NJ Afterschool-Summer Program-Competitive

The New Jersey Department of Education is offering a limited‑competitive, state‑funded grant to support high‑quality after‑school and summer programs for youth ages 5‑18 across the state. Up to two awards of $200,000 each (total $400,000) will fund program expansion, staffing, curriculum, transportation, and evaluation for a seven‑month period (Feb 1 – Aug 31 2026). Eligible applicants are statewide public or private 501(c)(3) youth‑serving organizations (or prior 21st CCLC grantees not funded in FY 2025‑26) with at least four years of OST experience, serving low‑income students, and meeting site‑licensing requirements. Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Web‑Enabled Grant (EWEG) system by Dec 4 2025, with a technical‑assistance webinar on Nov 19 2025. The grant requires serving a minimum of 100 students, ≥30 per site, providing ≥3 hrs/day after‑school or ≥4 hrs/day summer activities, daily snack provision (sourced elsewhere), parent involvement, and robust data collection for attendance and outcomes. • Eligibility: Statewide public or private 501(c)(3) youth‑serving orgs (or prior 21st CCLC grantees) with ≥4 years OST experience and serving low‑income NJ youth. • Scope: Fund up to $200k for staffing, curriculum, transportation, field trips, evaluation, and other direct program costs; snacks are ineligible. • Requirements: Minimum 100 students, ≥30 per site, licensing for children ≤13, daily snacks, parent‑involvement activity each month, SMART goals, and comprehensive reporting (interim June 30 2026, final Oct 31 2026). • Timeline: Application due Dec 4 2025; program runs Feb 1 – Aug 31 2026; reimbursement monthly; final close‑out Oct 31 2026.