LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
May 1, 2006
Dear Grant Seekers,
The Lights On After School partnership is pleased to announce the 2006-2007 Grant Process. In the coming year, we hope to build upon the success of Lights On programs that have actively evolved over the past three years. We also plan to continue to develop an effective infrastructure to support your efforts.
Read all of the grant guidelines carefully, as several key changes have been made. The funding levels have been restructured to $3,000-5,999 and $6,000-10,000. The applications and rubrics reflect some additional questions and requirements.
The deadline for grant applications is Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 4 pm.
For guidance in developing your grant application, consult the Grant Process Overview, the Rubric for your funding level and the Sample Application.
Please note: If you plan to request funding to continue an existing Community Study Hall program, please include that in the single LOAS grant proposal for your school. Separate proposals for CSH are not necessary.
Guidance Sessions will be offered May 10, 9-11:30 am and May 15, 4-6:30 pm, both at Crofton School Building, 2409 Arapahoe Street. Please RSVP with your name, the date you will attend, your school and phone number.
If you have any questions, contact Catherine Barnes at 720-424-8256 or
at .
We are gratified by the array of opportunities that have been provided to DPS students through Lights On After School. Thank you for all you do every day to support student achievement, and to provide enriching activities for your school community.
Sincerely,
Barbara Berv Maria Guajardo Lucero Michael Durkin
DPS Foundation Mayors Office for Education Mile High United Way and Children
DPS Extended Learning and Community Schools
Crofton School Building s 2409 Arapahoe, Denver, CO 80205 s 720-424-8256 s FAX 720-424-8267
Lights on After School
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Vision
Lights On After School in Denver is a partnership among Denver Public Schools Foundation, Mile High United Way and the Mayor’s Office for Education and Children. The partnership was formed to sustain and expand school-based after school programs for DPS elementary and middle school students.
The Denver Public Schools working with the Lights On After School (LOAS) partners, will ensure that students have access to quality, affordable after-school programs by strengthening and sustaining existing programs and creating new ones in partnership with the community. The vision is to provide strength-based model programs at every middle and elementary school that:
· Develop the whole child through access to multiple, developmentally appropriate activities in the prescribed content areas;
· Reflect the unique needs of each school community;
· Meet established quality standards;
· Leverage resources by establishing partnerships with community-based organizations and other groups.
LOAS Goal
By 2010, all elementary and middle school students will have
access to quality, affordable after school programs.
Objectives:
1. Serve as a catalyst for schools to increase the amount and quality of after-school programming through:
· Encouraging and supporting partnerships
· Leveraging community and volunteer resources
2. Increase awareness among school leaders and staff regarding quality programming by:
· Disseminating information on the key elements of quality programs
· Setting high expectations and defining expected outcomes
· Providing support, guidance and training for program staff
· Providing evaluation tools and processes
3. Enhance learning in and out of the classroom by:
· Supplementing the day-school curriculum during out-of-school hours
· Increasing student engagement in school
· Meeting unique unmet needs within each school community
· Coordinating among programs to maximize after-school time
· Attracting and sustaining the participation of students of all abilities
Strategies:
1. Continue the established partnerships between community-based organizations and the district that resulted in the Lights On After School initiative
2. Open DPS buildings for use by outside providers who meet LOAS standards for minimal fees during out-of-school hours
3. Encourage schools to work with outside providers to “co-locate” services on site or at nearby youth-serving facilities
4. Improve quality through regular meetings between the LOAS partnership and participating organizations
LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL
QUALITY PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTENT AREAS
Research continues to show the most effective after-school programs in any content area - academic, social/cultural, or recreational - are designed and delivered with a set of common elements in mind. Lights On After School funded programs must demonstrate the ability to integrate the following characteristics into the after-school experience for students.
QUALITY PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS:
· Is Consistent With Positive Youth Development Principles
Programs in all content areas can and should build relationships, strengths and skills, and provide opportunities for students to feel safe and supported, experience meaningful participation, connect to the larger community, and learn in engaging and creative ways.
· Ensures that Program Services and Activities Are Developmentally Appropriate
Programs are appropriate and relevant based on students’ cognitive, social and emotional skill levels.
· Consistently Moves Toward Cultural Competence
Program activities and services relate to the unique cultures of students served, as appropriate.
· Is Aligned with Day School Strategies/Curriculum
Program and activities reinforce and support classroom instructional strategies.
