Summer Enrichment FAQ
Can we apply for both grants?
A program site may only apply for one grant.
Can for-profit camps apply?
No, for-profit camps may not apply.
Can my camp apply for just one of the summer periods, but not for the other?
No, camps must be prepared to operate during both the summer of 2023 and the summer of 2024 in order to be eligible to apply. We will not grant funding for one summer only.
Can my program apply for different amounts each year?
Yes, a program can apply for different amounts each year.
How soon after the grants are awarded will funding be provided to camps?
Funding will be awarded after grantees have submitted necessary tax information to the State Department of Education, have successfully uploaded and received approval on their budget, and completed a funds withdrawal request. Note, this process can take several months. Additionally, funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis only, and camps should not anticipate using summer enrichment funds to prospectively pay for necessary camp activities and personnel. We strongly recommend programs elect to receive their funds via direct deposit in order to access them on a faster timeline.
Can the camps be virtual, or do they have to take place in person? Can there be a combination of both?
We will not be supporting virtual programming as part of this grant program.
What is the source of the funds for this program?
This program is 100% funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
What is the definition of a ‘site’? Can an organization that is running two sites at the same location apply for two different grants?
No, we consider a site to be a building or address - two sites operating in the same building or at the same address cannot both apply.
Will preference be given to applicants that did not apply last year?
We are not granting points in the rubric to applicants who did not receive summer enrichment grant funding last year, nor to applicants that did receive grant funding last year.
Is there a minimum number of weeks a camp needs to operate to be eligible?
There is no minimum, though camps that have longer durations will receive more points in their application.
What are the requirements to apply for an Innovation Grant?
Only programs that meet the below eligibility criteria may apply for an Innovation Award:
- Program must serve a minimum of 150 individual students over the course of the summer;
- Program must provide at least 80 hours of programming over the course of both summer program periods; and
- Program must describe how it will serve the state’s goal of providing bold and innovative summer programming to Connecticut students.
If an Innovation Grant is submitted, and not selected, would it be considered for an Expansion Grant?
No, we recommend your program apply for the grant it feels is most appropriate, as it will only be considered once.
To be eligible for an Innovation Grant, does a single site have to serve 150 students or can an organization be eligible if it serves 150 students across the entire organization?
Each site applying for an Innovation Grant must serve a minimum of 150 students.
Is there a minimum number of students that Expansion Grants must serve?
There is no minimum.
Is maintenance of last year's expansion an acceptable use of Expansion Grant funds for this year, or do we need to expand beyond our programming of last year?
Yes, for previous grantees, maintenance of last year’s expansion is acceptable. So long as the previously-awarded program could not support an increased number of students above pre-pandemic levels without the grant, camps may maintain the same student numbers as last year.
What are the data collection requirements of this grant program and are camps obligated to collect and share it with the State Department of Education?
The summer enrichment grant program is federally funded through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Connecticut’s approved ARP ESSER plan speaks to the establishment of a high-quality state-level evaluation system (i.e., the CT COVID-19 Education Research Collaborative or CCERC) to evaluate the impact of interventions including summer enrichment camps to re-engage students with schooling and accelerate learning through and beyond the pandemic. To that end, the CSDE will be requiring all camps to collect student-level data including name, date-of-birth, town of residence, fall grade, fall district/school, and camp attendance.
By accepting Summer Enrichment Grant Program funding, camps agree to comply with this data-collection effort; it is not voluntary. As providers of publicly funded enrichment programs, camps are authorized by law to collect student-level data and share such data for the purpose of conducting an evaluation of the education program. Camps are also expected to protect the confidentiality of those data. Camps are strongly recommended to provide notice to families by the time of registration about the data collection and evaluation needs pursuant to the acceptance of public federal funding, and to reassure families that all data collected by the camp and shared with the state will be protected and kept confidential and used for evaluation purposes only.
Is there a limit on the number of sites that can apply under one organization?
No, there is no limit on the number of sites that can apply under a single organization.
In what budget category should we place fee waivers?
Please include fee waivers and scholarships in Budget Category 500. Grantees must follow the exemplar in the Application Overview Document when inputting information about fee waivers and scholarships.
Does covering the costs of transportation mean transportation for field trips or is it only transportation to and from camp?
Camps may use funding to cover any form of transportation necessary for camp programming, including field trips.
Can basic utilities like electricity be included in the budget for this grant program?
We are unlikely to support this.
Can we include indirect costs in our budget?
No, this grant does not support indirect costs.
Can we use our budget to cover the costs of renovation?
We are unlikely to support this.
What is CTREAP?
CTREAP is an online portal that connects educational professionals and staff to job openings across Connecticut. It is managed by the Regional Education Service Centers (RESCs).
What services is CTREAP offering to summer enrichment programs?
CTREAP is offering summer enrichment programs a four-month membership for two consecutive years for a total price of $208 to support with filling necessary summer staff positions. Widely used by Connecticut public school districts, camps that purchase this service will have access to a CTREAP account from May 1, 2023 to September 1, 2023 and from May 1, 2024 to September 1, 2024. Each site will be required to have its own account.