$6.25 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Awarded to 53 Grant Recipients
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Arkansas State University and its sponsored initiative, the Arkansas Out of School Network, have awarded $6.25 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER III grant funding to 53 afterschool, summer, and extended-year learning programs across the state.
The ESSER III federal relief funding was allocated to mitigate student learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and support social and emotional development. Awardees, which include school districts and community-based partnership programs such as public libraries, nonprofit organizations, career and technical programs, faith-based organizations, and institutions of higher learning, will utilize grant awards to address the academic impact of lost instructional time on student learning through evidence-based summer programs and comprehensive afterschool programs.
“Even before the pandemic disrupted all aspects of student life, Arkansas struggled to meet the demand for afterschool and summer learning programs. For every child in an afterschool program in Arkansas, three more are waiting to get in,” said Laveta Wills-Hale, network director of the Arkansas Out of School Network.
"The same is true for summer learning programs. In 2019, more than 26,000 additional children would have been enrolled in a program if one were available to them. We will continue working tirelessly to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and to ensure all children have access to quality afterschool and summer learning programs," she added. "This funding is a critical resource to communities and programs across our state, and we are grateful to the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for their partnership.
“There is no doubt the pandemic has impacted student learning, but in order to assist students who have been affected the most, unified efforts of support are essential,” Dr. Ivy Pfeffer, DESE deputy commissioner, said. “These federal funds will help us build that support, as key educators, communities, and faith-based organizations will partner to accelerate student learning. Our students deserve the best despite the challenges we have faced, and these programs will reinforce the commitment and dedication to student learning we have seen over the last year and a half. I am excited to see the positive impact of these programs in the future.”
Here is the list of 53 grant award recipients:
Aaron and Berinda International Ministry, Inc., Pine Bluff, $149,950
Advocates for Community and Rural Education DBA Rural Community Alliance, Little Rock, $116,998
Arkansas 4H Camps, Little Rock, $150,000
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Hot Springs, $26,235
Arkansas STEM Coalition, Little Rock, $115,390
Arts and Science Center of Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff, $22,357
Bald Knob Schools, Bald Knob, $150,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas, North Little Rock, $120,000
Boys & Girls Club – El Dorado, $103,939
Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas, $150,000
Boys & Girls Club of Faulkner County, $127, 928
Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County, $104,385
Boys & Girls Club of McGhee, $150,000
Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren, $150,000
Boys & Girls Club of West Memphis, $68,640
Boys & Girls Club of Diamond Hills – Mulberry Unit, $110,828
Boys & Girls Club of Saline County, Cedar Mountain Club, $50,000
Brandon House, Little Rock, $141,242.06
Carter's Crew, North Little Rock, $148,830
Cathy's Sweet Dumplings Daycare and Preschool, Eudora, $100,258
Central Arkansas Library System, Little Rock, $150,000
City of Little Rock: West Central Summer STEAM, Little Rock, $150,000
Clarendon School District, Clarendon, $73,244
Danville School District, Danville, $99,999
Elkins School District, Elkins, $150,228
Friendship ASPIRE, Little Rock/ Pine Bluff, $150,000
Greenbrier Public Schools, Greenbrier, $147,458
Heart2Heart Connections, Wilmot, $121,830
High Impact Movement, Hot Springs, $149,999
Hispanic Community Services, Inc. (El Centro Hispano), Jonesboro, $50,000
House About It Community and Economic Development, Little Rock, $100,424
Izard County Consolidated, Violet Hill, $150,003
Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp, Little Rock, $114,400
Life Skills for Youth, Little Rock, $149,999
LISA Academy, Little Rock, $150,000
Mansfield Middle School, Mansfield, $154,517
One Community, Inc., Springdale, $53,710
Our House Shelter, Little Rock, $124,534.03
Ozark Guidance Arisa Health, Fayetteville, $135,973
Producing Outstanding People, Inc./Old St. Paul MBC, West Memphis, $49,875
Pulaski County Youth Services-Afterschool, Little Rock, $150,000
Rogers Public Schools, Rogers, $125,000
Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, $116,578
SOAR NWA, Springdale, $150,000
Songbird Media, Little Rock, $66,550
Springdale School District - Har Ber High School, Tyson, Walker, Springdale, $150,000
Teen Action Support Center, Rogers, $99,985
Tendaji Community Development Corporation, Little Rock, $149,494
UA Little Rock Children International, Little Rock, $149,167
United Family Services, Inc, Pine Bluff, $150,000
Washington Foundation Lil' Jacob Learning Center, Eudora, $49,622
We Care of Pulaski County, Little Rock, $68,851
Whole Youth Services, Inc., Jonesboro, $149,050
For more information on the ESSER III grant funding program, contact the Arkansas Out of School Network at (501) 660-1012 or visit https://www.aosn.org.
The Arkansas Out of School Network, administered by Arkansas State University, is one of the 50 State Afterschool Networks (SANs) working to promote an expansion of school-based and school linked afterschool and summer programs serving children and youth ages 5-19. AOSN’s mission is to create safe, healthy and enriching experiences for Arkansas youth during out of school times.
For more information about the afterschool and summer learning initiative contact Laveta Wills-Hale, network coordinator, 501-660-1012 or lwillshale@AState.edu.
