The California Department of Education has recently shared important updates related to Expanded Learning Programs. See below for

1. Fiscal Year 2026-27 ASES Frontier Initial Intent to Award
2. Fiscal Year 2026-27 ASES Universal Initial Intent to Award
3. Expanded Learning 2025 Biennial Report to the Legislature

1. Fiscal Year 2026-27 ASES Frontier Initial Intent to Award

Sent June 18, 2026, from the Expanded Learning Division.

The Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) is pleased to announce the posting of the Intent to Award for the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Frontier Transportation Grant. The award list is located on the California Department of Education’s website at Funding Results: After School Education and Safety Frontier Transportation Grant (CA Dept of Education).

The purpose of the ASES Frontier Transportation Grant is to provide supplemental funding for existing ASES grantees that have transportation needs due to their after-school program site being located in Frontier Areas as specified in California Education Code Section 8483.7(a)(5). The Intent to Award list represents one site applying for funds totaling $15,000.00.

Congratulations to all awardees and best wishes for your program in 2026-27!

If your program needs any support, please contact your System of Support for Expanded Learning contact located on the CDE’s website at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ex/sosexplearncontacts.asp.

2. Fiscal Year 2026-27 ASES Universal Initial Intent to Award

Sent on June 18, 2026, from the Expanded Learning Division. 

The Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) is pleased to announce the posting of the Initial Intent to Award (ITA) for the ASES Program located on the California Department of Education (CDE) web page at Funding Results: After School Education and Safety (CA Dept of Education).

The ITA list shows only new funding awarded for the ASES Universal
2026-27 Request for Application (RFA)—This posting is only for newly funded sites or sites that requested an increase through the RFA process for Fiscal Year 2026-27. Current ASES grantees and grantees that were up for renewal on Cycle B will not appear on this funding list.

These grant awards are made contingent on the allocation of state funds to the State of California.

Appeals are limited to the grounds that the CDE failed to correctly apply the standards for reviewing the applications as specified in this RFA. The appellant must file a full and complete written appeal, including the issue(s) in dispute, the basis for the appeal position, and the remedy sought. The appeal letter must have an original Authorized Signature(s) as defined in the RFA. 

The applicant must submit an electronic copy of the letter of appeal to the EXLD by email at expandedlearning@cde.ca.gov and include the agency name, the After School Support and Information System (ASSIST) generated application identification number, and “ASES Universal FY 2026-27 RFA Appeal” on the subject line of the email submission. 

All signatures must be original. Appeals that are submitted with signature stamps, electronic stamps, or any form of reproduced stamps will not be considered. Appeals must be received by the CDE within 10 calendar days of the CDE’s email disqualification notification of the ITA decision. 

The Director of the EXLD will make the final decision in writing within two weeks from the date that appeals are due to the CDE. That decision will be emailed to the appellant and shall be the final administrative action afforded to the appeal.

Please note: The ITA list may change after the grant award appeal period is complete. The final awards will be posted on the CDE website when all data is verified and appeals are decided.

Congratulations to all awardees and best wishes for your program in 2026-27!

3. Expanded Learning 2025 Biennial Report to the Legislature

Sent on July 7, 2026, from the Expanded Learning Division. 

The 2025 Biennial Report to the Legislature, titled Characteristics of Schools and Students Participating in Expanded Learning Programs—2025 is now complete and accessible on the Expanded Learning Division’s Laws and Policy Web page at Laws and Policy – Expanded Learning (CA Dept of Education).

This report is required by California Education Code (EC) Section 8428, which mandates that the California Department of Education report to the Legislature biennially on the type and quality of its After School Education and Safety (ASES) and 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC), including After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) programs and the characteristics of the students participating in them.

The 2025 report highlights findings from the 2022–23 school year, during which California’s ASES, 21st CCLC, and ASSETs programs operated at 4,260 sites and served 769,228 students in grades kindergarten through twelve. The 2025 Biennial Report revealed the following key findings:

• Schools that received expanded learning program (ELP) funding served socioeconomically disadvantaged students and homeless and foster youths as well as students of color. 
• Approximately one-third of students (32 percent) in grantee schools were also English learners, on average.
• In grantee schools, an average of 32.9 percent of students participated in ELPs, and participants were representative of the larger student body.
• Students participating in ELPs demonstrated increased school-day attendance, resulting in increased financial resources for schools totaling nearly $95 million.
• Students who participated in a high dosage of ELPs exhibited higher scores on the Smarter Balanced Mathematics assessment.
• Among English learner students, participation in ELPs resulted in increased English language proficiency scores for high school students.
• Twelfth-grade participants in ELPs were more likely to meet college and career readiness benchmarks. 

If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact the Expanded Learning Division, by phone at 916-319-0923 or by email at expandedlearning@cde.ca.gov.

You can find this report at the California Department of Education Laws and Policy Web Page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ex/lawsandpolicy.asp. If you need a copy of this report, please contact Erin Koepke, Education Programs Consultant, Expanded Learning Division by phone at 916-319-0351 or by email at ekoepke@cde.ca.gov.