Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Program CFDA Number: 84.287D | ED GRANTS 062220 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 062220 001

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Program (CFDA 84.287D) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education designed to strengthen career preparation for students through learning experiences that happen outside of the regular school day. The program is framed as an extension of the goals of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, using out-of-school time and expanded learning models to help students access structured career pathway programming that connects directly to real labor market opportunities.

At its core, the grant supports State Educational Agencies (SEAs) in creating or expanding career pathway opportunities delivered after school, before school, during summers, or through other expanded learning schedules. The key expectation is that students are not just exposed to careers in a general way, but are given expanded options to participate in a defined career pathway program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential. Examples mentioned in the notice include industry-recognized certifications and completion credentials connected to apprenticeships, particularly in in-demand industry sectors or occupations. The emphasis is on tangible outcomes that matter to employers and can help students transition into further education, training, or direct entry into the workforce.

A major requirement of this opportunity is that the out-of-school time career pathway activities should be intentionally aligned with what students are doing during the school day. The notice highlights alignment with an existing "program of study" so that in-school coursework and out-of-school experiences reinforce one another rather than operating as separate tracks. In practice, that means the after-school or expanded learning component is expected to complement classroom instruction, deepen skill development, and increase readiness for postsecondary education or employment by providing applied learning, work-based experiences, mentorship, or credential-focused training that fits into a broader pathway.

Eligibility and partnership structure are central to how the program is designed. The SEA must serve as the lead applicant and fiscal agent, and it must apply as part of a partnership that either already exists or is formed during the application period and can continue if funded. That partnership must include three required members: (1) the SEA, (2) a currently funded 21st CCLC subgrantee (meaning a local program funded as of the application closing date), and (3) an employer in an in-demand industry sector or occupation. The employer role signals that the program is meant to stay closely tied to workforce needs and credential value, not just career awareness. While not mandatory, the Department also notes that SEAs may want to include an institution of higher education (IHE), especially to help map student progression along a pathway continuum and connect secondary experiences to postsecondary training and credential attainment.

The overall goal is to serve students by expanding existing career pathway programs or building new ones through the out-of-school time infrastructure that 21st CCLC already supports. In addition to implementing the work in-state, the partnership is also expected to share what it is doing with a national audience. The notice specifically states that dissemination should reach beyond the state and include audiences such as 21st CCLC program coordinators, indicating a broader interest in spreading effective models and lessons learned so other states and programs can replicate or adapt them.

Administratively, the opportunity was posted with an applications availability date of June 22, 2020, an optional notice of intent to apply deadline of July 22, 2020, and an application transmittal deadline of September 21, 2020, with intergovernmental review listed as November 19, 2020. The funding opportunity number is ED GRANTS 062220 001. The synopsis points applicants to the official Federal Register notice for full details, including priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, and submission requirements, and it also directs applicants to the Department of Education's Common Instructions for Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019) for the standardized application process and procedures.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Program CFDA Number: 84.287D" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.287.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 21, 2020 Applications Available June 22, 2020.Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply July 22, 2020.Deadline for Transmittal of Applications September 21, 2020.Deadline for Intergovernmental Review November 19, 2020.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7,500,000 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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