FY2022: Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Rebound (ASOST-R) Subgrant

Fund Codes: 409/410

Purpose:

The purpose of this federal competitive grant is 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) programs. The overall goal of the grant is then to help ASOST programs rebound and strengthen the 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.

Priorities:

• For regional or statewide grantees to provide ongoing support, training, technical assistance, coaching, professional development, evaluation, fiscal management and oversight to ASOST subgrantee programs.
• For regional or statewide grantees to make subgrant awards to ASOST programs that meet the following criteria:
  • Programs that are operated by community-based organizations (CBOs); however, districts may be eligible if need is demonstrated that other funding available (particularly Fund Code 119 ARP-ESSER awarded directly to districts) is insufficient or being utilized for other initiatives (APR-ESSER is the American Rescue Plan Act: Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief III);
  • Programs in communities or where at least 25% of students served are considered economically disadvantaged and/or are in schools in chronically underperforming status;
  • Programs that specifically aim to support historically marginalized students, including but not limited to, English learners, students on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), students who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), students experiencing homelessness, in foster care and/or who are migratory;
  • Programs that offer engaging and interactive programming that support deeper learning and access to enrichment opportunities;
  • Programs that offer mental health services and a focus on social and emotional learning outcomes;
  • Programs that incorporate applicable elements of the Department's Acceleration Roadmap;
  • Programs that promote culturally responsive and anti-racist practices that contribute to creating a welcoming environment;
  • Programs that engage and leverage knowledge and strengths of students, families, staff and community to inform programming design and decisions;
  • Programs that offer comprehensive programming at least 3–5 days a week; and
  • Programs that have or want to strengthen partnerships with local schools and/or other community-based organizations.

Eligibility:

Massachusetts based non-profit organizations. Applicants must demonstrate substantial experience working with and providing training and technical assistance to ASOST programs as well as demonstrate they are able to meet all federal funding requirements and fiscally manage a high volume of subgrants.

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

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

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.425 — American Rescue Plan - Elementary & Secondary Education Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER)

Funding:

Approximately $15,000,000 – 20,000,000 total available, with approximately $4,000,000 – 6,000,000 million to be awarded for Year 1.

In order to ensure geographic and program diversity, the Department anticipates total grant awards for the full project duration (Years 1–3) of approximately $3,000,000 – 8,000,000 to several entities.

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:

At least 94% of funds must be awarded as subgrants to ASOST programs. Up to 6% of award may be used for overall administration and support provided to awarded ASOST subgrant programs. The recommended range of yearly awards for each subgrant is $15,000–100,000, depending on size, scope of program and duration (e.g., if a summer component is included).

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 of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Department's) Office of Student and Family Support. Indirect and equipment costs are not allowed. Allowable uses of funds include but may not be limited to the following: staff costs for administration and oversight of subgrants, staff and/or contractual costs for professional development/training/technical assistance and evaluation activities, supplies/materials (including technology needed), and mileage reimbursement for staff for on-site visits.

Note the following include allowable costs for subgrants: program coordination and programmatic staff costs (including increasing rates/incentives and costs for recruitment efforts as needed to fill staffing gaps), scholarships for economically disadvantaged students/families on voucher wait lists or unable to afford programming, transportation, materials/supplies for program activities, food/snacks for participants, mental/behavioral health services/counselors, social-emotional learning supports, school/community partner specialist, family engagement liaison and enrichment/extracurricular opportunities.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 08/31/2022 (Year 1) and pending budget appropriation, continuation of funding will be available for Upon Approval (no earlier than 09/01/2022)–8/31/2023 (Year 2) and Upon Approval (no earlier than 09/01/2023)–8/31/2024 (Year 3). Eligibility for funding in years 2 and 3 is based on meeting grant requirements and submission of year-end report and continuation grant.

Program Unit:

Student and Family Support

Contact:

Allison Smith

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3232

Date Due:

Tuesday, November 30, 2021
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)

• Part II — Budget Details

• Part III — Required Information

• Assurances

Additional Information:

• Due to the competitive nature of this grant program, all questions about the Funding Opportunity documents and process will be addressed during the Grant Information Webinar and Q & A session(s). To receive links to webinars and to send questions, please email asost@mass.gov .
• Link to additional Department ARP-ESSER information (Note: This link is mostly geared towards school districts but includes other general ARP-ESSER funding information).

Awarded recipients must also do the following as attested to in the assurances document:

• Work with the Department to avoid overlapping of catchment areas and consistency when awarding subgrants to ensure broad and diverse geographical representation across the state;
• Engage in periodic check-ins with the Department and collaborate with other ASOST-R recipients, current ASOST/21^st CCLC grantees and broader ASOST field when applicable;
• Work directly with Department's evaluation provider to develop a plan for data/evaluation activities utilizing a selection of Afterschool Program Assessment System (APAS) tools that best fit overall goals of grant recipient and subgrant ASOST programs as well as participate fully in any needed research activities to evaluate overall ASOST-R grant program;
• Submit year-end data/evaluation reports for each fiscal year of funding (yearly/periodic data/evaluation reports must also be required of subgrants);
• Award subgrants through a competitive, open-bid process following 2 CFR 200.333 requirements of pass-through entities (sample debarment form );
• Maintain copies (available to the Department upon request) of subgrant applications, risk assessments, scoring rubrics and budget information (with same line item information as Part II — Budget Details) as well as subgrant agreements (sample provided ).
• Report to the Department on sub-awardees, sub-recipient monitoring and fiscal procedure.

Submission Instructions:

Submit the following required information by email on the due date noted above to asost@mass.gov :

• Excel version of the Part II — Budget
• Word document of the Part III — Program Information
• Scanned copy with original signatures of both the Part I — Signature Page and the Grant Assurances

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: January 26, 2022