Examples of competitive grants in education include those offered by the U.S. Department of Education, state education departments, and private foundations. These grants are instrumental in fostering innovation, supporting targeted initiatives, and addressing specific challenges within educational settings. Unlike formula or entitlement grants, which are allocated based on predetermined formulas, competitive grants involve a competitive application process. One example is:
A federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This program
supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment
opportunities during non-school hours, particularly for students attending high-poverty and low-performing schools.
The primary goal is to establish or expand community learning centers that offer academic
support and enrichment activities beyond regular school hours, including before and after school and during summers. Community learning centers funded through this grant are
expected to provide a range of services, including academic tutoring, homework help, STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, arts and cultural activities,
physical fitness programs, and more. The grant encourages collaboration with community
organizations, local businesses, and other stakeholders to enhance the quality and variety of
services offered. Community learning centers have flexibility in designing programs that meet
the unique needs of their students and communities. The program emphasizes the importance
of setting specific, measurable outcomes to assess the effectiveness of the services provided.
While the Kindness Initiative Curriculum is not designed to be the blueprint for an after school
program, it fits into the curriculum, community and home connections easily. There are self-
assessments and concrete steps that can be taken to meet the recording requirements.