FY2024: Massachusetts 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) — Supporting Additional Learning Time Grant (SALT) — for new sites Round 2

Fund Code: 0647

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:

Contribute to deepening student learning through engaging academically enriching programming that is real world, relevant, and interactive.

Effectively engaging students who attend schools eligible for Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and their families, including students with identities and cultures that have been historically marginalized in educational settings. This includes but not limited to students from families who are low income; students experiencing homelessness or who are in foster care; 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 (SY) and summer by developing a coherent and holistic range of programming that is responsive to the needs and interests of diverse learners so that all students can be successful in school, empowered to make informed choices in life 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 demonstrate an understanding of different languages, norms, and values with a goal of providing opportunities for meaningful engagement by families 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.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are public school districts, public charter schools, cities and towns with ≥ (at least) 15 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 2022-2023.

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) 15 percent of students who are LI, as indicated at the School and District Profiles page for 2022-2023 or through other quantitative data evidence.

Additional eligibility parameters:
Entities/Schools not currently funded 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 Addendum A and Addendum D that detail additional eligibility requirements outlined in Title IV, Part B of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation, section 4204(b)(2)(D)(i).

Funding Source:

Federal CFDA 84.287
Federal grant funds must adhere to:

• UGG (2 CFR 200)
• EDGAR As Applicable
• EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

Funding:

A total of approximately $3,500,000 is projected to be available.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

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 — in districts/communities with ≥ 40% of students who are LI. (Using the LI percentage from the School and District Profiles page for 2022-2023 of the district/school where the majority of students to be served attend.)
• One (1) School/Site — in districts/communities with <40% of students who are LI.

Model 1 OST (School Year and Summer):

• Up to $225,000 per site — For sites that will serve approximately 40+ students per day and will be transporting students home during the SY.
• Up to $215,000 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 $200,000 per site — For sites that will serve approximately 25–39 students per day and will be transporting students home during the SY.
• Up to $190,000 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 those awarded must employ a full-time coordinator and meet attendance requirements detailed in Part IIIB.

Model 2 ELT:

• School Year — $500 per pupil based on the current (SY2023) 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.

Note About Budgets: Applicants must submit a total budget for anticipated grant costs to support both the school year and summer program within the applicable total maximum allowable amounts noted above. Costs should be allocated based on the following timeframes for when the expenditures will occur:

• School Year (September – June): Include all anticipated school year program costs and any summer planning costs to be covered by the grant.
• Summer (July – August): Include all anticipated summer program costs to be covered by the grant.

Grant funds available for year one (1) will include only the approved amount budgeted for costs anticipated to be incurred during the School Year (September – June), including summer planning costs.

Continuation grant amounts are anticipated as follows:

• FY2025, FY2026, FY2027 and FY2028 (Summer and School Year each year): up to the total amount awarded through the FY2024 competitive grant, including both the FY2024 (September 2023 – June 2024) and July/August 2024 amounts.
• FY2029 (Summer Only; July – August 2028): up to the total amount awarded through the FY2024 competitive grant less the actual amount spent in FY2024 (September 2023 – June 2024).

See the Project Duration section below for more details about anticipated continuation grant cycles.

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

Fund Use:

Funds may be used to support programming costs including required full time coordinator , site facilitator, 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 up to 30% for the program coordinator position. 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.).

Applicants requesting indirect costs must have an approved rate issued by the Department. See Addendum A for more information.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (no earlier than 09/01/2023) – 6/30/2024

Pending budget appropriation, funded applicants will be eligible to apply for continuation grants for a total project duration of five (5) years (7/1/2023–8/31/2028).

Continued funding in FY2025 and FY2026 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; and
• annual submission of required information including mid-year and end-of-year report/ continuation application.

Continued funding in FY2027, FY2028, and for Summer 2028 (7/1/2028 – 8/31/2028) will be contingent upon meeting the above noted requirements along with:

• Quantitative and qualitative evidence that demonstrates continuous improvement efforts and meeting attendance benchmarks. ,
• Served at least 50% of students that are LI
• Meet or exceed school % in at least 2 subgroups
• 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:

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

See the Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

All responses must be received by the due date and time listed in this RFP.
All responses must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions section of this RFP. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. Responses not submitted on time will not be reviewed. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed in this RFP.

Please Note: Grant Submission requires applicants to have their organization established in GEM$. Entities that do not have an organization in GEM$ must contact the DESE Program Unit issuing this grant at a minimum 5 business days prior to the due date for temporary organization access.

Failure to provide DESE with GEMS Request Form at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. DESE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.

Additional Information:

Required Intent to apply — In order to get applicants set up in GEM$ to submit applications please complete an Intent to apply for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers Supporting Additional Learning Time Grant (FC0647 — Competitive) by May 19, 2023 . Submission of the Intent to Apply does not obligate the applicant to submit a proposal.

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 SALT Grant Informational Webinar on Thursday May 4, 2023 from 10:30-12:00 to walk interested applicants through the RFP and respond to questions. You must register to receive the Zoom link. Click on the link above to register.

The Department will also host a series of 30-minute Question & Answer Sessions on Wednesdays from 10:00 -10:30 AM, beginning Wednesday, May 10, 2023 through Wednesday, May 31, 2023 to respond to all questions. You must register to receive a Zoom link. You may register at any time.

Grant Planning Documents, Grant Addenda and Forms: Can be found on the 21^st CCLC funding webpage under planning resources. Please note that all final documents and forms will be posted and submitted through GEM$. See Submission Instructions section for details.

Additional Information on Fund Use:

• In accordance with EDGAR 200.307, all equipment and technology purchased for the effective implementation of the grant award may only be used for the sole purpose of implementing the grant funded programming.

• 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.

• Grant funds may not be used to support out of state travel for program staff or coordinators 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.

Submission Instructions:

The FY2024 Fund Code 0647 Massachusetts 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) — Supporting Additional Learning Time Grant (SALT) — for new sites grant will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Please Note: Grant Submission requires applicants to have their organization established in GEM$. Entities that do not have an organization in GEM$ must contact the DESE Program Unit issuing this grant at a minimum 5 business days prior to the due date for temporary organization access.

Failure to provide DESE with GEMS Request Form at least 5 business days prior to the due date may result in not meeting the submission due date listed above. DESE cannot accept or review applications after the due date.

Any entity wishing to apply must first be established in the GEM$ system. Please see the Additional Information section above for more information about completing an Intent to Apply in order to be established in GEM$.

Last Updated: August 6, 2024