Gov. Kemp Announces $15 Million in GEER Funds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia to Address Learning Gaps Caused by COVID-19

Atlanta, GA – Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the availability of $15 million in Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia to advance student academic achievement by addressing learning recovery and other critical needs of youth brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, $15 million will be awarded to serve 9,000 youth. Sub-awards from the Georgia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs will be made to local Boys & Girls Clubs on number of youth served at an average cost of $1550/child. These funds will be distributed across 34 Boys & Girls Clubs organizations, 141 sites, and 62 counties in Georgia.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia have done a remarkable job of serving the needs of youth across the Peach State,” said Governor Kemp. “With this GEER funding, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia will be able to further enhance student academic achievement by addressing educational gaps caused by the pandemic. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding has on youth across the State of Georgia.”

The program goals include ensuring 65% of youth below grade level will return to grade level by the end of the program term, and 35% of youth will show an increase or progress toward grade level achievement.

The funding period is between June 2021 through September 2022, inclusive of summer camp, school breaks, and holidays (fall/spring/winter camps); and the afterschool program for youth ages 5–18 (K-12), to be served at club sites across the Boys & Girls Clubs in Georgia (at $1,550 cost per child) with targeted academic support. $4 million will go toward the grant kick-off and summer costs for 2021; $7 million will go toward the 2021-2022 school year costs; and $4 million will go toward summer 2022 and the grant closeout.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia: Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia (GA BGC) is a statewide organization representing Boys& Girls Clubs organizations in Georgia who provide direct afterschool and summer learning programs and provide out-of-school time services at 140+ Club sites in 62 counties across the state. GA BGC is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors comprised of seven local Boys & Girls Club leaders and eight staff members from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Three staff members currently manage the operations of the Georgia Alliance. Executive Director Kristine Steinmann oversees all functions of the Alliance, including proposal development, contract management, and program execution. She is supported by Director of Finance and Compliance, Starnita James, who is responsible for reconciling financials and ensuring compliance on all grant requirements and Chamarla Brame, Project Manager, Grant Compliance. Each Boys & Girls Club organization’s CEO works directly with the Georgia Alliance to ensure that contract deliverables are met. GA BGC will hire a dedicated Project Manager to oversee the development and implementation of quality standards for all aspects of these proposed projects including but not limited to compliance, contractor requirements, training, monitoring, reporting, and financial oversight of the proposed programs.