FY2023: Massachusetts 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) - Supporting Additional Learning Time Grant (SALT) — 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 increases student engagement and contributes to a well-rounded education.

Priorities:

• Supporting 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.
• Effectively engaging students and families with identities and cultures that have been historically marginalized in educational settings — including but not limited to students from families who are low income; students who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); first generation students; emerging multilingual students; students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) students.
• Strengthening student learning during the school year and summer by combining content knowledge with interactive, relevant, and engaging 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.
• 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 leverage the knowledge, strengths, and assets of students, families, educators, and the community.
• Implementing effective family engagement strategies with families of students served by the 21^st CCLC — that are culturally responsive, collaborative, and demonstrates an understanding of different languages, norms, and values with a goal of providing opportunities for meaningful engagement in their children's education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
• Developing sustainable models for supporting additional quality learning time.

Please refer to Addendum A — Additional Requirements and Competitive Priorities for additional competitive priorities including schools in chronically underperforming status and the Strategic Transformation Region.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are public school districts, public charter schools, cities and towns with ≥ (at least) 20 percent of students who are Low Income (LI) as indicated at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Department's) School and District Profiles page for 2021-2022 or determined by the District/School in need of extra support.

and/or

Community-based organizations (CBOs), other public or private entities, or a consortium of two (2) or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities that will partner with schools with ≥ (at least) 20 percent of students who are LI, as indicated at the School and District Profiles page for 2020-2021 or through other documented evidence.

Additional eligibility parameters:
Entities/Schools that were a previous recipient of a 21^st CCLC grant must be able to demonstrate what will be different about the program going forward.

Agencies and organizations other than a school district, city, or town:
Please refer to Addendums A and Addendum D that details the additional eligibility requirements outlined in Title IV, Part B of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation, section 4204(b)(2)(D)(i),.

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.287

Funding:

A total of approximately $3,500,000 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:

• Up to two (2) Schools/Sites — Districts/communities with ≥ 50% of students who are Low Income. (Using the LI percentage from the School and District Profiles page for 2021-2022 of the district/school where the majority of students to be served attend.)
• One (1) School/Site — Districts/communities with <50% of students who are LI.

Model 1 OST (School Year and Summer):

• Up to $210,000 per site — For sites that will serve approximately 40–60+ students per day and will be transporting students home during the school year (SY).
• Up to $175,000 per site — For sites that will serve approximately 40–60+ students per day and will not be transporting students home during the SY.
• Up to $150,000 per site — For sites that will serve approximately 25–39 students per day and will be transporting students home during the SY.
• Up to $130,000 per site — For sites that will serve approximately 25–39 students per day and transporting will not be transporting students home during the SY.

Please note all sites must meet attendance requirements detailed in Part IIIB.

Model 2 ELT:

• School Year — $500 per pupil based on the current (SY22) enrollment at the proposed school(s). Refer to Profiles page for current enrollment numbers.
• 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.

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

Fund Use:

Funds may be used to support programming costs including required coordination, staff salaries, stipends, staff planning time as it relates to the grant, contracts, instructional materials, an education liaison, 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 coordination. 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.

Funds allocated under this federally funded grant program may be used only to supplement, not supplant, funds that local educational agencies, schools, and community-based organizations would otherwise expend for out of school time and/or extended learning opportunities. Funding may not be used to support required academic/remedial or summer school or summer school-like models.

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 09/01/2022) – 08/31/2023

Pending budget appropriation, four (4) years of continuation funding will be available, for a total grant period of five (5) years (FY2023–FY2027).

Continued funding in years two (FY2024) and three (FY2025) 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); and
• annual submission of required information including mid-year and end-of-year report/reapplication.

In years four (FY2026) and five (FY2027) grantees will be eligible to receive an estimated 95% (per year) of their original grant award amount. Continued funding will be contingent upon meeting the above noted requirements along with:

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

Program Unit:

Office of Student and Family Support

Contact:

Karyl Resnick

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3515

Date Due:

Full Proposals Due: Friday, June 3, 2022
See the Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

Electronic proposals must be received at the Department by 6:00 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 Workbook

• Part III A/B — Required Program Information

• Addendum A — Additional Grant Requirements and Competitive Priorities

• Addendum B — Grant Assurances

• Addendum C — Private School Consultation

• Addendum D — Documentation of Organizational Capacity

• Addendum E — Federal & State Evaluation Requirements and Survey of Academic and Youth Outcomes (SAYO) Outcomes Selection

• Addendum F — Partnership Agreement

• Addendum G — Program Fees Request Form

• Grant Checklist

Additional Information:

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.

• The Department will host a 21^st CCLC Informational Webinar to walk interested applicants through the RFP and respond to questions, You must register to receive the zoom link. Click on the link above for the date and time of the Info Session.
• The Department will also host a series of 30 minute Q & A Sessions on Tuesdays from 1:00–1:30 PM, beginning Tuesday May 3, 2022 through Tuesday May 31, 2022 to respond to all questions. You must register to receive a zoom link. You may register at any time.

Additional Information on Fund Use:

• Grant funds may not be used for the purpose of rental of office or program space, utilities such as phone, electric, etc., purchasing of furniture or appliances, or building materials that enhance the current structure (e.g., tables, chairs, desks, equipment sheds or other types of renovation).
• Funds budgeted for transportation costs may only be used to support transporting students home during the SY for OST school-based programs and to and from the program during the summer.
• Field Trips within the New England Region are allowed provided they are educational in nature and support program outcomes. All Field trips must be approved in advance by the Department's 21^st CCLC Program Coordinator. Field trip expenses (entry fees, etc.) should be budgeted under budget Line 9: Other Costs — Memberships/Subscriptions/Computer Licenses.
• Grant funds may not be used to support out of state travel for program staff or to attend non-21^st CCLC conferences.

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 Grants 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.

A Department Notification of Intent to Apply is due May 20, 2022. Submission of the Intent to Apply does not obligate the applicant to submit a proposal.

Submission Instructions:

Email one complete application that includes all required forms in their original word or excel formats to cclc@doe.mass.edu . Please do not convert into a PDF or send as a google doc.

If the attachment is too large to send in one email you may split it into multiple emails and label them in the subject line 1 of X, 2 of X, etc.

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: April 22, 2022