Third Round of Federal Funds Available for Programs that Address Learning Loss due to Pandemic
LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Arkansas State University, and its sponsored initiative, the Arkansas Out of School Network (AOSN), are pleased to announce the continuation of the joint effort to provide access to evidence-based afterschool and summer learning programs through the ARP ESSERIII Afterschool and Summer initiative.
The funds will help students by reducing the learning loss that many students experienced during the pandemic, according to Laveta Wills-Hale, AOSN director. In 2021, DESE established a partnership with A-State and the AOSN to administer $25 million in ARP ESSERIII grant funds over three years. AOSN, the Statewide Afterschool Network, is a sponsored initiative of A-State and is housed in Childhood Services, a unit of the College of Education and Behavioral Science at A-State.
The Round 3 ARP ESSERIII Afterschool and Summer Grant Application is now open and will close on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 11:59 p.m. Awards will range from $50,000 to $150,000. Award notifications will be sent on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
The awards will provide funding for high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs, including academic support and skill building, health and wellness, life skills, structured enrichment, and college and career preparation. The application and funding criteria can be accessed through the AOSN website at www.aosn.org.
The grants will provide programming for students in grades K-12 who were disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Eligible applicants include school districts or entities that partner with a school district, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, licensed school-age programs, youth development programs, non-profit organizations, career and technical education programs, libraries, public and private institutions of higher learning, or other entities determined approved by the partnership entities.
Priority for funding will be given to programs in communities that serve higher percentages of free and reduced lunch students, have limited access to programs, or those located in rural areas.
For more information about the afterschool and summer learning initiative, one may contact Laveta Wills-Hale, AOSN director, at (501) 660-1012 or lwillshale@AState.edu.
