Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2009

Priorities for this grant program include the following activities.

1. Provide creative and innovative * out-of-school-time programs that support and contribute to academic achievement and youth development for all students.

   * Innovative meaning particularly effective and/or continually changing and adapting to best meet the needs of the youth served.

2. Provide multidisciplinary activities that engage students in their learning.

3. Integrate school-day and out-of-school-time programs to promote shared learning goals, teaching and support strategies, and staff recruitment and training activities.

4. Provide programs that address explicitly appropriate grade-level state and local learning standards and support students' academic performance.

5. Contribute to student performance goals outlined in school improvement plans.

6. Create and maintain a school and community-based infrastructure that establishes procedures to improve outcomes for children and youth through successful program implementation and oversight.

7. Establish procedures to evaluate program effectiveness through the collection and analysis of data.

8. Promote efficient use of public resources and facilities through effective partnerships among schools, community-based agencies, adult community learning centers, and other public and private entities.

9. Address the multiple needs of all children, youth, and their families through increased supervision, safety, and access to support services.

10. Create opportunities for student leadership, decision-making, and civic engagement.

11. Create a content-rich creative environment where there is a seamless integration among arts, sciences, civics, mathematics, English language arts, etc. to engage students in their learning.

Eligible entities are school districts, cities and towns, community-based organizations (CBOs), other public or private entities, or a consortium of two (2) or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities. To apply for these funds, applicants must have a Local Council that has as one of its primary functions the coordination of the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program. See Addendum K for a description of Local Council membership.

Current Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) 21^st CCLC grantees are eligible to apply for this grant, as part of the competitive process, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and are applying for funding to expand into new sites.

Eligible applicants must meet at least one (1) of the criteria listed below:

1. primarily serve students in schools designated as Title I schoolwide programs; and/or

2. serve students in districts/schools with 15% or more low-income families as indicated on the Department's School and District profiles page. http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/

Competitive priority (Preference over an application of comparable merit that does not meet the criteria) will be given to applicants that:

1. propose to serve children and youth either in schools:

   1. designated In Need of Improvement under Title I; and/or

   2. with a Composite Performance Index (CPI) * at or below 85.4 in English language arts (ELA), and/or 76.5 in Mathematics, and/or 72.4 in Science;

      * The CPI is a 100-point index that combines the Proficiency Index (scores of students who participate in standard MCAS ELA and mathematics tests) with the MCAS-Alt Index [scores of those who take the MCAS-Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt)]. The CPI is a measure of the extent to which students are progressing toward proficiency (a CPI of 100) in ELA and mathematics. To view a district's CPI, go to http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/.

2. are submitted jointly by a school district and community-based organization(s) or other public or private entity(ies); and

3. propose to serve youth on a year-round basis (includes a summer program).

Applications from agencies and organizations other than a school district, city, or town * will be screened for capacity to administer the program based on the applicant's:

Any entity that wishes to include indirect costs in the budget and does not have a current approved rate from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and does not have a current Federal rate may apply to the Department for a maximum five percent (5%) indirect cost rate. This rate is only for grants issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is not to be considered as an overall indirect cost rate to be used with any other funding sources. To access a list of approved rates or an application, go to http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/Grants.

1. proven fiscal responsibility, for example, as demonstrated through an annual audit;

2. previous experience with similar amounts of funding at the state or federal level through government, foundation, or private grants; and

3. documentation of a clear plan of communication and linkage with the school district and school site.

Grant awards will be between $50,000 and $375,000 in FY2009. NOTE: student numbers are based on enrollment of public school students in the district/school.

1. Applicants are eligible to apply for a FY2009 amount between $50,000 and:

   • $375,000 for school districts that serve at least 30,000 students;

   • $350,000 for school districts that serve 20,000 to 29,999 students;

   • $300,000 for school districts that serve 10,000 to 19,999 students;

   • $250,000 for school districts that serve 5,000 to 9,999 students;

   • $200,000 for school districts that serve 1,000 to 4,999 students; and

   • $150,000 for school districts that serve up to 999 students.

