FY2026: Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Subgrant (ASOST-S) — Continuation

Fund Codes: 0527 / 0528

Purpose:

The purpose of this state continuation grant is to fund several regional or statewide non-profit entities with the ability to subgrant and provide wraparound support to afterschool and out-of-school time* (ASOST) programs. The overall goal of the grant is provide subgrants and support to ASOST programs, which will strengthen the quality of and increase access to learning and enrichment programming that improve academic, college and career readiness and social-emotional outcomes for youth.

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

Priorities:

For regional or statewide grantees to provide ongoing support, training, technical assistance, coaching, professional development, evaluation, fiscal management and oversight to ASOST subgrantee programs.

For regional or statewide grantees to make subgrant awards to ASOST programs to enhance quality criteria areas outlined in the Guidelines for Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-School Time and increase access to high quality ASOST programs that meet the following criteria:

• Programs that support the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE's or Department's) Educational Vision, including supporting the whole student, deeper learning, and culturally and linguistically sustaining practices that contribute to affirming environments where students have a sense of belonging;
• Programs that are operated by non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) and school districts, including charter schools and collaboratives;
• Programs in communities or schools/districts where at least 25% of students served are considered low-income and/or are in schools in chronically underperforming status;
• Programs that specifically aim to welcome and serve students from all identities and backgrounds;
• Programs that engage and leverage knowledge and strengths of students, families, staff and community to inform programming design and decisions;
• Programs that offer comprehensive programming at least 3–5 days a week and/or approximately 150 hours per year/summer;
• Programs that are evidence/research-based; and
• Programs that have or plan to strengthen partnerships with local schools and/or other community-based organizations.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants include FY2025 FC0523-0527-0528 Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Subgrant (ASOST-S) — Competitive Grant Recipients

Funding Type:

State 7061-9814
State 7061-9611

The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Funding:

A total of approximately $10,300,000 is available, pending appropriation.

Approximately $3,000,000 of these funds (FC 0527, state line item 7061-9814 ) and any unspent funding from FY2025 FC 0528 (7061-9611) must be spent by 09/30/2024 for summer 2025; and $7,300,000 projected from FY2026 state line item 7061-9611 (FC 0528).

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.

Fund Use:

At least 94% of funds must be awarded as subgrants to ASOST programs. Up to 6% of the awards may be used for overall administration and support provided to awarded ASOST subgrant programs. The recommended range of yearly awards for each subgrant is $15,000 – $100,000, depending on size, scope of program and duration (e.g., if a summer component is included).

Funds must be used in alignment with the purpose and priorities outlined and as described in a budget, budget narrative, and required program information that is submitted to the Department's Office of Student and Family Support.

Indirect and equipment costs are not allowed.

Allowable uses of funds include but may not be limited to the following: staff costs for administration and oversight of subgrants, staff and/or contractual costs for professional development/training/technical assistance and evaluation activities, supplies/materials (including technology needed), and mileage reimbursement for staff for on-site visits.

Note the following include allowable costs for subgrants: program coordination and programmatic staff costs (including increasing rates/incentives and costs for recruitment efforts as needed to fill staffing gaps), scholarships for economically disadvantaged students/families on voucher wait lists or unable to afford programming, transportation, materials/supplies for program activities, food/snacks for participants, mental/behavioral health services/counselors, social-emotional learning supports, school/community partner specialist, family engagement liaison and enrichment/extracurricular opportunities.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval (No earlier than 07/01/2025)* – 06/30/2026 (Year 2) and pending budget appropriation

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Student and Family Support

Contact:

Allison Smith

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3232

Date Due:

Friday, April 11, 2025

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

Additional Information:

Awarded recipients must also do the following as attested to in the assurances document:

• Work with the Department to avoid overlapping of catchment areas and consistency when awarding subgrants to ensure broad and diverse geographical representation across the state;
• Engage in periodic check-ins with the Department and collaborate with other ASOST-S recipients and broader ASOST field when applicable;
• Work directly with Department's evaluation provider to develop a plan for data/evaluation activities utilizing a selection of Afterschool Program Assessment System (APAS) tools that best fit overall goals of grant recipient and subgrant ASOST programs as well as participate fully in any needed research activities to evaluate overall ASOST-S grant program;
• Submit year-end data/evaluation reports and final expenditure reports (FER) for each fiscal year of funding (yearly/periodic data/evaluation reports must also be required of subgrants);
• Award subgrants through a competitive, open-bid process following 2 CFR 200.333 requirements of pass-through entities (sample debarment form);
• Maintain copies (available to the Department upon request) of subgrant applications, risk assessments, scoring rubrics, budget information (with same line item information as Part II — Budget Details, amendments and final reconciled budget information well as subgrant agreements (sample provided).
• Report to the Department on sub-awardees, sub-recipient monitoring and fiscal procedure.

Submission Instructions:

The FY26 FC 0527-0528 Afterschool & Out-of-School Time Subgrant (ASOST-S) will be submitted in GEM$. GEM$ 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$)

The following will be required in GEM$

• Budget (entered directly into GEM$)
• Required Program Information (entered directly into GEM$)
• Assurances (template found in GEM$)
• Copy of previous subgrant application
• Copy of previous subgrant data/evaluation report

Last Updated: March 18, 2025