Michigan Public Act (P.A.) 15 of 2025, Section 32n was signed into law with $75 million

2025-26 Out-of-School Time Grant Information

On October 7, 2025, Michigan Public Act (P.A.) 15 of 2025, Section 32n was signed into law with $75 million budgeted to provide in-person before-school, after-school, before and-after-school, or during the summer programming to children in any of grades K-12. The new legislation defines the eligible applicants, the type of programming, and the priorities that the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) must use in a competitive grant process to award the funds across the state.

To be eligible for a grant under this legislation, the applicant must meet, at a minimum, all of the following criteria:

• Be a community-based organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 USC 501, an institution of higher education, a public library, a local government, or an intermediate district.

• Must be a licensed child care organization (for before/after school, school-age program, or camp license), an entity that has an active application in process to be a licensed child care organization, or an exempt entity from child care licensing by the State of Michigan Licensing Bureau 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128. Upon award, programs with an active child care or camp licensing application must complete the process before the entity starts service and funds will be released. Upon completion, the entity must submit a copy of the approved license to the MiLEAP-OST Team.

• At least 50 days of program services during the school year for at least 15 students 1 hour before school, or 2 hours after-school, or 3.5 hours for both (before-and after-school), and/or at least 4 hours per day for a minimum of 24 days during the summer for at least 15 students.

• Must be used to support expanded learning opportunities, including, but not limited to, mentoring, leadership, community engagement, agriculture, visual and performing arts, financial literacy, stem (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), health and wellness, physical fitness, recreation, career and college exploration, youth voice, 21st century skills, conflict resolution, and social engagement programming.

• Provide educational programming in core subject areas, including, but not limited to, mathematics, reading/literacy, and science.

• Must address measurable goals, including, but not limited to, improved school attendance, academic outcomes, improved attitudes toward the school, improved positive behaviors, skill development and retention, higher education aspirations, improved family engagement, and include activities linked to research or quality practices.

The MiLEAP process is as follows:

• When a new grant competition is assigned to the Department, staff write Grant Criteria outlining the eligibility requirements for organizations. The Grant Criteria are then approved by the Out-of-School Time and Summer Learning Director, Office Education Partnerships Deputy Director, and the Director of MiLEAP.

• The program office then begins to craft an application, Request for Proposal (RFP), which details the grant eligibility, program requirements, reporting requirements,

Michigan.gov/MiLEAP • mileap@michigan.gov

and criteria to determine which applicants will provide the highest quality programming with the funds awarded.

• The program office solicits recommendations from key stakeholder groups to assist with developing the RFP.

• The program office will research funding models and decide how the available funds can best be dispersed to meet the needs of programs while being fiscally responsible.

• The RFP will include details on application priority that is outlined in the legislation: o The percentage of low-income families in the geographic area is being served. Prioritization must be determined by the average percentage of pupils in the district who are eligible for free and reduced-priced meals as determined under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 1751 to 1769j, where eligible entities will provide before-and-after-school or summer school programs.

o Whether the application provides services for the full school year (school year program and summer program).

o Whether an applicant is serving children in any of grades K-8 is a licensed child care organization, is an entity that has an active application to be a licensed child care organization, or has implemented the Michigan Out-of School Time Standards of Quality if the applicant is an exempt entity.

o Geographically distributed throughout the regions of the state, as determined by MiLEAP & MDE based on the distribution of current district funds used for before and after-school learning programs.

o The applicant’s track record for providing quality, affordable before-and after-school or summer school services.

o Returning 32n OST Sub-recipients.

• The RFP will also include information about application submission, assurances and certifications, the review process, and rubrics for application scoring. This application is approved by the Division Director and is then programmed into the Grant Electronic Management System.

• The applicant will complete sections regarding the following:

o Demonstrated community need and programming experience,

o Proposed programming,

o Goals of the program,

o Quality of personnel who will work in the program,

o Plans for staff professional development,

o Sites where the program will operate, and

o A proposed budget.

• The approved RFP and Grant Application and a formal announcement for the application are created and sent out through MiLEAP’s Listserv and department communications statewide. The Office of Education Partnerships sends it to targeted OST listservs and groups.

• The application will be available for 30 days and applicants must submit their application by the end of the 30 days.

• During this time, the program office staff will be recruiting and training peer and expert OST reviewers.

• In addition, the program office staff will provide Technical Assistance to the potential applicants.

Michigan.gov/MiLEAP • mileap@michigan.gov

• The competition will close, and submitted applications will be reviewed and scored as follows:

o The application narratives are reviewed and scored by a team of trained peer

reviewers.

o Three to four reviewers are assigned to each application.

o These scores are submitted to the MiLEAP OST team, and each application

receives an average score.

o The total score for each application is the sum of an average of reviewer

scores and the priority points.

o Total application scores are sorted from the highest total score to the lowest.

o The allocation fund is dispersed based on the requested (approved amount)

and score rank until the allocation is fully expended.

o MiLEAP must ensure that 60% of the funded applications will be awarded to

community-based organizations per legislation requirements.

o If needed, priority point scores are used as a tiebreaker.

• The MiLEAP-OST team produces a grant award packet and routes this through the approval process by the Division Director, Deputy Director, and Director of MiLEAP. • Following approval, the grant awards are announced.

MiLEAP is making this information available on our website Out-of-School Time Grants (michigan.gov) before the release of the application. Eligible entities may submit an Intent to Apply.

To receive access to the application, please click the following Intent to Apply link:

2025-26 32n OST Intent to Apply Link You must have a MiLogin for Business Account to submit your intent to apply.

The program office staff will assist potential applicants in getting access to the MiLEAP grant system.

• 2025-26 OST Grant Orientation Webinar, please click here to register:

o 2025-26 32n OST Grant Orientation Webinar (choose one)

▪ Monday, October 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

▪ Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

▪ Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

• Technical Assistance sessions on Grant Electronic Monitoring System (GEMS)

access, please click here to register:

o 2025-26 32n OST Grant - TA Session: GEMS Access and Grant Information

▪ Monday, October 13, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

▪ Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

▪ Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

▪ Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

Michigan.gov/MiLEAP • mileap@michigan.gov

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