2. When determining the amount to request, applicants are encouraged to:

   • allot $50,000 up to $125,000 (depending upon the size of the program) to each 21^st CCLC site in order to support high-quality effective programs; and

   • consider the scope of services, number of students to be served, and needs of the families and community.

Funds must be used solely to support the purpose and priorities detailed above. Services must be offered during non-school hours or periods when school is not typically in session, including before school, after school, evenings, weekends, school vacations, and summer. Funds may be used to offer families of these students literacy and related educational development.

Programs/services that may be funded under this grant:

1. academic enrichment activities that support and contribute to academic achievement;

2. academic enrichment activities that assist in closing the achievement gaps where they exist currently;

3. mathematics and science education activities;

4. arts and music education activities;

5. entrepreneurial education programs;

6. Community Service Learning;

7. tutoring (including those provided by senior citizen volunteers) and mentoring programs;

8. activities for limited English proficient students that emphasize language skills and support academic achievement;

9. inclusive after-school activities for students who receive special education services that emphasize social skills and support academic achievement;

10. health and physical activities;

11. telecommunications and technology education programs;

12. activities that promote parental involvement and family literacy for families of participating students;

13. assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled that emphasizes the student's adjustment, and supports academic achievement; and

14. drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, and character education programs.

Funds may be used to pay for staff and coordinator salaries; contracts with provider agencies; professional development activities; stipends for professionals, students, or family members involved actively in the delivery of services; transportation; and program materials.

No more than 20% of the total budget may be used for program coordination and administration and no more than 10% may be used for program materials. Districts or agencies including indirect costs in their budget proposals can use their most recently approved indirect cost rates. If the approved rate is higher than 5.0%, the agency can use only a maximum rate of 5.0% for this grant.

9/1/2008 - 8/31/2009

Pending budget appropriation, continuation of funding will be available for a total grant period of three (3) - five (5) years. Continued funding in years two and three will be based on meeting all grant requirements, yearly progress updates, timely submission of required data that demonstrate the maintenance of attendance levels and program quality, evidence that the grantee is working towards sustaining the program beyond the grant period, and submission of a yearly reapplication.

Continued funding in years four and five is contingent upon meeting the above mentioned requirements, as well as having:

1. the ability to use data to inform continuous program improvement;

2. a written plan for a 10% match* in funds requested in year four (FY2012) and a 15% match* in funds requested in year five (FY2013); and

3. a plan for sustaining the program beyond the five year grant period.

   * As required by NCLB, the match cannot be from federal or state funds.

Recipients are required to:

1. implement the Assessment of After-School Program Practices (APT) observation tool;

2. implement all the components of the Department developed Survey of After-School Youth Outcomes (SAYO) evaluation tool;

3. submit Program Activity Forms within two weeks of the start of each session;

4. submit data to the Department three times a year on students who are enrolled in programs and services funded by this grant; and attend 21^st CCLC coordinators meetings and trainings.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

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

		Addendum A - Elements of a Content-Rich Out-of-School Time Program
		Addendum K - Principles of Effectiveness/Local Council Membership Description
		Required Forms Check List
		Rubric - available upon request

The pages must be numbered, single-spaced, printed only on one side, 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 application is easy to read, developed logically in accordance with the selection criteria, and addresses each question fully.

Non-required support materials information is limited to no more then 10 pages in total. In cases when applications are scored similarly, some consideration will be given to funding high-quality proposals that will serve a diverse range of geographic areas and grades.

Title IX (Uniform Provisions) of the No Child Left Behind Act

School districts are mandated to consult with non-public school administrators about the non-public school students' needs and how those needs can be best addressed by federal programs. This must occur in a timely and meaningful way during the design and development of the program. Schools/districts must provide equitable services to non-public school students and their families, if those students are part of the target population.

Submit five (5) sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/ Executive Director. Mail to:

Karyl Resnick
Student Support
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023