FY2023: Afterschool and Out-of-School Time (ASOST)

Fund Codes: 528 (School Year) / 530 (Summer)

Purpose:

The goal of this state funded competitive grant program is to enhance the quality of and increase access to afterschool and out-of-school time (ASOST*) programs in order to improve the academic, physical, social, and emotional wellness of school-age youth during the school year and the summer months.

*ASOST is inclusive of before-school, after-school, vacation and summer programming hours beyond school time.

Priorities:

The main priorities for this grant are to improve the quality of and access to ASOST 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);

• Increasing access to quality ASOST programs for students who have previously been underserved including but not limited to students considered as low-income, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), English learners, special education, migrant, experiencing homelessness, in foster care and/or living in rural areas (Category B — Increased Access); and

• Providing regional and statewide professional development (PD), which may include networking opportunities, for other ASOST providers (Category C — Regional or Statewide PD/Networking).

Competitive priority will be given to applicants from:

• Districts and schools in chronically underperforming status; and
• Programs with collaborative partnerships between public or private schools and community-based organizations.

Eligibility:

Massachusetts public school districts, non-public schools, and public and private non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) organizations with experience running ASOST programs (Category A and B) or providing professional development to Massachusetts ASOST programs (Category C) are eligible to apply.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $10,500,000 is projected to be available through state After-School and Out-of-School Time Grants line item 7061-9611, pending appropriation.

An entity may submit One application in up to Two different categories for both the school year and/or summer the following:

• Category A: Up to $50,000 for quality enhancements at one ASOST program/location or $75,000 for two or more ASOST program programs/locations. (Note: If requesting funding for both school year and summer, these can be considered two separate programs.)
• Category B: Up to $50,000 if proposing to serve 10-49 additional students, $75,000 for 50-75 additional students and $100,000 for 76-100+ additional students. (Note: If requesting funding for both school year and summer, the additional students added to each can be duplicated when projecting number of additional students.)
• Category C: Up to $30,000 to support regional or statewide professional development, which includes networking opportunities, for other ASOST providers.

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 must be used to support activities that enhance quality and/or increase access to 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 enhancements;
• Professional development (PD) activities that meet Massachusetts Standards for PD;
• Stipends for staff 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;
• Activities to promote cultural responsiveness/anti-racism and equity;
• Activities to support program evaluation;
• Program materials and supplies related to quality enhancement; 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 directly to families for individual participants; and
• Indirect and equipment costs are not allowable.

Project Duration:

FC 528 Upon Approval (no earlier than 9/30/2022) – 06/30/2023

FC 530 7/1/2023 – 8/31/2023

School Year (FC528) includes afterschool and any planning or summer services from Upon Approval – 06/30/2023. Summer (FC530) covers services from 7/1/2023 – 8/31/2023.

Pending budget appropriation, continuation of funding will be available in fiscal year 2024 for a total grant period of two years. Eligibility for funding in year two (Anticipated 9/1/2023 – 8/31/2024) is based on meeting grant requirements and submission of year-end report and continuation grant application.

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Allison Smith

Phone Number:

781-338-3232

Date Due:

Friday, September 9, 2022

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form) (Note: Include Part I for both School Year (FC528) and Summer (FC530) if application includes funding requests for both.)
  • FY23 Fund Code 528 School Year Part I
  • FY24 Fund Code 530 Summer Part I
  
  

• Part II — Budget

• Part III — Required Program Information

• Addendum — Grant Assurances

Additional Information:

The following, in addition to submitting a year-end grant/data report (details will be provided to grantees), are required of all recipients in each respective category:

Category A/B: Quality Enhancements & Increased Access

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

Category C: Regional or Statewide PD/Networking

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

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 attach the Part I, Part III and Addendum in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: August 19, 2022