Extended School Day and School Violence Prevention Program

The Extended School Day and School Violence Prevention Program is administered by the New York State Education Department under the authority of New York State Education Law section 2814, which governs the omnibus school violence prevention grant program. This initiative is designed to provide competitive grant funding to support student-focused programming that extends learning opportunities beyond the traditional school day and strengthens school safety efforts. The program reflects a statewide priority to enhance student achievement while addressing school violence through coordinated, evidence-based interventions and partnerships between school districts and community-based organizations. The primary purpose of the program is to fund activities that either extend the school day through enrichment programming or implement comprehensive school violence prevention strategies. Extended School Day activities must include structured enrichment across domains such as academic support, social-emotional learning, arts and culture, physical wellness, civic engagement, and violence prevention. School Violence Prevention projects focus on safety infrastructure, coordination with law enforcement and community partners, and implementation of preventative programming that improves school climate and student well-being. Programs must align with existing school safety plans and are not intended to replace existing funding streams. Funding is provided annually, with approximately 24.3 million dollars available each year, contingent upon legislative appropriations. Individual applicants may request up to 450000 dollars annually, with a minimum of 125000 dollars for Extended School Day projects and no minimum for School Violence Prevention projects. Funding can be used for allowable programmatic costs such as staffing, training, transportation, evaluation, and program materials, but restrictions apply. For example, funds cannot be used for construction, incentives, most food purchases, or facial recognition technology. Administrative costs are capped at 5 percent, evaluation costs at 6 percent, and professional development costs at 5 percent, ensuring the majority of funds support direct services. Eligible applicants include public school districts and nonprofit organizations that partner with one or more school districts. Community-based organizations are required to formalize partnerships through signed agreements outlining roles and responsibilities. Nonprofit applicants must complete a prequalification process in the Statewide Financial System prior to submission. Additional compliance requirements include adherence to child care registration regulations when applicable, fiscal reporting standards, and participation in monitoring and evaluation activities throughout the project period. The application process requires submission through the Survey Monkey Apply platform and includes multiple required components such as a detailed narrative, work plan, staffing plan, evaluation plan, and multi-year budget forms. Applications are evaluated through a peer review process based on criteria including program need, design, management capacity, and evaluation quality. Applicants must achieve a minimum score threshold to be considered for funding, and priority points may be awarded to proposals serving high-need districts. The project period spans five years, from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, with annual renewals dependent on performance and funding availability. Key deadlines include a non-mandatory notice of intent due April 3, 2026 and a final application deadline of April 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions must be submitted in advance of the deadline, and responses are provided through official summaries. Awardees are required to submit mid-year and annual reports, maintain participation records, and engage an independent evaluator to assess program effectiveness and outcomes.

Ensure alignment with all required objectives and scoring rubric; provide strong data-driven justification for need; fully complete all required budget and narrative components; demonstrate clear evaluation and measurable outcomes