Introduction
Laura Payne-Bourcy Consulting Services drafted the following to aid 21st Century Community Learning Center projects in effectively leveraging grant and local resources effectively to meet program objectives. Dr. Payne-Bourcy holds certification in both building and district school administration and has overseen the development and implementation of hundreds of state and federal grant budgets. Any questions regarding this content can be directed to Laura Payne-Bourcy, Ph.D. at laurapaynebourcy@lpbconsulting.net and 585-703-4733.
In addition to the discrete suggestions and scenarios included herein, all grantees are encouraged to have ongoing conversation with CBOs and collaborating agencies to consider how resources may be shared and leveraged to do the most good for and with children and families in our New York State communities.
Leveraging Grant Monies
Many districts leverage 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant monies with Titles formula grants, state set-asides or local dollars – particularly to support tutoring and supplies for academic activities/tutoring and enrichment. Scenarios that would support such a leverage include:
If summer programming is planned, Title I funds may be utilized to hire a certified Reading/Literacy or Mathematics teacher to support literacy learning. If incorporated within the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, the hours of service would count for the 21st Century Community Learning Service despite the fact that other federal monies (passed-through to NYS) were utilized to make the service possible. A 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) program provides a vehicle by which additional academic supports can be provided to students during the summer months when skill levels often decline. Therefore, using these formula grant dollars in coordination with the 21st Century Grant monies is a sound investment, particularly when focused on children with critical needs. https://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html.
If a 21st Century Community Learning Center activity supports parent engagement with their child’s education, supplies (including art supplies, such as paints and canvases) could be purchased using Title IV, local dollars, or Community Schools set-aside monies (that come through SED to qualifying districts). https://stateaid.nysed.gov/publications/handbooks/handbook_2018.pdf.
Community Schools Aid Set-Aside
Each school district receiving Community Schools Aid as part of Foundation Aid computed for the current year will set aside an amount set forth in the computer run for the 2018-19 Enacted Budget (SA1819). The purpose of the Community Schools Aid Set-aside is to support the transformation of school buildings into community hubs to deliver co-located or school-linked academic, health, mental health, nutrition, counseling, legal, and/or other services to students and their families, including but not limited to providing a community school site coordinator, or to support other costs incurred to maximize students' academic achievement.
Some schools use Community Schools set-aside monies to cover transportation in rural contexts. Depending on the transportation aid ratio of a particular district, however, this may not be the best use of all resources. If, for example, a school’s transportation ratio is high, those monies could be tapped first, freeing Community Schools monies to pay for staff to facilitate the parent engagement and learning or related supplies.
Title I funds may be tapped if district-hired, certified personnel are used for literacy/reading tutorials (small group or one-on-one). Likewise, 21st Century dollars can be used to support this work or a combination of the two pots of money may be leveraged to accomplish the academic support required to see gains in student course grade and state assessment, both of which are GPRA measures for 21st Century grants (the federal metrics by which success of these grants are based). https://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/performance.html.
If access to school-based Wellness/Fitness services are provided to the community, Community Schools or 21st Century Funding could be utilized, assuming that enrolled students are participating along with parents. Likewise, if such programming is in place, hours for students and student outcomes document (local measures, for example) 21st Century or Community Schools funds could be utilized to buy supplies, including small items some may think of as equipment. Nothing under $5,000 has to be budgeted as equipment, so discrete items such as kettle bells or even a treadmill may be so purchased.
21st Century grant dollars can be budgeted for Maker’s supplies, including 3D printers, replacement filament, electronics, paper crafts, and related hardware. These, however, must be inventories and when multiple sites are involved in a 21st Century CCLC grant (as occurs in many parts of the states) a mechanism for sharing the items should be at play. https://oedb.org/ilibrarian/a-librarians-guide-to-makerspaces/.
Food
Paying for food is often a challenge for after-school programs and while many sites have determined how to effectively use the federal school meal program for reimbursement of the cost of after school snacks https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/afterschool-snacks, fewer programs utilize the Child/Adult Care Food Program of New York State. Some programs are utilizing this resource, for example, to serve dinner to after-school participants. Quality nutrition is an essential health and educational support for children, yet many go without the consistent nourishment they need to reach their full potential. CACFP works to ensure children receive nutritious meals and snacks while in childcare and afterschool programs, helping to alleviate hunger, support healthy development, and fuel academic achievement.
