The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is accepting Opportunity & Access requests for investment from agencies interested in providing expanded learning and college and career readiness services for youth disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities in education.
Donor Name: Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL)
State: Washington
City: Seattle
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/06/2023
Size of the Grant: $450,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
Funding will increase the capacity of organizations supporting young people to build skills that help them succeed in school, graduate on time, and transition to college and careers. Funding is available by revenue generated by the 2018 voter-approved Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy.
The O&A investment strategy increases access to enrichment and academic experiences for students furthest from educational justice. In recognition of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, including students who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, underserved Asian populations (a person of Filipino or Southeast Asian heritage, who have historically been farther from opportunity than other Asian groups), refugee and immigrant, and other students of color, being historically and systemically underserved by the educational system and the resulting disparity in educational outcomes, O&A investments will prioritize programs that serve BIPOC students. The goals of the O&A investment are to promote student development of academic and non-academic skills likely to lead to on-time graduation and matriculation into post secondary programs.
To achieve these goals O&A investments will focus on engagement activities that support achievement in two key focus areas:
1. Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO)
2. College and Career Readiness (CCR)
Funding Information
- Approximately $7.2 million dollars is available for Opportunity and Access (O&A) investments for 2023-26 school years. Community-based organizations, schools not receiving FEPP Levy School-Based Investments, government agencies, tribes, and tribal organizations serving immigrant, refugee and youth of color are encouraged to apply.
- Eligible applicants may submit one application that funds a proposal of $150,000 per year for a total of $450,000 over three years.
Types of Program
DEEL will fund community-informed proposals providing safe and culturally affirming environments for youth to explore their academic interests while building critical thinking, self-advocacy, and collaboration skills that lead to success. Applying organizations can select one of the two funding tracks:
- Track 1 Capacity Building: For smaller organizations with limited paid staff and a modest operating budget and that demonstrate the ability to grow capacity to deliver quality programming that positively impacts priority focus students and communities. Applicants with organizational staff and leadership that are representative of the youth they serve and that engage youth and families in programming will be prioritized.
- Track 2 Program: For organizations with current capacity and ability to deliver the expanded learning or college and career readiness services and quality programing outlined in the strategies below. Culturally responsive programs co-designed by youth and families, and led by staff who share the youths’ identities, will be prioritized.
Selected applicants will provide programming that advances DEEL’s desired outcome that all Seattle students graduate high school college and career ready, by using the following strategies:
- Expanded Learning Opportunities encompassing academic or enrichment experiences that take place afterschool, during school breaks, and in the summer. Services will provide students meaningful learning opportunities outside of the school day and year to complement school curriculum. Examples of funded program areas may include arts and culture education, STEM programming, sports, health and wellness activities, and leadership development.
- College and Career Readiness services supporting development of key skills that help prepare students to achieve their goals after high school. Activities may take place during the school day, afterschool, and summer months. Strong partnerships between schools and community-based organizations are encouraged to promote shared community and school leadership in achieving FEPP Levy goals.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Not-for-profit organizations (or fiscally sponsored by an organization) with 501(c)3 status (including community-based or faith-based organizations)
- Tribes and tribal organizations
- Government agencies
- Schools not receiving FEPP Levy School-Based Investments
- Ability to provide services to students that reside within the City of Seattle limits for free
- Commitment to racial equity and directing additional resources to student populations based on the unique needs of historically underserved communities
- Demonstrated history of serving focus students, with a priority focus on students who identify as BIPOC
- Commitment to fostering partnerships with families through lifelong educational, college, and career goals using culturally responsive communication techniques, culturally responsive instructional practices, and multiple opportunities and mechanisms for families to engage in decision-making processes
- Systems and structures either in place, OR in process of building or improving systems and structures, to collect, analyze, and evaluate data; data is used to recruit students, assess students’ needs, identify appropriate interventions, track student progress toward outcomes, and adjust instructional and programmatic practices
- Governance structure in place, OR in process of building or improving systems and structures, that provides oversight on organizational budget, operations, and use of data
- Experience or demonstrated ability to achieving positive academic and/or non-academic outcomes for focus students
For more information, visit DEEL.
