FY2022: Massachusetts 21^st Century Community Learning Centers — Exemplary Programs Grant

Fund Code: 646

Purpose:

Supported with federal funds, the purpose of this competitive Exemplary Grant Program is to foster equitable access to culturally responsive, academically enriching programming — by enhancing a statewide network of high quality 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) programs that will serve as mentors and resources to new and existing programs.

Priorities:

• Effectively engaging students and families with identities and cultures -that have been historically marginalized in educational settings — including but not limited to students who are economically disadvantaged; students who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); first generation students; emerging bilingual students; students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and LGBTQ students.

• Strengthening student learning by combining content knowledge with learning experiences that emphasize the skills necessary to apply that knowledge successfully so that all students can be successful in school, empowered to make informed choices in life after high school, and prepared for college and careers.

• Implementing high interest and high engagement interactive and relevant teaching and learning strategies during the school year and summer.

• Leveraging assessment data to design programming that is tailored to the needs and interests of students and demonstrates continuous program improvement efforts.

• Contributing to the development of skills and knowledge that support a career pathway for students.

• Developing systems of support that engage students and families in ways that are culturally relevant, and leverage the knowledge, strengths, and assets of students, families, educators, and the community.

• Developing sustainable models for supporting additional quality learning time.

Key Grant Requirements:

Out-of-School Time [OST] Applicants must continue to offer at least 400 hours of comprehensive programming during the school year (SY) and summer. Enrolled students are not expected to attend all 400 hours; however, it is expected that students will attend the programming an average of a minimum of 80–100 hours per year.

Expanded Learning Time [ELT} applicants must continue to offer a minimum of 300 expanded learning program hours by:

• Providing a school schedule that has increased the total number of hours required for all students by at least 180 hours over the State mandated requirements;

and

• Providing a minimum of 120 hours of summer programming for a select population of students who could benefit from additional engaging opportunities during the summer. Please note the total hours for SY and summer must add up to at least 300 hours.

See Addendum A for additional requirements and priorities for all applicants.

Eligibility:

Applicants may apply for the following types of grants:

• Promising Site Grants — For sites that received a fiscal year 2019 (FY2019) Fund Code (FC) 647 grant.

• Practitioner and Demonstration Site Grants Site Grants — For sites that received an FY2019 Fund Code (FC) 646.

• All eligible sites must also have received corresponding continuation grants and have met all grant and eligibility requirements (detailed in Addendum A).

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.287

Funding:

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

• Applicants are eligible to apply for up to a maximum of 85% of their FY2021 grant award or $50,000 per site (whichever is more).
• [OST] Applicants may apply for up to an additional $10,000/site to help support transportation costs.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate need for the additional funds, and, part of the local grant match supports these efforts and costs.
• Transportation funds may only be used to support transporting students home during the school year (SY) program, and to and from the program during the summer. For students who have transportation in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) it is the responsibility of the district to support those costs. These funds may not be used for transportation for field trips. Please see the Addendum A for further details regarding field trip expenses.
• [ELT] Applicant sites may apply for up to an additional $20,000 to support the required 120 hour summer program. Please refer to the grant requirements section for more details.
• [ELT] Preference for funding will be schools that include Project Based Learning (PBL) in the school/student schedule.
• Funding is contingent upon federal appropriation. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change.

Fund Use:

Funds must be used solely to support, enhance, and/or provide related programming and activities that address the Purpose, Priorities, and Key Requirements, detailed above, and may include salaries, stipends, contracts, instructional materials, and other expenses associated with implementing additional time.

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

• No more than 10% may be used for program materials.
• Budgets may not include any Indirect Costs.
• [ELT] Funds for the longer school-day/year may not be used to supplant existing teacher salaries; however, funds may be used for stipends or salaries related to providing academically enriching programming and/or services that support the grant priorities.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 09/01/2021) – 08/31/2022

Eligibility for continued funding in years two and three (FY2022 and FY2023) will be based on evidence that the program has met the key requirements, grant priorities (including maintenance of attendance levels for [OST]), and evidence that the grantee is working towards sustaining the program beyond the grant period.

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Karyl Resnick

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3515

Date Due:

Friday, June 18, 2021

See the Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

Required Forms:

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

• Excel budget/budget narrative for school year and summer activities/expenditures

• Part IIIA/B — District/School/Site Specific Information

• Addendum B — Grant Assurances

• Addendum C — Federal and State Evaluation Requirements

• Addendum D — Program Income [OST Only]

Additional Information:

• Addendum A — Additional Grant Requirements and Priorities

• Addendum E — Eligible Entities and Maximum Amounts

• Addendum F — Exemplary Programs Grant Requirements, Expectations/ & Elements

• Addendum G — Risk Factors Rubric

• Addendum H — Sample Memorandum of Understanding

Information gathered by the Department through data collection will account for approximately 10% of the overall score. Additionally, points will be deducted based on risk assessment data. Refer to Addendum G for risk assessment data points.

Additional Submission Details

The narrative pages (Part IIIA/B) must be numbered with a one inch margin. The font size should be no smaller than 10-point Arial type. It is in the best interest of the applicants to ensure that the proposal is easy to read, is developed logically in accordance with grant priorities, and addresses each question fully.

Recipients will be required to utilize the Survey of Academic and Youth Outcomes (SAYO) for all students served by these funds.

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.

Grant award notification: The Department will provide notice to all applicants when grant awards are finalized and will post a list of funded grantees on the Department's Grant Awards webpage. All applicants not selected for funding will be provided with information about the process for requesting feedback about their application. See the Department's formal appeal process for more information.

Submission Instructions:

Email one complete application to cclc@doe.mass.edu

Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget, Part I and Part IIIA and IIIB, and Addendum -B in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: May 14, 2020