DEED Accepting Applications for Evidence-Based Comprehensive Afterschool Programs through American Rescue Plan Act Grants

The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is seeking applicants for a competitive grant for evidence-based, comprehensive after school programs. This grant is open to both school districts and community-based organizations. Grants will range from $250,000 to $750,00 and will be distributed over two years.

Through strategic planning that happened prior to COVID-19, DEED identified five positive trajectories or goals which were articulated as Alaska’s Education Challenge. To the greatest extent possible, DEED intends to use these five areas to focus all state-level American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funded initiatives to simultaneously address COVID-19 related needs, address pre-existing areas of challenge, and sustain the gains beyond the availability of these one-time funds.

This request for applications will ask potential grantees to provide evidence-based programming that intentionally supports at least one of the following areas:

• Support all students to read at grade level by the end of third grade
• Increase career, technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and workforce needs
• Close the achievement gap by ensuring equitable educational rigor and resources
• Improve the safety and well-being of students through school partnerships with families, communities, and tribes

The purpose of this competitive grant is to provide school districts and community-based organizations the opportunity to establish innovative strategies to carry out activities that will address unfinished learning and provide enrichment activities through afterschool programs.

Applications are due no later than May 31, 2022 at 5 p.m. The application is available at https://education.alaska.gov/forms. Questions about the competitive grant can be directed to: DEED.CARES@alaska.gov.