FY2022: Massachusetts 21^st Century Community Learning Centers — Supporting Additional Learning Time Grant (for new sites)

Fund Code: 647

Purpose:

The purpose of this federally funded competitive grant program is to support the implementation of academically enriching programming during Out-of-School Time (OST) and/or Expanded Learning Time (ELT- a longer school day/year for all students) that helps to close proficiency and opportunity gaps, increases student engagement, and contributes to a well-rounded education. This grant furthers the four themes of Deeper Learning, Holistic Support & Enrichment, Innovation and Evidence Based Practices, and the state as partner, outlined in Commissioner Riley's Our Way Forward report.

Priorities:

Using more time to strengthen student learning by implementing innovative, interactive, relevant, and engaging teaching and learning strategies during the school year and summer that meets the specific academic, social emotional learning, and developmental needs of students.

Using data effectively in designing programming that addresses student needs and interests and in demonstrating continuous program improvement efforts.

Developing systems of support that are culturally relevant, and leverages the knowledge, strengths, and assets of students, families, educators, and the community.

Offer families of students served by the 21st CCLC opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children's education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

Developing sustainable models for supporting additional quality learning time.

Note: please refer to Addendum A for additional competitive priorities.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are school districts, cities and towns, community-based organizations (CBOs), other public or private entities, or a consortium of two (2) or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities that:

• Propose to serve/partner with schools with ≥ (at least) 15 percent of students who are ED, as indicated at the Department's School and District profiles page or through other documented evidence and determined by the District/School need of extra support.

Additional eligibility parameters:

• Entities that were a previous recipient of a 21^st CCLC grant must have met all grant requirements during their funding cycle(s) including timely submission of required state and federal data.

Agencies and organizations other than a school district, city, or town:

• Must demonstrate the application is submitted in full partnership with an eligible school/district;
• must complete Addendum D — Documentation of Organizational Capacity, which includes demonstration of capacity to fiscally administer and manage the grant program, a required letter of support, and MOA for data sharing from the school/district.

Note: please refer to Addendum A for additional eligibility requirements.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.287

Funding:

A total of approximately $3,000,000 is projected to be available 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.

An applicant may apply for:

Model 1 (OST):

• Up to $200,000 per site — (For sites that will serve approximately 40–60+ students per day).
• Up to $150,000 per site — (For sites that will serve approximately 25–39 students per day).
• Plus, up to an additional $10,000/site to help support transportation costs if able to demonstrate need.
• Please note all sites must meet attendance requirements detailed in Part IIIB.

Model 2 (ELT):

• School Year — $500 per pupil based on the current (SY21) enrollment at the proposed school(s).
• Summer — up to an additional $20,000 to support a 120 hour (minimum) summer program.

The grant request should support the enhancement or addition of engaging academic enrichment and/or intervention as described under the priorities section.

• Plus, up to an additional $5,000/site if transportation is needed to support summer programming.

Note transportation funds may only be used to support transporting students home (OST Only) during the SY and for to and from the program during the summer (ELT & OST). These funds may not be used for field trips. Please see additional information for further details regarding field trip expenses. Applicants must demonstrate that other funds are not available to support transportation costs.

Per federal requirements, the minimum grant award amount is $50,000

Fund Use:

Funds may be used to support programming costs including staff salaries, stipends, staff planning time as it relates to the grant, contracts, instructional materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other expenses associated with implementing grant funded programming.

No more than 10% of the funds may be used for materials and supplies, and no more than 25% for program administration. It is also recommended that up to 5% of the budget be set aside to support effective family engagement efforts. This may include a part-time Family Engagement/Outreach Liaison if one does not currently exist

These funds may not be used to supplant existing, currently funded costs, which would otherwise be funded (in the absence of these grant funds) from other sources (e.g., current salaries, current transportation costs, instructional materials already being used during the school day, etc.).

Project Duration:

Upon approval (no earlier than 07/01/2021) – 08/31/2022

Pending budget appropriation, four (4) years of continuation funding will be available, for a total grant period of five (5) years (FY2022–FY2026). Note in years two and beyond the funding period will begin no earlier then 9/1 and conclude on 8/31 of that year.

Continued funding in years two (FY2023) and three (FY2024) will be contingent upon implementation of grant-required activities and submission of a continuation grant that demonstrates the following:

• the ability to use data to inform and support continuous improvement;
• maintenance of grant-funded program attendance levels (for OST and summer programming);
• annual submission of required information including mid-year and end-of-year report/reapplication.

In years four (FY2025) and five (FY2026) grantees will receive an estimated 5% reduction in their original grant award. Continued funding will be contingent upon meeting the above noted requirements along with:

• Evidence that the grantee, at reduced funding, is able to continue to maintain and sustain the same program attendance levels and program offerings.
• Evidence the grantee is working toward sustaining programming beyond the grant period; and
• completion of a risk assessment demonstrating that grant requirements have been, on average, met or exceeded across the initial three years of funding.

Program Unit:

Student and Family Support

Contact:

Karyl Resnick

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3515

Date Due:

Full Proposals Due: Friday, April 16, 2021

See the Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

Electronic proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due and hard copies postmarked by the due date.

Required Forms:

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

• Part II Budget Workbook

• Part IIIA/B — Required Program Information

• Addendum A — Additional Grant Requirements

• Addendum B — Grant Assurances

• Addendum C — Documentation of Consultation with Non-Public Schools

• Addendum D — Documentation of Organizational Capacity

• Addendum E — Federal & State Evaluation Requirements and SAYO Outcomes Selection

• Addendum F — Sample Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Note applicants may use the sample or create on of their own.

Additional Information:

Applicant must submit one Part IIIA District/Agency information and a Part IIIB for each individual proposed School/Site included in the application.

Questions and Information Webinar: 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 sessions.

• Applicants may not request funding for the same school/site under both Model 1 (OST) and Model 2 (ELT).
• Dates for the 21st CCLC Webinar and Q & A Sessions for new sites may be found on the online registration page or the 21^st CCLC web page.
• Guidance for completing Grant Budget Request — Section IIB of the Grants for Schools: Getting Them and Using Them, A Procedural Manual provides guidance for completing the required budget workbook.

Submission Instructions:

Email one complete application to cclc@doe.mass.edu and mail one complete unstapled hard copy of Parts IIIA and B for each applicant site, excel budget pages and completed Addendums B-E plus signed MOA to:

• Karyl Resnick
  Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
  21st Century Community Learning Centers Program
  75 Pleasant Street
  Malden, MA 02148

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: March 2, 2021