After a competitive process with strong applicants, MPS has selected eight community partners to provide summer programming for students during August 2023. The partners will receive funding for their respective programs through federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act (ESSER) funding. 

ESSER III funding was designed to target and support students most impacted educationally and emotionally by the COVID-19 pandemic: low-income students, students of color, American Indian students, English language learners, students with disabilities and students experiencing homelessness. 

In total, MPS received 27 proposals requesting more than $800,000 in funding. Individual contract requests for the eight community partners selected range from $17,500 to $35,000, for a total amount of approximately $200,000. 

The names of the community partners, type of programming and total contract amount requested are listed below. Final contract amounts are pending.

Afghan American Development Association to help newly arriving Afghan students prepare for the school year by focusing on improving their spoken and written English, basic reading and math skills, and socialization.

Baby’s Space to provide trauma-informed, culturally-rooted, hands-on activities designed to improve the literacy, math, and social-emotional skills they need to enter kindergarten fully prepared for success. 

Bilingual Education Collective to provide academic enrichment, welcome newcomer families to the Minnesota outdoors, and provide a supportive bilingual school community.

Ka Joog to provide a wraparound academic program for Somali American and East African youth that will expose teens to higher education and Science Technology Engineering Arts Math (STEAM) careers.

Little Earth Residents Association to teach youth about their Native identity through different activities, such as harvesting medicines and herbs, canoeing, participating in a sweat lodge, and visits to tribal reservations. 

MN Zej Zog to provide Hmong students with identity, culture, and language development lessons and healing through the arts. 

BFRESH Productions to provide BIPOC high school students with an immersive media experience with access to technology, mentorship, and development opportunities to share narratives that will be aired on various platforms.

WE WIN for a program that will celebrate Black culture through reading, gardening, and preparing food.

The MPS ESSER III plan was shaped by feedback from an advisory committee (including staff members, union representatives, students, families, and community partners), American Indian tribal consultation and online and direct input from individuals and organizations.

Opportunities for Phase 4 funding will be announced later this spring.