FY2021: Summer and Vacation Learning Program Grant

Fund Codes: 114/333/238

Purpose:

The purpose of this new competitive federally funded grant is to support local school districts, charter, and career vocational technical education schools efforts to develop, expand, or enhance high quality, in-person, virtual, or hybrid (combination of in-person and virtual) summer (summer 2020) and/or school vacation learning programs during the 2020-2021 school year. Grant funds may also be used to support the development and implementation of school year weekend learning programs to be implemented during the academic year.

Option A: Summer Learning Programs
Through the use of federal funds, eligible applicants will implement high quality, summer learning programs via one of the following delivery models: in-person, virtual, or hybrid (in-person and virtual), that provide educational opportunities and intentionally monitors, promotes, and reinforces the health and well-being of students and staff. While these high-quality summer learning programs should be accessible to all students, particular emphasis should be on students who were academically behind prior to closures, students who missed core instruction during closures, and students who are at risk socially or emotionally. Additionally, these high-quality summer learning programs must have:

• Clearly defined delivery models, which describe how instruction will be delivered (in-person, virtual synchronous, virtual asynchronous, hybrid, or analogue)
• Clearly defined process for identifying the standards to be covered, including prerequisite content standards identified for success in the next grade level for ELA/literacy, and content essential for credit recovery for high school students.
  • Instructional materials should be high quality, standards-aligned curriculum and resource materials. DESE: CURATE
• Clearly defined process for identifying and conducting outreach to students most in need of these supports, including students with disabilities and English learners to support (re)engagement.
• Cleary defined plans to support to support students with disabilities and English learners.
• Clearly defined plans to incorporate social and emotional learning and engagement for sustained attendance and participation.
• Clearly defined schedules describing how students will engage in the hybrid summer learning programs (i.e., schedules types by grade level, student subgroups, and duration of program).

All applicants proposing to implement in-person or hybrid (combination of in-person and virtual) summer learning programs must closely review and implement the Initial Guidance on Summer School message released on June 4, 2020 for detailed health and safety information.

Special note: applicants proposing to implement school year programs must implement programs in alignment with most the recent health and safety guidance.

Option B: School Vacation Learning Programs
Eligible applicants may indicate its intent to implement school vacation learning programs in December 2020, April 2021 and/or February 2021. Applicants should provide a brief description of the planned academic and enrichment vacation learning programs, including when the learning programs will be implemented, grade spans, how students will be identified to participate, and the anticipated operation costs.

Option C: School Year Weekend Learning Programs
As part of this grant application, eligible applicants may indicate its intent to implement academic weekend learning programs during the 2020-2021 academic year. Applicants should provide a brief description of the planned academic and enrichment weekend learning programs, including the months of implementation, grade spans, how students will be identified to participate, sample schedule, and anticipated program costs.

Eligibility:

School districts, charter and career vocational technical education schools

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.425 and CFDA 84.010 and State

Funding:

Grant proposals should range between $10,000 – $12,000 per option. 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:

Funds should be used to support the implementation of high quality, summer learning programs, vacation and/or school year weekend learning programs. Approved applicants are expected to use these funds in accordance with state and federal laws.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 8/31/2021*

*Fund Code 238 state funds can PAC into FY22 (7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021) if needed, but FY22 summer budgets (7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021) will be required.

Program Unit:

Center for Strategic Initiatives

Contact:

csi@mass.gov

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3217

Date Due:

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

Required Forms:

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

• FY2021 Upon Approval through August 31, 2021

Part II — Budget Workbook

• FY2021 Upon Approval through August 31, 2021

Part III — Required Program Information Form

Part IV — Grant Assurances

Submission Instructions:

Email all required forms in their original Word or Excel formats (e.g., not converted to a PDF; with the exception of the signed Part I documents which should be signed, scanned and sent as PDF), to csi@mass.gov . Note: Electronic signatures are required on the emailed versions.

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

Last Updated: June 16, 2020