Gov. Whitmer Announces Grants for Before- and After- School Programs 

$50M in grants expands access to affordable, engaging before, after, and summer school opportunities for over 67,000 students at 780 locations across the state 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential in announcing $50 million in grants to before- and after-school programs. These grants will help increase access to before- and after-school and summer learning programs, helping more youth engage in enrichment activities outside of the regular school day hours while providing homework help and accelerated learning opportunities in literacy, math, and science, and offer additional support to working families knowing their children are safe.

“Today, we are expanding access to before and after school programs for over 67,000 students at 780 locations across Michigan, ensuring every student gets the support they need to succeed,” said Governor Whitmer. “These programs help kids explore their interests, get extra academic support, and connect with their peers. They also make it easier for parents to work, knowing their kids are safe and cared for additional time outside of school hours. As a parent and as governor, I know that today’s investments will set more students up for success.”

These grants will help provide educational programming in core subject areas, including, but not limited to, mathematics, reading, and science. Recipients can use funds to increase their enrollment capacity, accelerate learning, and reduce costs for participating families, helping to resolve the unmet demand for Out-of-School Time programming in Michigan. A total of 125 program proposals will be funded for the 2023-2024 program year to serve 31,000+ youth during the school year and an additional 36,000+ young people during the summer.

“As a former educator and Senate Education Committee Chair, it’s very clear to me how important before and after school programs are to students and their families,” said state Senator Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia). “Funding before and after school programs help keep our children engaged scholastically and our communities safer. I look forward to securing even more wins for students in the future.”

“Investing in Michigan students is an investment in our collective future,” said state Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). “Before- and after-school programming is not simply an extension of the school day, but provides young people with invaluable opportunities to explore, learn and grow. The $3.6 million awarded to the Macomb Intermediate School District will help expand these types of opportunities for Macomb County students, ensuring they have the support they need to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom.”

“Before- and after-school programs improve and enrich the educational experiences of our students. Wayne Regional Education Services Agency is receiving over $1.2 million in funding from this grant, which is a direct investment in Downriver’s future workforce,” said state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte), vice chair of the House Education Committee.

“Kids in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods too often miss out on enrichment opportunities. Ironically, those programs can help them the most,” said state Rep. Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe), member of the House Education Committee. “These grants are win-wins, helping close educational and after-school care gaps. I am excited Michigan is further investing to ensure all Michigan students can access the support they need to succeed, especially in Detroit and Macomb.”

According to research conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, more than 751,000 children in Michigan lack access to out of school time programming. Furthermore, the Michigan Afterschool Partnership found that there is a disproportionate undersupply of out of school time providers in Michigan’s predominately Black and low-income communities.

Data from the Afterschool Alliance also reveals that lack of program availability, high costs, and transportation issues produce the most significant obstacles to OST programs for Michigan parents. These grants will help reduce barriers and enable more parents to enroll their children in expanded learning programs.

“Children enrolled in out-of-school time programs are more likely to experience improvements in their performance at school, improvement in behavior, and have a higher earning potential as adults,” said Erin Skene-Pratt, Executive Director of the Michigan After School Partnership. “These programs also help parents sustain employment and provide parents with peace of mind knowing their children are safe and cared for before and after school. The benefits of out-of-school time programming are substantial and increasing access to these programs is crucial for children and families in Michigan.”

“Celebrating this $50M in grants is part of a greater overall increased recognition of the importance afterschool and summer learning programs play in our overall P-20 education system for our children and youth,” said Richard Lower, Director of Preschool and Out-of-School Time Learning at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. “Governor Whitmer and legislative leadership have also invested another $171M in other out-of-school time program grants for this year, including the tutoring program MI Kids Back on Track. Together, these investments position more Michigan kids to meet their academic goals and thrive in school and beyond.”

“As a grantee of the 32n OST Grant funding, our organization was able to reach the most vulnerable population of children. We were successful in delivering quality summer enrichment programming in the areas of literacy, science, and math adding diversity and inclusion as a theme to bring awareness and unity. Youth were able to participate in civic engagement through a violence prevention program that promoted leadership and built confidence,” said by Nicole Liggins, CEO of Guided Grace FYS in Saginaw. “Without these funds, youth would not have been exposed to this type of programming or afforded these social interactive learning opportunities and/or experiences.”

The following programs are receiving awards to serve five or more program sites. The full list of sub-awardees can be viewed on the Out-of-School Time Programs’ website at Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.  

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