Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST), Including Summer, Select Grant Programs

If interested in receiving updates on any afterschool and out-of-school time, including summer, funding opportunities, please sign up here: Afterschool/Out-of-School Time and Summer Funding Opportunities.

American Rescue Plan (ARP) — Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) — Federal Funds

The Department anticipates releasing several funding opportunities from the required 1% set asides from ARP-ESSER funding (approximately $36 million) for afterschool and summer programming. It is anticipated this funding will cover FY2022, FY2023, FY2024 and a portion of FY2025 (through September 2024). Currently, we are anticipating the following funding opportunities and will update this as more information becomes available:

• ASOST-Rebound (ASOST-R) Subgrant Grant: A competitive grant (Fund Code 409) to fund several regional or statewide non-profit entities with the ability to subgrant and provide wraparound support to afterschool and out-of-school time (ASOST) providers. The overall goal of this grant is then to help ASOST programs rebound and strengthen quality of services from impacts of COVID-19 and thereby improve learning and social-emotional outcomes and access to enrichment opportunities for youth impacted as well.
• Summer School/Learning Program Expansion & Engagement Grant: A competitive grant (Fund Code TBD) geared mainly to school districts to support the development, expansion and engagement of high quality, comprehensive summer school/learning programs to address both the academic and social-emotional impacts of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Summer Programming Reimbursement — State Funds

• The COVID-19 Summer Programming Reimbursement grant is a one-time grant program (Fund Code 437) funded through state line item 7061-0027. The purpose of this state non-competitive grant is to reimburse public school districts for the costs of summer school and other summer programming (for expenses or obligations incurred April-September 2021) intended to remedy and reverse COVID-19 pandemic-related learning loss. If more funding is requested than available, priority will be given to reimburse costs first for any services related to mental health issues facing students returning to in-person after remote or hybrid learning, including efforts to improve student socialization skills weakened by isolation, ensuring access to social services, mental health, and behavioral health resources to address the potential trauma and other effects of the pandemic on students.

Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Quality Enhancements (ASOST-Q) — State Funds

The Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Quality Enhancements (ASOST-Q) Grant Program (Fund Code 530) is a program funded through state line item 7061-9611. The purpose of this grant program is to enhance ASOST programs and services to improve the academic, physical, social, and emotional wellness of public and non-public school-age youth during the school year and the summer months. The priorities of the grant are to improve the quality of 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); and
• Regional and statewide professional development (PD), which may include networking opportunities, for other ASOST providers (Category B — Regional or Statewide PD/Networking).

Increased Access to Quality Afterschool and Summer Programs — State Funds

The Increased Access to Quality Afterschool and Summer Learning programs (Fund Code 528) is also funded through state line item 7061-9611. The purpose of this grant program is to increase access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs. The priorities of the grant are to:

• Support 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);
• Offer engaging and innovative hands-on programming that builds core academic knowledge and skills, as well as social and emotional competencies;
• Offer enrichment activities that will help to close opportunity gaps;
• Create a culturally responsive and welcoming environment; and
• Partner with schools and/or community-based organizations.

Development and Expansion of High Quality Summer Learning Programs — State Funds

The Development and Expansion of High Quality Summer Learning Programs (Fund Code 527) is funded through state line item 7061-9814. The purpose of this grant program is to increase access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs. The priorities of the grant are to:

• Supports the development of a new summer program or the expansion of an existing summer program by adding more students and/or time;
• Offers at least 150 hours of programming with a focus on academic and college and career readiness skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, perseverance and other social and emotional areas;
• Offers engaging and innovative hands-on programming;
• Offers enrichment activities that will help to close opportunity gaps;
• Connects to evidence/researched-based programming;
• Creates an anti-racist, culturally responsive and welcoming environment; and
• Collaborates with a variety of organizations and leverages cost-sharing partnerships with local districts, private funders and non-profit institutions.

Contact Information:

Allison Smith
via asost@mass.gov or allisonward.smith@mass.gov
or (781) 338-3010 or (781) 338-3232

or Donna Pisaturo
via asost@mass.gov or donna.m.pisaturo@mass.gov
or (781) 338-3010 or (781) 338-3322

or Rachelle Engler Bennett, Associate Commissioner
via achievement@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3010

Office of Student and Family Support
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant St., Malden MA 02148-4906

Last Updated: October 19, 2021