Bill
SB 954
Establishes LEAP Grant Program and Advisory Council to fund and evaluate high-quality afterschool and out-of-school programs, prioritizing rural/underserved communities.
Title: Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP)
Purpose
- Establish a state framework to promote high-quality positive youth development through afterschool and out-of-school-time programming.
- Create a dedicated LEAP Grant Program and an advisory council to guide implementation, aiming to expand access and equity, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Key Provisions
1) Establishment and Structure
- Adds Part 2, “Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP),” to Article 3, Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
- Defines core terms:
- Children and youth: school-age individuals up to age 18.
- Eligible organizations: community-based organizations, statewide youth-serving organizations, cities/counties with youth programs, and schools operating programs outside school hours.
- Positive youth development programming: structured activities with engaged adult mentors and evidence-based or evidence-informed practices offered before school, after school, or in summer (not during regular school hours).
2) LEAP Advisory Council (G.S. 115C-23.2)
- The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) must establish a LEAP Advisory Council to assist with implementing the LEAP Grant Program.
- Council members (minimum):
- DPI representative (chair)
- Representative from the Division of Child Development and Early Education (NCDHHS)
- Representative from the NC Center for Afterschool Programs
- A representative from a community-based afterschool/summer program (appointed by the NC Center for Afterschool Programs’ Advisory Board)
- Duties: provide guidance on grant materials, scoring, and selection; strategies to reach rural/underserved areas; program quality standards; professional development; evaluation findings; alignment with other state/local initiatives.
- The Council is advisory only; final grant awards rest with the DPI.
- DPI shall convene the Council regularly and provide administrative support.
3) LEAP Grant Program (G.S. 115C-23.3)
- Creation of the LEAP Fund (a nonreverting special revenue fund) to receive:
- General Assembly appropriations
- Eligible federal/grant funds
- Private donations
- Funds from social media litigation settlements/court awards directed to LEAP
- DPI administers the LEAP Grant Program to support high-quality positive youth development nationwide within North Carolina, contingent on available funds and program design.
- Program elements (developed with the Advisory Council):
- Application and timeline
- Technical assistance guides; extra support for first-time applicants and rural/underserved applicants
- Award selection timeline and criteria to ensure statewide, equitable distribution
- Grant terms and amounts (grants may vary; no single grant may fund more than two years)
- Grant renewal criteria (continuous renewal contingent on meeting requirements and fund availability; must align with program requirements and evaluation benchmarks)
- Evaluation metrics (minimum standards):
- Attendance/participation
- Development outcomes (academics, skills, career awareness, workforce readiness)
- Community and family engagement
- Program reach (sites served and children/youth served)
- Fund awards are supplemental, not a replacement for existing positive youth development funding.
- DPI may retain up to 10% of program funds for administration, standards development, training, evaluation tools, and coordination with entities like the NC Center for Afterschool Programs.
- DPI may partner with academic institutions and nonprofit TA providers to deliver services and evaluation.
4) Administration and Partnerships
- DPI may contract or partner to deliver services, including evaluating programming and providing technical assistance.
5) Fiscal Note and Effective Date
- Appropriations: $19,500,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish LEAP Fund and LEAP Grant Program.
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
Impact and Reach
Notes for Readers
- This bill does not by itself create new ongoing programs; it establishes a grant program and advisory council with multi-agency coordination (DPI, NC DHHS, NC Center for Afterschool Programs) to design, fund, and evaluate positive youth development activities outside of regular school hours.
- Final grant awards are determinate by DPI, guided by the LEAP Advisory Council and published scoring criteria. The program emphasizes equity, community needs, and measurable outcomes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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