ARP-ESSER Summer Support Grant

Grants of $1,000 – $2,000 for your library location to use research-based best practices to offer high-quality summer programs. You can view a checklist of grant requirements and draft of the final report questions here.

Program Overview – Year 2

The Summer Support Grant provides libraries awards of $2,000 to expand summer learning and enrichment programs for Idaho’s K-12 youth. Libraries are encouraged to use the grant to increase the number, type, and quality of summer learning programs offered, purchase learning supplies, acquire summer reading materials, and bring in guest presenters. This funding opportunity aims to address learning loss among students related to the impact of reduced instructional time due to Covid-19. Selected libraries will also have the opportunity to participate in a regional or virtual planning workshop to develop the knowledge and skills to build their capacity to offer high-quality summer programming. The Idaho Commission for Libraries invites public, school, and special (including tribal) libraries throughout Idaho to apply.

Selected libraries should focus on providing summer programs on a variety of topics to address learning loss resulting from reduced instructional time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Examples of summer programing topics include, but are not limited to:

• STEM
• Literacy and Reading
• The Arts
• History and Social Studies
• Geography
• Physical Education
• College, Trade School, and Technical Education
• Career Exploration
• Strategies for Successful Learning and Studying
• Social and Emotional Well-Being

Summer learning and enrichment activities should be focused on addressing the needs of the local community. Libraries could use the following strategies:

• Increase the number, type, frequency, or format of summer learning and enrichment programs.
• Expand or develop new programming to reach youth in communities with little to no access.
• Offer programming at times that may be more accessible to youth with limited access during regular business hours.
• Provide additional staff time, or hire additional staff, to plan and conduct summer learning and enrichment programs.
• Conduct programs offsite to increase access to youth with limited available transportation.
• Reduce barriers by identifying ways to increase access for youth disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including those from underserved racial and ethnic groups, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, migrant youth, children experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.
• Increase programing quality through staff professional development and creating new curriculum.
• Bring in guest speakers, host demonstrations, or conduct teamwork exercises.
• Add new enrichment opportunities, such as college, trade school, and career exploration.
• Address the social and emotional needs of youth during summer programming.
• Provide transportation to and from summer learning or enrichment programs.

This program is administered by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and is made possible in part by the Idaho Board of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. Funding was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, enacted on March 11, 2021. The ARP ESSER Fund aims to respond to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs and also address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups, including those from different racial and ethnic groups, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.

Program Goals

1. Strengthen the role of libraries as community organizations addressing learning loss by opening during the summer and implementing high quality evidence-based summer learning programs.
2. Build the institutional capacity of libraries through staff participation in a regional or virtual summer learning workshop.
3. Address the academic, social, and emotional needs of Idaho’s K-12 students facing learning loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with special emphasis on the disproportionate impact on underrepresented student subgroups.

Eligibility – Year 2

This grant is open to public, school, and special libraries (including tribal) in Idaho. Multi-branch systems may submit individual applications for each branch or library location. In order to be eligible, the library must be able to provide programming to youth in grades K-12. Libraries receiving the ICfL Summer Strategies Grant (awards up to $20,000) will not be eligible to apply to receive the Summer Support Grant (awards up to $2,000). Organizations that were awarded this grant previously are eligible to apply again. For definitions of library types, please see ICfL’s grant eligibility requirements at https://libraries.idaho.gov/grants-funding/grant-eligibility/.

To apply for this grant, the organization must obtain a non-proprietary Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number from the federal System of Award Management (SAM). The UEI is a requirement for grantees receiving federal funds administered by the ICfL and replaces the requirement for a DUNS number. Obtaining a UEI is free, but can take upwards of a week to several months if your entity is not already in the SAM system. Please see the SAM website for more information: https://sam.gov/content/home. Schools should check with their district business office to obtain the UEI for the school district, which is likely already registered in SAM.

Selection Process and Agreement Instrument – Year 2

Applications deemed eligible and complete will be ranked by an ICfL grant review committee using a scoring rubric based upon the application narrative questions. Each narrative question identifies the number of associated points for that question. Grant reviewers may also take into account the overall project budget and the geographic distribution of applicants when ranking.

Official award notifications will be signed by the ICfL authorizing official, the State Librarian, or alternate assigned official. The completed application signed by the applicant, along with the official award notification signed by the ICfL authorizing official, will serve as the agreement/contract for this grant.

Key Dates for Year 2

Grant Application Period: October 15 – November 15, 2023

Grant Period: December 15, 2023 – September 15, 2024

Conduct Summer Programs: June, July, and August 2024

Final Report Due: August 30, 2024

Program Requirements – Year 2

A. Award Summary. Libraries may apply for awards of $2,000 per library location or branch. Funds must be used to provide summer learning and enrichment programs for K-12 youth.

B. Required Activities. The library agrees to:

1. Prepare and conduct high-quality, research-based summer learning programs at the library or through outreach events.

2. Select at least one staff member to engage in a regional or virtual summer learning workshop hosted by the ICfL.

3. Watch a webinar produced by the Utah Education Policy Center discussing the topic of data collection and use.

4. Make reasonable efforts to increase access to underrepresented student groups disproportionality affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including those from underserved racial and ethnic groups, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, children experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.