Additionally, information on summer meal programs may be found at https://hungersolutionsny.org/get-food-help-0/summer-meals-ny/ and https://hungersolutionsny.org/child-adult-care-food-program-cacfp.
M/WBE Requirements in NYS
There is still confusion among program leaders regarding the M/WBE percentage (how much each program must spend with a certified M/WBE). As an M/WBE, Laura Payne-Bourcy Consulting Services is attuned to this issue. In relationship to 21st Century projects, the following is noted from the 2017-2022 grant guidelines. The RFP was amended to update the instructions for completing the M/WBE documents. Lead applicants are allowed to deduct the costs of salaries and fringe benefits of partner organizations.” In addition to any salaries paid by the LEA, those paid by the partner are not subject to the MWBE percentage. This is not always well understood and can reduce the amount of the “discretionary” budget that must then be multiplied by .30 to generate the total amount of M/WBE required spending by a grantee.
BOCES Cooperative Purchasing
Additionally, BOCES would be well advised to work with component districts to consider means to stretch 21st Century Grant dollars using the Community Schools Cooperative Purchasing Agreement and the Community Schools Co-SER. This is different from the Community Schools monies some districts receive in foundation aid (also referred to as set-aside). For example, districts at some point could hire a Project Director using this Co-SER, receive aid on the contributions and thereby free up additional grant dollars to cover site services. Co-SER guidance notes that services allowed included “co-located or school-linked academic, health, mental health, nutrition, counseling, legal and/or other services to students and their families in a manner that will lead to improved educational and other outcomes. Community Schools Resources will provide for students’ social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs through the following services: Family Resource Center, Medical Director, Early Learning Opportunities/Parent-Child, Mental and Behavioral Health Services, University Social-Emotional Screening, Dental and other recommended services.
Mini-Grants
This is just a handful of ideas/suggestions that may be of interest to projects working with the consultant team.
Wal-Mart provides awards of $250-$5,000 through its Community Grant Program to eligible organizations that operate in and directly benefit the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding. Relevant targeted funding areas include hunger relief and healthy eating and education, including afterschool enrichment, tutoring, or vocational training. https://www.cybergrants.com/pls/cybergrants/quiz.display_question?x_gm_id=2797&x_quiz_id=4503&x_order_by=1
The ALDI Smart Kids Program provides funding in increments of $100-$5,000 to improve kids’ health and wellness in areas where ALDI has stores. Public and private schools and 501(c)(3) organizations may apply. https://www.gdg.do/prod3/portal/portal.jsp?c=29206514&p=29248702&g=29248753&o=portal%2Fportal.jsp%3Fc%3D29206514%26p%3D29248702%26g%3D29248704#/applicant/signin/welcome?id=&obj
Wegmans Food Markets accepts donation and community sponsorship requests online and its five giving priorities are feeding the hungry, helping young people succeed, encouraging health eating and activity, enriching store neighborhoods, and supporting United Way Initiatives. https://wegmans.versaic.com/Login.aspx
Save-A-Lot offers financial support for 501(c)(3) organizations and specifically targets (1) hunger relief, (2) health, wellness, and nutrition education, and (3) environmental stewardship. https://save-a-lot.versaic.com/login
Stewart’s Shops provides product, gift certificate, or monetary support for local schools, municipalities, and charitable non-profits that focus on meeting the changing needs of their recipients. Stewart’s Shops has a special interest in education and recreation for children. https://www.stewartsshops.com/online-donation/online-donation-overview/
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation offers up to $500 to public schools, libraries, or preschool programs to design and implement a creative program. Previous projects include a school garden, a multicultural portrait project, and a bookmaking workshop. http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/section/ezra-jack-keats-mini-grant-program-for-public-libraries-public-schools
Teaching Tolerance Educator Grants provides $500-10,000 increments to support projects at the classroom, school, or district level that promote anti-bias principles and affirming school climates. https://www.tolerance.org/about/educator-grant-guidelines