After-School and Out-of-School Time Quality Enhancements (ASOST-Q)

Grants to Massachusetts public schools, private schools, and community organizations for out-of-school initiatives that provide youth with academic, social, emotional, and physical programming throughout the year. Funding is also intended for the professional development of educators.

The main priorities for this grant are to improve the quality of OST* programs and services by supporting:
- Activities that enhance one or more of the quality criteria areas outlined in the Guidelines for Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-School Time (Category A - Quality Enhancements); and
- Regional and statewide professional development (PD), which may include networking opportunities, for other OST providers (Category B — Regional or Statewide PD/Networking).
*OST refers to after-school and out-of-school time programming (including vacations, weekends, before-school, and summer).

Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development:
Massachusetts defines High Quality Professional Development (HQPD) as: A set of coherent learning experiences that is systematic, purposeful, and structured over a sustained period of time with the goal of improving teacher practice and student outcomes. It enables educators to facilitate the learning of students by acquiring and applying knowledge, skills, and abilities that address student needs and improvement goals of the district, school, and individual. HQPD conforms to best practices in research, relates to educators' assignments and professional responsibilities, and conforms to the ten Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development.1

The ten standards that make up the Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development:
- HQPD has clear goals and objectives relevant to desired student outcomes.
- HQPD aligns with state, district, school, and/or educator goals or priorities.
- HQPD is designed based on the analysis of data relevant to the identified goals, objectives, and audience.
- HQPD is assessed to ensure that it is meeting the targeted goals and objectives.
- HQPD promotes collaboration among educators to encourage sharing of ideas and working together to achieve the identified goals and objectives.
- HQPD advances an educator's ability to apply learnings from the professional development to his/her particular content and/or context.
- HQPD models good pedagogical practice and applies knowledge of adult learning theory to engage educators.
- HQPD makes use of relevant resources to ensure that the identified goals and objectives are met.
- HQPD is taught or facilitated by a professional who is knowledgeable about the identified objectives.
- HQPD sessions connect and build upon each other to provide a coherent and useful learning experience for educators.

Competitive Priority (for Category A) will be given to:
- Proposals developed collaboratively by public and non-public schools and private community-based programs. In order to receive this competitive priority, a letter of support from the partnership entities not serving as the lead applicant must be included. The letter should provide specific details on the collaboration.
- Proposals from Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licensed programs requesting enhancement(s) specifically to help improve MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) rating. In order to receive this competitive priority, applicants must have a granted QRIS application at Level 1 or above, with an open application for the next QRIS Level that was submitted prior to the posting of this Funding Opportunity RFR. Applications for the next QRIS Level (2, 3 or 4) are considered to be "submitted" if they have one of the following statuses: Final Submit, EEC Review in Progress, or EEC Review Complete. (Note: If programs are unsure of their QRIS status, they may they may email the Funding Source to receive their QRIS status — allow 3–5 business days for a response. Applicants must include their EEC program name and EEC program number in their email requests.)

Funds must be used to support activities that enhance programs and services as outlined in this Funding Opportunity RFP.

Budget expenditures may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Staff and coordinator salaries related to the quality enhancement;
- Professional development (PD) activities that meet Massachusetts Standards for PD;
- Stipends for professionals and students involved in the delivery of services;
- Activities to promote family engagement;
- Additional costs associated with serving students with disabilities and/or students who are English learners;
- Program materials and supplies; and
- Transportation. (Please note: vehicles may not be purchased with these funds.)