Program Overview
The Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) grants program will offer one-year grants to community-based organizations that operate comprehensive out-of-school time (OST) programming year-round, during the summer months, or after school during the academic year. There will be opportunities for grant renewals for an additional year contingent upon continued state funding and upon grantee performance and compliance. The goal is to provide evidence-based afterschool and summer enrichment programming that supports students in learning essential skills and concepts while addressing non-academic barriers to learning through a whole child approach.
Afterschool and summer learning programs play a vital role in supporting Georgia’s children and families and in advancing academic achievement and youth development. Based on the success of the first iteration of the BOOST grants program, the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN) and the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) are proud to partner once again to launch a new round of BOOST grants. Across the state, community-based youth development organizations continuously provide:
- Academic acceleration and learning support
- Childcare and youth development programming
- Supports for youth well-being
- Enrichment programming
- Access to new and emerging technologies
To ensure that such programming is widely available and of high quality, GSAN is partnering with GaDOE to administer $11.5 million in funding for afterschool and summer learning in Georgia. This funding is made possible through new state funding included in Georgia’s FY25 state budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applicants are invited to join GSAN's BOOST Applicant Information Session on Friday, July 11 at 10:00 am. REGISTER HERE
BOOST Grants are intended to support the learning acceleration, academic development, connectedness, and well-being of Georgia’s students, utilizing a whole child approach.
The BOOST Grants Program will prioritize:
Population Outreach
-Youth receiving free or reduced-price lunch
-Youth with disabilities and/or special needs
-Youth experiencing homelessness
-Youth in foster care
-English language learners
-Youth impacted by the juvenile justice system
-Youth who are, or are at-risk of becoming, chronically absent from school
Geographic Reach
-Programs located in counties without current 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) or Out of School Services funding
Academic Enrichment
-Literacy instruction using science of reading-based approaches
-Numeracy instruction using structured curricula
Career Readiness
-Workforce development and career exploration using structured frameworks
- Nonprofit organizations, colleges/universities, and municipalities, such as Park & Recreation Departments. Nonprofit organizations will be asked to provide their 501(c)(3) number or that of their fiscal sponsor.
Organizations located and providing direct services (see below; must provide one or both) to public school students in grades K-12 in the state of Georgia: - Comprehensive afterschool programming during the school year for youth 5-18 years-old
- Summer enrichment programming for youth 5-18 years-old
If the applicant is a nonprofit, it must be registered with the Georgia Secretary of State as a nonprofit
- Summer enrichment programming for youth 5-18 years-old
- Organizations that have been in operation for at least two (2) years as of August 1, 2025.
- All applicants must provide at least the following minimum programming hours available to a youth:
- Academic year afterschool programs must offer at least 2 hours of daily programming to each youth for a minimum of 3 days a week over at least 20 weeks of the academic
- Summer programs must offer at least 4 hours of daily programming to each youth for a minimum of 3 days a week over at least 4 weeks
- At least 25% of youth served must qualify for free or reduced-price meals
- All applicants must offer learning acceleration, as well as programming in at least 2 other critical content/service areas:
- Learning acceleration (required component)
- Enrichment activities
- Healthy eating & physical activity
- Well-being and connectedness, such as mentoring, problem solving, and team building
- More information on eligibility available in the RFP
| Friday, June 27, 2025 | RFP released and Statewide Organizations invited to submit Letters of Intent (LOI; more information in section VIII, Statewide Grants) |
| Thursday, July 3, 2025 | LOIs from Statewide Organizations due |
| Monday, July 7, 2025 | Statewide Organizations notified of the status of their LOIs |
| Wednesday, July 9, 2025 | Application opens. |
| Friday, July 11, 2025 | Optional Applicant Information Session at 10:00 a.m. Register here. |
| Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | Submit questions by noon, for posted answers by noon on 7/17/25 |
| Thursday, July 17, 2025 | FAQ updated by noon.
Applicant Workshop recording posted on GSAN’s website. |
| Friday, August 1, 2025 | Application deadline at 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, September 25, 2025 | Funding recommendations for approval at Georgia State Board of Education meeting. |
| Friday, September 26, 2025 | GSAN notifies all applicants of the status of their request. |
| Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | Georgia Board of Education Official Grant Award Notifications (GANs) are available in the MyGaDOE Portal. |
Applications will be scored by a team of independent readers based on the rubric included in the RFP.
BOOST 2021-2024 Program Reach
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
BOOST Grants Program Reports: 2021-2024
Grant Program Quick Links
https://www.afterschoolga.org/resources/boostreports/