$135M to expand before-school, after-school, summer learning

MARQUETTE - The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential has announced $135 million in available funding--nearly double the previous year's investment--for the 2026-27 Out-of-School Time Grant Program and launched a series of statewide information sessions to help eligible organizations learn about the grant opportunity and prepare to apply.

Michigan's OST Grant provides support for high-quality before-school, after-school and summer learning opportunities for children and youth in grades K-12. During the 2025-26 grant cycle, MiLEAP awarded more than $73 million in funding for 284 applicants, supporting 880 program sites statewide. This increased investment will help expand programming that provides safe, engaging environments where young people can strengthen academic skills, explore new interests and build meaningful connections with their peers and communities.

"Learning doesn't stop when the school bell rings," said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, executive director of MiLEAP. "This historic $135 (million) investment reflects Michigan's commitment to helping young people explore their potential, build lifelong learning skills and access opportunities that support their success inside and outside the classroom. We encourage every eligible organization attend one of our statewide information sessions to learn more about the grant opportunity, ask questions and prepare to submit a strong application so we can continue expanding these opportunities in communities across Michigan."