How to Apply

The Application Process

The application will open in the Fall and all links to grant forms will become live in the Grants Management System (GMS). A visual flowchart is available to help with the application process.

Distance Learning Resources

Planning for potential short-term disruptions to instruction requires a renewed effort by our school leaders to plan and promote student learning through family and community engagement. Resources are now available to help you identify key opportunities for engaging families and supporting learning at home.

Resources: 

• Engaging Families to Support Distance Learning 
• Oklahoma Family Guides

Information Webinars

• Webinar slides now available here.
• Webinar now available here.
• Webinar FAQ's now available here.  updated 11.22.2021

STEP 1: Read and Prepare

Potential applicants should read and prepare for the competitive grant process by reviewing the following documents:

• Ready Together Oklahoma Statewide Initiative: High-Quality Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs Initiative
• Ignite and Expand Competitive Grants: Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO)
• Ready Together Oklahoma Engaging Families & Communities: How can high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs be developed through school and community partnership?

Step 2: Review Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO) to decide whether to apply for Ignite or Expand Grant

The OSDE will award two types of grants through this initiative: Ignite and Expand.

Ignite Grant

• Amount: $50,000 - $75,000 per year
• Purpose: Demonstration Program
  • Demonstration programs are used to pilot long-term design solutions to improve out-of-school time offerings. The primary purpose of the program design is to support communities in addressing a single gap in service from COVID-19.
• Grantees will be required to participate in technical assistance and professional learning towards achieving Oklahoma’s key principles of a comprehensive high-quality program.
• Programs may be designed for afterschool, summer, or a combination of the two program types.

Expand Grant

• Amount: $75,000 – $150,000 per year
• Purpose: Development Program
  • Development programs are designed to strengthen, broaden, and/or rebuild a comprehensive program. The primary purpose of the program design is to support communities in moving out-of-school time program plans to scale.
• Grantees will be required to participate in technical assistance and professional learning towards achieving Oklahoma’s key principles of a comprehensive high-quality program.
• Programs should be designed to provide year-round programming during both school-year and summer.

Step 3: Obtain Grants Management System Access (GMS)

Grant applications will be completed through the online Grants Management System (GMS). All non-district organizations will receive log-in credentials from the Office of Family and Community Engagement to gain access to the GMS.

Updated 12.6.2021:

Due to the 24-48 hour turnaround time for getting credentials, we are no longer accepting new credential requests.

All non-district applicants must complete and sign the Credential Request form, then email a scanned copy to: [email protected].

School districts will access the application through the OSDE Single Sign-On system.

STEP 4: Register and/or Update Your Entity at SAM.gov 

All organizations are required to register at Sam.gov. When visiting the SAM.gov website, the right side of the page provides information to get started or renew entity to be eligible to apply for the competitive grant. If you are unsure of your organization’s status, check registration status and follow directions on the website. 

STEP 5: Define Roles and Responsibilities for your School-Community Partnership and establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Develop an effective Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the organizations to clearly document the partnership and plan for services.

STEP 6: Log In and BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

The application is located in the Grants Management System (GMS). You may begin working on the application once the grant application has been released and you have GMS access.

School districts may access the GMS through the Single Sign-On system to prepare your grant application. Non-district community-based organizations may access the application by the direct link to the Grants Management System that was provided by the grant office.

Please continue to refer to the Applicant FAQs as you construct your application.