The Iowa Department of Education awarded nearly $6 million in competitive Beyond the Bell grants to 67 Iowa schools to create, expand and sustain high-quality before-and-after school programs. The department announced in March it would award $3.5 million in grants, but Director McKenzie Snow said it has leveraged additional federal funds to increase the total awards to nearly $6 million due to “the tremendous response of schools and community organizations to this opportunity.” In determining awards, awardees demonstrated clear, sustainable plans for offering before- and after-school programming that incorporated evidence-based instruction in identified academic focus areas, with a special focus on daily attendance, transportation to and from the program, high-quality staffing and strong community partnerships. Funding awards prioritized schools serving students most in need. Grants will be distributed for district implementation this spring, summer and into the 2024-25 school year. To view the full list of recipients, visit educate.iowa.gov.