Dear Colleagues:

I am pleased to inform you of a new Mayoral grant initiative to expand after school programming designed for nonprofit and community-based providers—including arts and cultural organizations—to play an integral role in providing services to middle-school aged students. The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) will host a special briefing on April 1, 2014, at 4:00 PM, at the Gina Gibney Dance Center at 53 Chambers Street for cultural organizations interested in learning more about this opportunity. Representatives from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), which will administer the expanded grant program, will provide information on this Out-of-School Time initiative as well as eligibility and the upcoming RFP process.

Background      

Mayor de Blasio has committed to increase access to after school programs for middle school students, targeting students in their critical stages of early adolescent development. To this end, DYCD will expand its Out-of-School Time (OST) initiative, which supports students in grades K-12 with a mix of academic, recreational and cultural activities after school. These programs are offered free of charge in neighborhoods across all five boroughs. While the City has an impressive range of after school services, including those funded by DYCD and DCLA, this initiative will expand access to quality programming to even more of the city’s middle school students.

The new, expanded OST program will launch with the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) that will offer support for after school programs for middle school students; OST will ultimately fund a program in each public school serving grades 6-8 that currently lacks comprehensive after school services (including charter schools, which must have a regular dismissal time of 3:00 PM to be eligible). Eligible schools, identified by school district, are listed here.  Under this solicitation, priority will be given to stand-alone Eligible Middle Schools.

The expanded OST program is designed to create additional after school program opportunities that can stimulate and inspire young people in the safe environment of schools.  Arts and cultural programming is emblematic of the type of activities that will fulfill this goal.   

April 1 Briefing

Representatives from DYCD and the Mayor’s Office will be on hand to outline the OST Middle School Expansion program in a session tailored to arts and cultural organizations. Information on the RFP process will cover program eligibility, the contracting process, the schedule, and how to prequalify and submit proposals; all proposers must be prequalified and proposals will only be accepted through the Health and Human Services (HHS) Accelerator System.   

This major new initiative provides an opportunity for cultural organizations to partner with other groups that run after school programs, to be service providers under subcontracts with others, or to run full-scale programs directly. For more information in advance of the session, questions about the RFP can be directed to RFPQUESTIONS@dycd.nyc.gov (please indicate “OST Middle School Expansion” in subject line). For more about HHS Accelerator, including upcoming trainings, user guides, and demonstration videos visit www.nyc.gov/hhsaccelerator.  

Please RSVP as soon as possible and no later than close of business March 28 by emailing Daniel Larkin at dlarkin@culture.nyc.gov. Space is limited to one representative per organization and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

We look forward to seeing you on April 1