· Is Designed to Provide A Low Staff-to-Student Ratio
Low staff-to-student ratios enable students to become engaged and feel supported in ways that may not be possible during the school day.
CONTENT AREAS / EXAMPLESACADEMIC / Homework Help
Enrichment Activities
Structured Skill-Building / - tutoring, extensive reading, math, cup stacking, science or computer literacy
Recommended:
Liaison to teachers and school day
Individualized work for each student
SOCIAL/
CULTURAL / Identity Development
Character Development
Civic Development / Youth Development
- School-to-Career activities, violence prevention, health and safety issues, leadership training, service learning, conflict resolution, and anti-bullying workshops
Arts
cultural activities, performance or visual arts
RECREATION / Physical and Emotional Development
Healthy Lifestyle / - sports, fitness, cheerleading, organized games
NUTRITIOUS SNACKS
After-school snacks can offer an important nutritional supplement for students. It is recommended that 50% of the foods served:
- include high quality protein, fruits, vegetables and dairy
- have no more than 40% of calories from total fat (excluding nuts, seeds, nut butters and reduced fat cheese) and have no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat
- have less than 35% of total weight in sugar (exceptions: nutrient dense foods such as flavored milk, low-fat yogurt, fresh fruits and packaged fruits in their own juice)
- should not list added sugar as the first ingredient
- be packaged in single serving sizes that provide less than 250 calories per serving
Lights on After School
Grant PROCESS OVERVIEW
2006-2007
Applications, rubrics and grant guidelines are available at www.dpsfoundation.org.
Eligible Applicants: All elementary and middle schools in DPS are eligible to apply. Only one funding proposal from each school will be considered, although the proposal may contain multiple after-school programs. Proposal must be submitted by the principal with his/her signature, and should include a letter of support or cover letter from the principal.
Grant Term: Grant funds must be fully expended exclusively for the approved after-school programming during the 2006-2007 school year. All expenses must be incurred by the last day of the school’s calendar year. Any unused funds will be returned to the DPS Foundation for allocation by the partnership in the subsequent school year.
Grant Size: Schools may apply for a grant in the specified ranges, $3,000-5,999 and $6,000-10,000. Please note that a full or partial grant may be awarded; or, no award may be granted. Please refer to the Description of Funding Opportunities document for Program Parameters, Selection Criteria and Accountability for each funding level.
Application Deadline: The completed proposal and attachments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 30, 2006. Applications may be faxed to 720-424-8267* or delivered to DPS Extended Learning, Crofton School Building, 2409 Arapahoe Street, Denver, CO 80205. If electronic signatures are available, you may e-mail your application to: . (*A huge volume of faxes is received the last two hours before the 4 p.m. deadline. If possible, please send your fax earlier on or before the deadline day.)
Population Served: The grant awarded must serve the students of the schools which receive the award, not adults and not non-DPS students.
Grant Limitations:
What Lights On After School will fund:
§ Books and modules
§ Nutritious snacks (see basic guidelines under Quality Program Characteristics)
§ Activity supplies (balls, bats, nets, paint, brushes, costumes, uniforms, etc.)
§ Transportation for field trips and field trip expenses
§ Stipends based on a maximum hourly rate of $19.60, for a certified teacher offering an academic program, or a coordinator actively engaged in program design and management. Hourly rates may be less for other activities.
§ Community Study Hall – if requesting funding, please include CSH in the single LOAS grant proposal for your school. Separate proposals for CSH are not necessary.
What we will not fund:
§ Multi-school programs. However, separate schools may apply for funding to support a partnership with the same community based organization or group.
§ Purchase of capital equipment such as laptops, projectors, printers, cameras
§ One-time events such as family dinners, Night at the Zoo, etc.
§ Professional training
§ Staff travel
§ Summer programs
§ Musical instruments that cost over $40
§ Overhead of partner agencies or office utilities
§ Other expenses that do not directly provide after-school activities for students
Low Cost-Per-Student: Due to limited availability of funds, all program expenses (including staff costs) should support a low cost-per-student. Cost-effective programs may be maintained by leveraging existing resources and partnerships to expand opportunities cost-effectively, or through recruiting volunteers, securing donations and fundraising.
