Request for Applications
Welcome and Introduction
Thank you for your interest in submitting an application for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center program. Funding for FY25 is estimated to be $7,327,451.40.
Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Rate (FRPL): If you do not have a minimum of 40 percent FRPL for each building (limit of 3) that you are proposing to serve, STOP, and remove the buildings that do not have a minimum of 40 percent FRPL from your application. The FRPL percentage is determined by the Iowa Department of Education 2023-2024 academic year spreadsheet that is publicly posted on this page: Department of Education - Iowa School Performance Profiles (iaschoolperformance.gov) This document was updated January 2024, by building level. Do not use any other spreadsheets or lists to determine the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Rate.
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Federal Department of Education website: 21st Century Community Learning Centers (ed.gov)
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Before You Apply
These steps should be considered before you begin writing your application.
Applicants must be an Iowa Department of Education accredited school or a community-based organization partnering with an accredited school to apply.
Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Rate (FRPL): If you do not have a minimum of 40 percent FRPL for each building (limit of 3) that you are proposing to serve, STOP, and remove the buildings that do not have a minimum of 40 percent FRPL from your application. The FRPL percentage is determined by the Iowa Department of Education 2023-2024 academic year spreadsheet that is publicly posted on this page:
https://www.iaschoolperformance.gov/ECP/Home/Index
Do not use any other spreadsheets or lists to determine the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Rate.
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If you are currently in non-compliance, STOP. You are not eligible to apply until your non-compliance issues have been resolved. 2 CFR Ch. II 200.338 -If a non-Federal entity fails to comply with Federal statutes, regulations or the terms and conditions of a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity may impose additional conditions. (e) Withhold further Federal awards for the project or program.
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Letters of Intent to Apply must be submitted via Survey Monkey and survey of student needs should be completed. A template is provided to you for you use and can be found in the “Important Links” section below.
Technical Assistance:
The Iowa Department of Education is committed to providing you with live and virtual technical assistance connecting to this RFA cycle. A complete list of dates will be posted to the Department website: https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/every-student-succeeds-act/essa-guidance-and-allocations/title-iv-part-b-resources
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Thursday, September 26, 2024, at Impact Afterschool Conference at the Holiday Inn & Suites Des Moines-Northwest in Des Moines, Iowa.
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To access the virtual technical assistance meetings, use the information below:
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For a step-by-step tutorial on how to complete this application, please visit this link: https://youtu.be/rv2af8ki568
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Disclaimers:
We STRONGLY encourage you to save the narrative sections of this application in a Word Document since you cannot save your grant progress and come back to it later. A PDF of the full application is provided below so you can prepare the materials you need.
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Important Dates:
September 2024
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September – Nov 2024
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October 10, 2024
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November 22, 2024
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December 20, 2024
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December – January
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January 2025
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March-April 2025
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April – June 2025
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July 1, 2025
Request for Application (RFA) available on the 21CCLC website (https://www.iowa21cclc.com/rfa-apply) and informational letter issued.
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Grant Technical Assistance Meetings will be offered to provide aid in the development of grant applications. An in-person session will be available at the Impact Afterschool Conference on September 23 and two virtual sessions will be available.
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Grant Local Evaluation Webinar 10am-12pm.
Letter of Intent to Apply is due via the Survey Monkey link found here.
Grant applications due date. (Must be received electronically via the web portal) by 4:00 p.m. CST. NO EXCEPTIONS. You will receive notification when your application has been completed and submitted online.
Grant reviewers read and score applications for funding.
Grant reviewers conference.
Grant awards announced.
Grant contracts finalized.
Program implementation may begin with summer (note: The Federal data reporting begins the school year with summer school).
Important Links
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Questions?
All questions about the Request for Applications should be directed to Vic Jaras at vic.jaras@iowa.gov.
All questions about the online platform should be directed to Heidi Brown at hbrown@iowaafterschoolalliance.org.