Advisory Committee Minutes August 19, 2025

Before and After School Advisory Committee meeting

August 19, 2025

Members’ Present

• Tia Dwyer
• Tiffany Gipson
• Cindy Haase
• Sandra McBrayer
• Chris Meza
• Julee Brooks
• Olivia Kernen
• Brad Lupien
• Tony Brown
• Diane Ortiz

• Michael Funk, California Department of Education (CDE), Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) Director
• Joshua Brady, California Department of Education, (CDE), Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) Administrator I
• Fred Buggs, California Department of Education, (CDE), Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) Consultant
• Jeff Davis – California Afterschool Network
• Heather Williams - California Afterschool Network

Members Absent

• Jennifer Cisneros

Commencement:

The meeting was called to order at approximately 9:31 a.m. by Sandra McBrayer, Chair

Review of Meeting Materials

The April 15th meeting materials were reviewed by members

Approval of Minutes

Review of the April 15^th meeting minutes. April 15^th motion approved by Brad Lupien, 2nd by Tony Brown. All members voted to approve the minutes.

Special Presentations - California Afterschool Network (CAN) Update – Jeff Davis, Heather Williams

• Ecotone – connecting Expanded Learning to Whole Child Health/Wellness.
• Creating Conditions for Thriving – Convening Multi-Sector and Community Stakeholders
• Debriefed Committee of role at recent MTSS conference and July/August regional trainings to kick off the new school year.
• Seasonal EXL Academy and Office hours for the 25-26 Fiscal Year.
• Went over Fiscal Year 25-26 ELO-P, ASES, 21^st CCLC funding ELO-P minimum apportionment amount from $50,000 to $100,000.
• Beginning with FY 26-27 Rate must offer and provide access to all students.
• Attendance Recovery Attendance Recovery - Instructional Time and Attendance Accounting (CA Dept of Education)                                                                                                                                     

Advisory Committee Chair Report

Legislative Updates – Sandy – continue to push for 21^st CCLC Title IV B advocacy in Congress.

Expanded Learning Division Staff Report

Michael Funk – EXLD Director - Harm was done with the Suspension of Federal Funds, layoffs in Migrant Education, AmeriCorps, etc. Next year it is intended that funding will be released timely.

Reductions, many sites were not operating one comprehensive program between different funding sources (ELO-P, ASES, 21^st CCLC)

Joshua Brady, EXLD Administrator – provided update on EXLD staffing announcing Emily Romine as the new Staff Services Manager 1 and Kindred Bang as the other Staff Services Manager 1 overseeing the Analysts work and operations.

1. 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Updates

• Approximately $141 million is available from FY 23 funds because of carryover balances since FY 21 due to the influx of ESSER III funds during COVID-19.

• ***Tydings Waiver approved by the California State Board of Education and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) in July 2025 for approval, which would extend the obligation period of these funds from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2026. The waiver was approved by ED on August 11, 2025. 

• 21^st CCLC Supplemental RFA is going through a legal review and will be posted for one-time funds with a performance period of July 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026.

• Eligible applicants include current Cohort 13,14,15 21^st CCLC elementary/middle, ASSETs and ASES grantees.

• Grant amount options will be $50,000, $100,000, $150,000 per site based on the need selected by the applicant. Short narrative on how the funds will be used. Ranking will be highest to lowest FRPM.

• FY 26 Funding Update

2. After School Education and Safety (ASES) Grant

• Due to over $54 million in ASES grant reductions, everyone that applied for ASES Universal was funded except those that were disqualified. The final intent to award for sites funded was over $20 million.

• As a result, EXLD still has approximately $33 million available.

• 2^nd Round ASES Universal RFA will be posted soon. LEAs are encouraged to apply to this 2^nd Round of Funding.

Grant Award Notification (GAN) Timeline – 3 Month Project

Major Items Below:

• 35 days - Data Build process for ASSIST
• 14 days – AO-400 GAN packet for Branch
• 5 days – Budgets
• 10 days – Branch review
• 4 days – Branch Edits, if needed
• 10 days – Chief Deputy review
• 5 days – Superintendents Correspondence Unit

Note: In the future, EXLD is working to have all final Intent to Awards posted, grant reductions finalized, and grant changes completed by the end of March. This will allow GAN’s can be sent out in July/August once a budget is passed.

4. Other Internal Updates

• Administrative Review Procedures – formalizing procedures for administrative reviews outside of the normal Federal Program Monitoring Process. EXLD has seen an increase in allegations for misuse of funds including attendance and allowable costs.

• Payment Process and Expenditure Tracking Procedures – EXLD will be tracking expenditures more closely and providing technical assistance for grantees with a low percentage of expenditures after each quarter.
  

Emerging Issues and Opportunities

Members discussed the need for additional support for special education students, concerns for migrant students, how wildfires impact program attendance, and how the current federal landscape is affecting students, families, and programs.

The Advisory also proposed a new start time for the meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to accommodate changing flight availability.

Next Meeting Date:

The next meeting will be held on November 18, 2025. Topics to include:

• Unspent Funds for ASES and 21^st CCLC grantees broken down by region
• Attendance Relief summary - Fire Impacts
• Payment Process timeline
• Best and Promising Practices of Expenditures
• Attendance Relief for migrant populations

New Start Time will be 10:00 a.m.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 12:01 p.m. by Sandra McBrayer