Compensation: Use discretion when budgeting staff hours and negotiating pay rates. Pay rates should be based upon the qualifications of the staff person, and type of activity or service provided. Program providers and coordinators, including DPS exempt staff (such as teachers), will be paid an hourly rate up to (but not to exceed) $19.60/hour. To maintain a low cost-per-student, certain group leaders, including non-DPS employees, may be paid less. A stipend based upon a flat number of hours per month may be established for coordination. When developing a budget, apply a rate of 2.46% to the above-defined hourly rate to cover payroll taxes, etc. for DPS exempt employees only.
Current DPS employees who are in non-exempt positions (e.g., secretaries, and paraprofessionals) will be paid on an hourly basis. If their pay exceeds 40 hours in a work week, the grant may cover overtime pay, which will be a blended rate based on their current job and their second job. PACE and payroll forms will be required. Contact the Payroll Department directly with questions regarding forms or calculating overtime. It will be the sole responsibility of the individual school to track overtime very carefully. We encourage the use of qualified volunteers.
Training: Three values are central to the Lights On After School concept: quality of after-school programs, capacity building of providers, and accountability of the revenue invested. Each successful grant recipient will be encouraged to attend training in how to run a successful after-school program. The training is required for sites that receive grants of $6,000 or more. The training includes technical assistance and ongoing mentoring throughout the year in positive youth development, which will be available to all Lights On After School providers at no cost. Training information will be sent to the successful grant recipients.
Community Partners: Applicants are encouraged to establish relationships with “community partners” who will provide services to students as part of the after-school project. The community partners may include individuals or organizations, such as: artists and musicians from the surrounding neighborhoods; local museums or other cultural institutions; teachers with special skills; athletes from nearby high schools or middle schools who can serve as coaches/trainers; senior citizens, community based or youth serving organizations, or other community residents who have special skills, etc. It is the responsibility of the principal to ensure that any non-DPS employee who provides after-school services has undergone required background checks.
Award Announcement: Grant awards may be announced the week of June 12, 2006, though this is subject to change. An email announcing our decision will be sent to each applicant. Awards may be announced during the Principals Institute.
Report Requirements: Periodic reporting will be required, including a final report due within 30 days of the last day of school. A letter defining the reporting requirements will be sent to grant recipients. The Lights On After School partnership reserves the right to discontinue funding of programs not meeting minimum standards. Periodic site visits will be made to observe funded after school programs. A sample report format is available at www.dpsfoundation.org.
Scoring Rubrics: Detailed scoring rubrics for each funding level are available online at www.dpsfoundation.org. It is strongly recommended that you consult the rubrics as you prepare your grant application.
LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL
DESCRIPTION OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FUNDING LEVELS / PROGRAMPARAMETERS / SELECTION CRITERIA
(Qualifications to apply) / ACCOUNTABILITY
(Reporting, documentation,
and monitoring)
$3,000-5,999 / Must fall into one or more of the designated Content Areas *
Requested by or approved by school principal
Serving 50+ unduplicated students
Provide minimum of 36 program hours during the grant term / Address LOAS Quality Program Characteristics *
Documented service gap/identified need
Clear, measurable outcomes in alignment with LOAS initiative
Coordination with other after-school programs within the school
Communication link/coordination between day school and after-school
Partnerships encouraged
Demonstrated ability to administer and provide quality program
Qualified person to oversee grant
Willingness to attend Lights On After School staff trainings
LOAS-funded snacks offer some nutritional value
Strategy to sustain program consistency amid potential school transitions
Expenses justified through detailed budget narrative
Cost per student reflects cost-effective program / - track/document expenses
- submit end-of-semester program report(s)
- record number of students served
- record number of program hours provided
- track daily attendance
- host site visits
- develop and document outcomes
- participate in a process evaluation
- promptly submit reports and other information upon request for financial audits, schedule updates, etc.
$6,000-10,000 / Must fall into one or more of the designated Content Areas *
Requested by or approved by school principal
Serving 75+ unduplicated students
Provide minimum of 60 program hours during the grant term / All of the above, plus . . .
Partnerships required
Maximize and coordinate with existing community and school resources
Coordinator position is clearly defined and supports effective program management
The coordinator and activity leaders are committed to attend trainings / All of the above, plus . . .
- report on development of
partnerships
- report on coordination of
program activities and
resources
- attend staff trainings
* See “Lights On After School Grant Process Overview” for Content Area details and Quality Program Characteristics