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To: Superintendents, Charter School Leaders, Business Managers, Education Partners, K-12 Public Information Officers, ESD Liaisons, Expanded Learning
From: ODE Expanded Learning Team
Date: January 30, 2026
Re: 2026 State Summer Learning Grant Update: Timeline & Grant Process
Dear Education Leaders and Partners,
Thank you for your continued interest in the State Summer Learning Grant. We are pleased to share a timeline update and key process reminders as we finalize the release of the 2026 Request for Applications (RFA).
Timeline
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RFA Release and Application Opening: Anticipated early February 2026
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Grant Award Announcements: Anticipated early April 2026
These dates are tentative and dependent on final approvals.
About the 2026-2028 State Summer Learning Grant
The State Summer Learning Grant is transitioning to a three-year award cycle to support program stability, staffing continuity, stronger partnerships, and long-term planning. Awards will provide funding for summer 2026, summer 2027, and summer 2028*.
To align with statute and stakeholder feedback, ODE is shifting the State Summer Learning Grant to a hybrid grant model that blends formula-based prioritization with competitive application review. This approach ensures that all eligible applicants have a clear pathway to funding while allowing ODE to direct limited state resources to the strongest plans for high-quality, evidence-based summer learning.
*Pending continued legislative appropriation in the 2027-29 biennium
Two-Part Hybrid Grant Process
Part 1: Priority Points (Formula-Based Prioritization)
All eligible entities will receive priority points as follows:
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Percent of Students Proficient in English Language Arts (ELA);
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Number of Students Proficient in ELA;
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Percent of Students Experiencing Poverty;
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Entity Size (prioritizing small entities); and
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Geographic Locale (prioritizing rural entities).
Priority point totals will be calculated and released at the opening of the application period, allowing applicants to see their priority standing before submitting a full proposal.
Part 2: Full Application (Competitive Application Review)
Applicants will submit an application that is peer reviewed for quality, with a clear emphasis on:
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Evidence-based literacy instruction as a core component of the program;
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Enrichment and experiential learning that deepens content knowledge, builds vocabulary, and fosters engagement and belonging; and
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Budget and program scope aligned to proposed student reach and program design.
This model reflects what we heard through statewide engagement: the need for attention to local context, balanced use of data, elevation of high-quality instruction and meaningful enrichment, and predictable, multi-year funding. With $35 million available statewide per summer and demand far exceeding available resources, this structure allows ODE to responsibly steward public funds while maximizing student impact.
Contact Us
We will notify you as soon as the RFA is officially released.
ODE Expanded Learning Team
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