NEW: Since President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law on March 11, 2021, state education agencies (SEAs) have been working to maximize the impact of the $122 billion in federal education funds to support students impacted by the pandemic. Districts must spend a minimum of 20% of their funds on learning loss, which explicitly calls out summer and afterschool programs as an allowable use.
Check out examples of states using COVID relief funds to partner with afterschool and summer learning programs, and then use our toolkit to reach out to your school districts and local education leaders.
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Minnesota Summer Learning
Deadline: Varies, check site.
On May 15, Governor Tim Walz announced a plan to fund enhanced summer learning programs in Minnesota to help students recover from the learning challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor allocated $75 million from the state’s flexible American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) administered at the federal level by the Department of Treasury to provide academic enrichment and mental health support this summer and beyond for Minnesota’s students, families, educators, communities, and schools.
Eligibility:
School districts, schools, and community organizations
School districts, schools, and community organizations
Oregon Summer Enrichment and Academic Program Grants
Deadline: Varies, check site.
The Summer Enrichment/Academic Program Grant provides grant funding to offer services for K-8 students for enrichment activities (robotics, dance, martial arts, art, music, outdoor programs, etc.); academic learning and readiness supports (summer school, bridge programs, transition programs, etc.); and/or social-emotional and mental health services.
Eligibility:
School districts and community organizations
School districts and community organizations
Ready Together Oklahoma
Deadline: Varies, check site.
Ready Together Oklahoma, a $14 million intiative, utilizes the 1 percent set aside of state funds for summer enrichment and encourages summer programs to take a "whole child" holistic approach to aid student recovery, address academic loss and provide food, extracurricular activities, and mental health support.
Eligibility:
Non-profit community organizations
Non-profit community organizations
Recovering Bright Futures
Deadline: Varies, check site.
The state Department of Education and Prenda schools collaborated to offer the Recovering Bright Futures program, a grant opportunity to establish learning pods for students in fall 2021 utilizing American Rescue Plan state set-aside funds. School districts and communities can apply for funds to create District Learning ods, as well as Community Learning pods for students who do not have access to a District Learning pod.
Eligibility:
School districts
School districts
Rekindling Curiosity Program
Deadline: Varies, check site.
New Hampshire is using COVID-19 recovery funds to partner with New Hampshire camps and school-age summer programs for its Rekindling Curiosity program. Through the program, up to $650 per child in camp fees can be covered by the state Department of Education.
Eligibility:
Eligible youth opportunities include recreation camps, residence camps and seasonal and year-round day camps. A list of eligible youth recreation camps may be found by visiting https://nhcamps.org/for parents/camps-directory
Eligible youth opportunities include recreation camps, residence camps and seasonal and year-round day camps. A list of eligible youth recreation camps may be found by visiting https://nhcamps.org/for parents/camps-directory
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
Deadline: Varies, check site.
$12.05 million was invested in the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to expand juvenile delinquency prevention programs. The programs assist students who are at an increased risk of dropping out of school or becoming juvenile offenders as a result of the education, social, and emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds come from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.
Eligibility:
Community based programs, including therapy programs, after-school and summer programs, and mentoring programs
Community based programs, including therapy programs, after-school and summer programs, and mentoring programs
Summer Matters for All Grant Program
Deadline: Varies, check site.
Vermont Afterschool is proud to work with Governor Phil Scott’s office, Senator Bernie Sanders’ office, and the Vermont Agency of Education to establish the Summer Matters for All Grant Program. Over $3 million will be awarded to programs across Vermont to expand access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth this summer.
Eligibility:
Non-profit organizations; municipalities; licensed/regulated providers of school-age childcare; and privately or publicly owned summer camp programs can apply.
Non-profit organizations; municipalities; licensed/regulated providers of school-age childcare; and privately or publicly owned summer camp programs can apply.
Wisconsin Beyond the Classroom Program
Deadline: Varies, check site.
“Beyond the Classroom” grants support learning opportunities and mental health programs for Wisconsin school-aged kids. The “Beyond the Classroom” grants will provide funding of up to $500,000 per non-profit organization. Up to $25 million will be available for programming during the summer months of 2021 and an additional $25 million will be available in the 2021-2022 school year and the following summer months.
Eligibility:
Non-profit organizations that serve school-age kids virtually and in-person outside of school and during the summer months are able to apply for up to $500,000 each
Non-profit organizations that serve school-age kids virtually and in-person outside of school and during the summer months are able to apply for up to $500,000 each