5. Implement public health protocols during programming to maintain the health and safety of program participants and staff.

C. Allowable Expenditures. A grantee may only use program funds for allowable costs, as defined in the federal grant funds Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. Part 200), which includes the requirement that costs be reasonable and necessary for the accomplishment of program objectives.

The following is an abbreviated list of allowable grant expenses. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. Applicants should contact the ICfL if they are unsure if their proposed idea/expenditure is allowable.

1. Compensation including salaries and wages for staff involved in planning, preparing for, and providing summer learning and enrichment programs. This is intended to support the library with additional salary funds necessary to expand services or complete project objectives, and not replace existing salaries.

2. Materials and supplies for summer learning and enrichment programs including technology and assistive technology devices.

3. Materials and supplies such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning, and sanitizing supplies necessary for safely conducting summer learning activities.

4. Training and education costs for staff, including related travel expenses. Costs must be directly related to the purpose and successful fulfillment of this grant.

5. Professional and consultant services such as those for translation, tutoring, guest speakers, or community partner programming.

6. Services to increase summer learning or make learning opportunities more accessible such as those used for technological connectivity and subscriptions. Grant funds may only be used to pay for services provided during the official grant period.

7. Advertising or publicity specifically related to the grant for (1) program outreach specific to the grant such as publishing dates and times of activities; (2) recruitment of personnel to carry out the grant; and (3) procurement of goods or services to implement the grant.

D. Non-Allowable Expenditures. The following is an abbreviated list of non-allowable grant expenses. It is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. Applicants should contact the ICfL if they are unsure if a cost is allowable. The following items are not allowable grant expenses:

1. Food and beverages. However, if a partner organization provides food, or the purchase of food is funded through another source, the grantee may use staff time paid for with grant funds to prepare or distribute the food to participants. Food is allowable if used primarily as a supply in a learning activity.

2. Capital expenditures related to the purchase of real property, buildings, or motor vehicles.

3. Construction expenditures related to the improvement or expansion of buildings and facilities.

4. Advertising or publicity not related directly to the programs carried out though the grant.

5. Costs of promotional items and memorabilia, including models, gifts, and souvenirs.

E. Reporting Requirements. The library agrees to:

1. Document grant expenditures through receipts, payroll reports, accounting system reports, and/or invoices. Spending documentation must be submitted with the final report. Any grant funds not accounted for through documented spending must be returned to the ICfL.

2. Collect program data required by the ICfL or our funding partners, the Idaho State Board of Education and the U.S. Department of Education.

3. Facilitate surveys and/or site visits by the Idaho Out of School Network (ION) or their subcontractor for program evaluation purposes.

4. Submit a final report by August 30, 2024.

F. Records Retention. The grantee must retain grant records for a period of three years following the end of the award period. Records include the grant application/agreement, award letter, correspondence, reports, financial records, and receipts.

G. Acknowledgement. This grant is administered by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible in part by the Idaho State Board of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. Please acknowledge these funding sources in signage, brochures, websites, press releases, and public events funded by this grant.

H. Funding Availability. The ICfL plans to disburse funds to awarded libraries at the beginning of the grant period. Disbursement of awards is conditional upon ICfL’s receipt of ARP ESSER funds from the Idaho State Board of Education and U.S. Department of Education. If ARP ESSER funds become unavailable to the ICfL for any reason, the ICfL reserves the right to delay or withhold funding from awarded libraries, or cancel this grant program. The ICfL will notify awarded libraries in writing if funding becomes unavailable. Grantees are advised not to incur post-award grant expenses until they receive written confirmation that the ICfL is disbursing funds to them.

Application Instructions

The online application must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved for completion at a later time. We suggest drafting responses in a separate document prior to completing the online form. The application must be signed and submitted with an electronic signature on or before November 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. MT. This application will serve as your official grant agreement if you are notified in writing that you have been approved for funding. The ICfL will notify all applicants whether or not they were selected for funding.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact either of the following staff members at the Idaho Commission for Libraries:

• Jennifer Redford, Youth Services Consultant, jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov or (208) 639-4147
• Talela Florko, Grants/Contracts Officer, at talela.florko@libraries.idaho.gov or (208) 334-2150

Application Questions

A. Descriptive Title of Your Proposed Project.

B. Describe the need for increased summer learning opportunities for youth within your community. Please include the needs of one or more of the student groups listed in the authorizing legislation for this funding source including youth from underserved racial and ethnic groups, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, children experiencing homelessness, and youth in foster care.

C. Describe your preliminary plans for providing summer learning opportunities for youth in your community. Include a brief description of your current or typical youth programs, and how these grant funds will be used to build upon or expand existing offerings.

D. How do you plan to address programming or access for one or more of the student groups listed in this application?

E. Requested Funding Amount and Proposed Budget Table.

Questions? Contact ICfL:

If you have questions about the grant application, allowable expenditures, or any other grant related questions, please contact Talela Florko, Grants/Contracts Officer, at talela.florko@libraries.idaho.gov, (208) 639-4158 or Jennifer Redford, Youth Services Consultant, jennifer.redford@libraries.idaho.gov, (208) 639-4147.