FY2019: After-School and Out-of-School Time Quality Enhancements (ASOST-Q)

Fund Code: 530

Purpose:

The goal of this competitive state funded grant program is to enhance out-of-school time (OST*) 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.

*OST refers to after-school and out-of-school time programming (including vacations, weekends, before-school, and summer).

Priorities:

The main priorities for this grant are to improve the quality of OST 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 OST providers (Category B — Regional or Statewide PD/Networking).

Competitive Priority (for Category A) will be given to:

• Proposals developed collaboratively by public and non-public schools and private community-based programs. In order to receive this competitive priority, a letter of support from the partnership entities not serving as the lead applicant must be included. The letter should provide specific details on the collaboration.

• Proposals from Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licensed programs requesting enhancement(s) specifically to help improve MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) rating. In order to receive this competitive priority, applicants must have a granted QRIS application at Level 1 or above, with an open application for the next QRIS Level that was submitted prior to the posting of this Funding Opportunity RFR. Applications for the next QRIS Level (2, 3 or 4) are considered to be "submitted" if they have one of the following statuses: Final Submit, EEC Review in Progress, or EEC Review Complete. (Note: If programs are unsure of their QRIS status, they may they may email EECQRIS@Mass.Gov to receive their QRIS status — allow 3–5 business days for a response. Applicants must include their EEC program name and EEC program number in their email requests.)

Eligibility:

Massachusetts public school districts, non-public schools, and public and private community-based organizations (CBOs) with existing OST programs are eligible to apply for funding.

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, for example, through an annual audit; and
• Previous experience with similar amounts of funding from government (state/federal/local), foundation, or private grants.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $2,000,000 is projected to be available for these grants. The final total amount available is subject to the state budget appropriation.

An entity may submit one application under only one of the following categories for:

• Category A: Up to $25,000 to support program quality enhancements (during the school year and/or summer) at one or more existing OST sites. [Note: Applicants electing the Service-Learning professional development enhancement option(s) may apply for up to $27,500 or $30,000 to cover the $2,500 or $5,000 in additional costs in contractual services for the Department selected trainer. See Part III for specific details.]
• Category B: Up to $25,000 to support professional development, which includes networking opportunities, for other OST providers.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding is to become available it will be distributed under the same guideline as listed in the initial RFP document.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used to support activities that enhance 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 enhancement;
• Professional development (PD) activities that meet Massachusetts Standards for PD ;
• Stipends for professionals and students 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;
• Program materials and supplies; 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 for individual participants;

• Not more that 15% of total funds requested may be used to support program administrative costs (e.g., program director, bookkeeping, secretarial, etc.); and

• Indirect costs are not allowable.

Project Duration:

Upon approval (no earlier than 09/01/2018) – 08/31/2019 and pending budget appropriation, continuation of funding will be available in fiscal year 2019-2020 (FY20) for a total grant period of two years. Eligibility for funding in year two is based on meeting grant requirements and submission of year-end report and continuation grant.

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Allison Smith

Phone Number:

781-338-3232

Intent to Apply:

Due: Thursday, July 26, 2018

Applicants should use this link to submit to an Intent to Apply. Submitting the intent to apply is strongly encouraged but not required.

Date Due:

Thursday, August 16, 2018

See the Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

Required Forms:

 

Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form)

Part I — School Year

Part I — Summer

Part II — Budget

Part III — Required Program Information

Addendum — Grant Assurances

Additional Information:

Throughout the duration of the grant, the following in addition submitting a year-end grant report are required of all recipients of the respective category:

Category A: Quality Enhancements

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

Category B: Regional or Statewide PD/Networking

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

Submission Instructions:

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

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

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

Last Updated: June 22, 2018