Special Initiatives
2011-2012 Lights On After School (LOAS) in Jeffco Public Schools Partnership
Purpose and Mission: LOAS grants are possible through a partnership with Mile High United Way, The Jefferson Foundation and Jeffco Public Schools. Our mission is to support students’ academic achievement and social development by engaging students through academic, recreational and enriching extended learning opportunities. We achieve our mission by sustaining and strengthening existing programs and creating new programs through partnerships with the community.
Changes to the LOAS program: The LOAS program is in its fifth year of funding in Jeffco Public Schools. Funding after the 2011-2012 school year is not guaranteed and the program may not be able to continue into the future with current funding sources. If the program is able to operate in 2012-2013, it will reflect our funding partner's new emphasis on early literacy.
In the 2011-2012 school year, the program will help funded school sites prepare for possible transition by encouraging programs that provide early literacy programming (focusing on P through 3), serve low-income populations, and that serve underrepresented cultural minorities. To encourage programs to adopt this new focus, applications for funding that specifically address these issues will be awarded competitive priority points. See the Reviewers Rubric (Word Doc) sample for more information about competitive priority points.
Application Information: A complete application includes a cover letter on school letterhead, a completed summary form, a completed proposal narrative, a completed program budget, a letter of support from the school principal and financial secretary, a letter of support from the community partner, and a completed Jeffco Public Schools Grants Department Intent to Apply form. An application package checklist is included in the application form to help applicants organize their completed proposal.
Applications should be saved as a Microsoft Word or PDF document and emailed for submission to grants@jeffersonfoundation.org no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2011.
Administrative Support: Applications must include a letter of support and commitment signed by both the school administrator and financial secretary.
Community Partners: In the 2011-2012 school year, all Lights On After School programs will be required to partner with a nonprofit organization or for-profit business to provide enhanced programming. Partnerships may include arts and music, recreation and fitness, science and technology, tutoring or homework help, community service, academic enrichment or other programming elements that enhance the school day and keep students engaged in their school community. Schools applying for Lights On After School funding must do all of the following:
- Identify and involve in a significant way a community partner in school-year
programming
- Ensure that any non-Jeffco employee who provides after school services has
undergone all required background checks prior to coming into contact with students
- Identify how much of their Lights On After School budget, if any, will be used to
reimburse the community partner for program expenses
- Applications must include a letter of intended partnership from the community
partner.
Budget: A new budget form is being used this year that will require schools to include additional pay, hourly pay and/or overtime pay for school staff working for the LOAS program. The budget will also require that schools identify in their applications which accounts will be used for non-payroll expenses. Applicants should review the budget template carefully (download below) and work with their school financial secretary to ensure accuracy.
Grant Limitations: What Lights On After School will fund:
- Books and modules
- Nutritious snacks (schools should use the Free Snack Program (Word doc) provided
by food service)
- Activity supplies (balls, nets, paint, brushes, costumes, uniforms, etc.)
- Transportation for student field trips and related field trip expenses
- Additional Earnings for certified staff and regular hourly rates for classified staff to
lead or manage after school activities
- Reimbursements for program expenses accrued by community partners
- Culminating activities to celebrate achievements in after school programs
What Lights On After School will not fund:
- Purchase of equipment or supplies for use during the regular school day
- Classroom technology (i.e. laptops, SmartBoards, etc.)
- Programs for adults and parents
- Professional training
- Summer programs
- More than one LOAS program per school
- Other expenses that do not directly provide after school activities for students
Eligibility: All Jeffco Public Schools are eligible to apply for funding, including option schools and charter schools.
Grant Size: Programs may request up to $8,000 in funding. Please note that LOAS is a competitive grant process and full, partial or no funding may be awarded.
Award Announcement: Applications will be reviewed by a team of community volunteers, former educators and representatives of the Lights On After School Partnership (Mile High United Way, The Jefferson Foundation and Jeffco Public Schools). Applications will be reviewed for completeness, program quality and previous results and scored on the Reviewers Rubric (Word doc) of 40 possible points (see LOAS 2011-2012 Reviewers Rubric for more information).
In addition to the 40 points possible for all applications, up to six additional competitive priority points can be awarded to applications from schools that intend to offer early literacy programming (for students in preschool through 3rd grade); serve student populations of at least 40% free and reduced lunch; that serve significant and locally-identified cultural minority groups at the school; that have operated a successful Lights On After School program in the past; and that serve elementary school students. Funding decisions will be made by the review team and final approval will be made by the Lights On After School Partnership. Awards will be announced on September 6, 2011 and programs will receive funding no later than September 12, 2011.
Grantee Orientation: All recipients of a Lights On After School grant must attend one of two grantee orientations to receive important information on managing their grant. Grantees will be asked to RSVP to one when they receive their award announcement. Orientations will be held at The Jefferson Foundation’s offices at 809 Quail St., Bldg #1 in Lakewood from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 and from 7 to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28.
Grant Term: Grant funds must be used exclusively for the approved after-school program during the 2011 - 2012 school year. All expenditures must post to the account between September 12, 2011 and May 14, 2012. Any expenses posted to the account after May 14, 2012 will not be reimbursed. Any unused funds will return to The Jefferson Foundation for allocation for future Lights On After School programming.
Safe Practices: Programs are required to maintain registration forms, parent agreements, attendance and end of program checkout procedures. Student safety is the responsibility of the school operating the grant-funded program.
Site Visits: Programs must participate in at least one site visit per year. Members from the Jeffco LOAS Partnership, community members and volunteers may be present to ask questions and interact with students.
Report Requirements: LOAS programs are required to complete two reports. The First Semester Report will be due January 13, 2012 and the Final Report will be due June 15, 2012. The Jeffco LOAS Partnership reserves the right to discontinue funding of programs not meeting minimum standards.
Year-End Celebration: All Lights On After School programs are invited to participate in a year-end celebration event, to be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 10. The location for this event will be determined during the year, and electronic invitations will be made available to all funded sites. The event will include the opportunity for programs to display their work and share their experiences with other schools and with parents and community members, as well as to demonstrate their program’s accomplishments in theater, music, dance, sport and other activities.
Application Deadline: Applications should be saved as a Microsoft Word or PDF document and emailed for submission to grants@jeffersonfoundation.org no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2011.
Pre-Application Workshops: New applicants or those who wish to ask specific questions about their application are encouraged to attend the pre-application workshop: 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2011 in IT Lab #3, 809 Quail St., Bldg. #1, Lakewood,. CO 80215. Enter through The Jefferson Foundation north entrance. Seating is limited. RSVP to Cyndee Manaugh at 303.982.2210.
Download a 2011-2012 LOAS Application. (Word doc)
Download a 2011-2012 LOAS Budget Template. (Excel Worksheet)
Download a Jeffco Schools Grants Department Intent to Apply form. (Word doc)