| Purpose:
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The goal of this state funded grant program is to enhance out-of-school time (OST*) programs and services to improve the academic, physical, social, and emotional wellness of public and non-public school-age youth during the school year and the summer months.
*OST refers to after-school and out-of-school time programming (including vacations, weekends, before-school, and summer). |
| Priorities:
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The main priorities for this grant are to improve the quality of OST programs and services by supporting:
o 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 – found below in the Additional Information section. These criteria provide a framework for balanced, quality programming that supports the academic, physical, social, and emotional development of participants. (Category A – Quality Enhancements) o Regional and statewide professional development (PD), which includes networking opportunities, for OST providers. (Category B – Regional or Statewide PD) o Partnerships to develop, pilot, and document high-quality service-learning (SL) curricula that will help to decrease summer learning loss, increase students’ social and emotional learning competencies and increase their understanding of academic skills and concepts. (Category C – SL Curriculum Development)
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| Eligibility:
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Massachusetts public school districts, non-public schools, and public and private community-based organizations with existing OST programs are eligible to apply for funding. Additional eligibility parameters apply to each category, as noted below in the Key Grant Requirements section.
Please Note: All applicants other than public school districts, cities or towns must demonstrate the capacity to administer through: o Proven fiscal responsibility as demonstrated, for example, through an annual audit; and o Previous experience with similar amounts of funding from government (state/federal/local), foundation, or private grants.
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