Summer Discovery

Ballmer Group is investing in summer enrichment for students in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. 

We know from parents and community leaders that not enough summer enrichment programs exist for students in Southeast Michigan, and we know that barriers such as transportation and cost prevent parents from enrolling their children, even if spots are available. We also know that Michigan parents report that afterschool and summer programs help them keep their jobs, build connections to their children’s education, and keep their children safe and engaged in learning. However, parents also report that there are not enough programs to serve students.

Summer Discovery is a regional effort designed for students and families in Southeast Michigan, where many students need more access to learning and activity opportunities during the summer break. We believe in equitable access to safe, quality out-of-school-time (OST) programs that grow academic outcomes, offer enrichment activities that increase career exposure and interest, engage families, and deepen community support for afterschool and summer programs. We believe that ALL kids in Michigan deserve opportunities to succeed in school and to dream big about their futures.

Launched for the first time ahead of Summer 2024, Summer Discovery provided traditional schools, charter schools, and select Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) with the opportunity to apply for funding to provide instruction and enrichment activities in the summer of 2024. In its first year, Summer Discovery funded summer programming for ~16,500 students across the Tri-County area. Ballmer Group is pleased to continue to offer Summer Discovery this summer. 

Any charter school, traditional school, or invited Community-Based Organization that meets the following criteria is eligible for grant funding:

• Conduct in-person instruction and enrichment
• Serve at least 50% free lunch population 
• Serve students who attend school in Wayne, Macomb, or Oakland County
• Serve students who are Rising 1st – Rising 9th graders (students entering 1st-9th grade)
• Show proof of appropriate licensure prior to the first day of summer programming 

Note on CBO eligibility: Unsolicited applications from Community-Based Organizations who have not been invited by Ballmer Group to apply as a lead applicant will not be reviewed or accepted. If you are a Community-Based Organization and believe you have met the required eligibility criteria and are interested in applying as a lead applicant, email [email protected] to request a Letter of Intent form. All Letter of Intent forms must be submitted by 1/10/25 for consideration. A Letter of Intent does not guarantee grant funding; the Summer Discovery team will review your materials and be in touch about whether you will be invited to apply by 1/17/25. CBOs who are invited to submit an application will need to submit by 1/31/25. In addition to the above criteria, CBOs must have access to a physical location and must have previously run a summer program. Grant funding may only be used for students who attend school in the Tri-County region.

• Individual traditional public schools or individual charter schools in Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb Counties that meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the application materials.
  • Individual traditional public school: To ensure proper contracting and payment, district-level information, including an acknowledgement of partnership, will be required 
  • Individual charter school:  To ensure proper contracting and payment, an individual charter school whose legal entity is a Charter Management Organization (CMO), will be required to include CMO-level information, including an acknowledgement of partnership, in their application

• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): CBOs who have been invited to participate in Summer Discovery may apply. If you are a CBO interested in learning more about the grant, see “Who is eligible?” question above for more details.

We encourage applicants to submit an application as soon as possible in case any follow-up is needed.

Early Decision Application Deadline is no later than 11:59pm ET on 12/13/24.

Final Application Deadline is no later than 11:59pm ET on 1/31/25.

Based on known best practices for summer learning, the core Summer Discovery program requirements remain largely the same as the 2024 requirements.

That said, some adjustments have been made; see below for Summer Discovery 2025 updates.

• Half-day programs funded for Rising 9th graders: To allow for greater flexibility and to respond to needs we have heard, grantees may apply for a half-day program (5+ hours) for students entering 9th grade only. A minimum of three hours of instruction (math and/or ELA) must be provided. You will be asked for details in the application.
• Student-to-Teacher Ratio update: Due to Michigan state child care licensing requirements, programs must ensure a student-to-teacher ratio of no more than 18:1.
• Enrollment Check process: Because funding is tied to enrollment, the enrollment check deadlines have been moved closer to your summer program’s beginning date. This allows grantees more time to predict the actual number of students who will enroll in the summer program.
• Adjustments to technology platforms: We have adopted a new assessment platform and a new grants management platform. We hope these platforms are user-friendly so that grantees can focus primarily on planning for and executing summer programs. 
• Licensing requirements: The State of Michigan requires providers who care for children under 13 for less than 24 hours a day unattended by a parent or legal guardian for more than two consecutive weeks to obtain a Child Care Center License. This year, the State is requiring out-of-school providers that fit the description for Child Care licensing to be in compliance with the rule. All grantees must show proof of appropriate licensure prior to the first day of summer programming. 
  • Applicants may include costs associated with obtaining a license in their Summer Discovery budget which will be submitted at the time of application.
  • Licenses are issued to a specific person or organization at a specific location. Partners/schools that operate multiple sites will need to be licensed at each location. 
  • Child Care licensing ensures that providers are in safe spaces and use quality, background-checked, and fingerprinted staff to provide care and programming. 

Active licenses, their type, and student capacity can be found by using the Statewide Facility Search database. More details about resources can be found here.