Area Afterschool Programs Eligible for OPI Grant

This article was originally published by Four Points Press on December 26, 2021.

The Office of Public Instruction has announced a grant partnership that will distribute the $2.8 million Montana Afterschool Grant to several programs and school districts statewide, State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen said in a press release.

“As a classroom teacher of 23 years, partnership with afterschool programs is essential for the continuation of learning,” Arntzen said. “These afterschool partners provide a safe learning environment supporting our hardworking Montana parents.”

This grant is part of the federal American Rescue Plan for Covid-19 relief.

Statewide, afterschool community organizations, including schools, will receive $2,805,957 for the calendar year of 2022. Grantees can apply for renewal for the second year of funding.

For the first allocation, 75 afterschool programming sites are eligible to apply for funding, and over 4,000 Montana students will be served.

Area programs are eligible to apply for a share of the $2,805,957 in available funding, include the Boys and Girls Club and Mountain Shadow Association, in Lodge Grass; the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, in Lame Deer; Lockwood Boys and Girls Club, in Lockwood; Billings Public Schools, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County, the Village Afterschool Enrichment Program, and the United Way of Yellowstone County, of Billings.

The Montana Afterschool Grant is a formula grant. It has a two-tier process where interested organizations or schools have until November 12th of 2021, to submit an Intent to Apply.

The criteria for general eligibility and amount funded included number of students they serve, the location and population density of the community, and the socio-economic status of the students served.

The formal application is now open.

A steering committee was formed in late spring of 2021, with multiple conversations focusing on current and future needs in a sustainable model. OPI will be offering an introduction to the  electronic grant application and technical support webinar on Wednesday, December 29th at 11 a.m. via Zoom.

For more information, please contact Jeff Kirksey, MSEd., ESSER Program Manager, at Jeffrey.kirksey@mt.gov or (406) 444-0783.