24 School Year 528 Organization's Name.

All required forms should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List of the Application Submission. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Executive Director's signature.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides and Information.

Please note: It is up to the grantee to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit the grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls document to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023