More Money for After-School Programs

Four-million dollars in excess lottery funds will soon be available for after school programs.

Earlier this summer, the state department of education awarded the first Lottery Education: After-school Program, or LEAP* Grants. 2-million dollars was distributed among 20 agencies; now the department is preparing to distribute twice as much.

Like the state’s pre-kindergarten program, spokesperson Kim Karesh says LEAP grants are primarily intended to provide services to at-risk youth. Even in cases where they’ve been given the leg-up that pre-K provides, Karesh says disadvantaged children tend to have a hard time keeping up with their peers as they progress through school.

“These after-school programs provide tutoring or additional academic skills after the day so that once they’re able to catch up then they’re also able to keep up.”

Any agency, public or private, may apply for LEAP funds to create or expand after-school care. To win the award, the program must be open at least 15 hours per week, meet certain academic standards, and provide time for physical recreation.

The Education Department began accepting applications last week and expects to distribute the funds by October.