After school care programs play a vital role in enriching the lives of children, offering academic support, recreational activities, and a safe environment outside of regular school hours. For parents and guardians seeking to enhance their children’s learning experiences through these programs in Ohio, understanding the resources available, particularly regarding program materials, is crucial. The Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program is a significant initiative designed to support this need. While the program itself doesn’t directly “supply” materials, it provides funding that families can use to access a wide range of educational activities and resources, which inherently include program materials.
The ACE program, though currently fully subscribed and closed to new applications, offers a $1,000 credit per eligible child. This credit is not just for tuition or program fees; it’s designed to cover a variety of educational activities aimed at accelerating learning for children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding how these funds can be utilized indirectly sheds light on who “supplies” materials for after school care programs in the context of the ACE program.
Understanding the ACE Program and Allowable Activities
The core of the ACE program lies in its list of “Allowable Activities.” These activities are where the need for program materials becomes apparent. Let’s break down these activities and consider the types of materials they typically involve:
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Before- or after-school educational programs: These programs, designed to align with state academic standards and accelerate learning, inherently require educational materials. This can range from workbooks and textbooks to art supplies, science kits, and learning games. The ACE program funds can be directed towards programs that provide these necessary materials as part of their service.
Alt text: “How to Apply button for Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment program, linking to application details, implying access to program materials upon successful application.”
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Day camps (academics, music, arts): Similar to after-school programs, day camps focused on academics, music, or arts necessitate specific materials. Academic camps might use specialized curriculum, music camps require instruments or sheet music, and art camps need various art supplies. ACE funds can facilitate access to camps that furnish these materials.
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Curriculum and materials for homeschool families: This is a direct allowance for materials. Homeschool families can utilize ACE funds to procure curriculum and learning resources, directly addressing the “supply of materials” aspect. It’s important to note that ACE funds cannot be used for tuition, whether for site-based or online schools.
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Educational, learning, or study skills services: While this category is service-oriented, some services might include supplementary materials like worksheets, guides, or online resources that aid in learning and skill development.
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Tuition for learning pods: Learning pods, often small groups of students learning together, may require shared learning materials. ACE funds can cover tuition, which might indirectly contribute to the provision of shared materials within the pod setting.
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Field trips (historical landmarks, museums, science centers, theaters): Field trips themselves are experiences, but related materials could include pre-trip learning packets, activity sheets during the trip, or post-trip workbooks to reinforce learning. Admission and program fees covered by ACE can include access to these supplementary materials.
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Language classes and Music lessons: These classes often require learning materials such as textbooks, workbooks, sheet music, or practice materials. While the purchase of musical instruments is not directly covered, the lessons themselves, funded by ACE, will likely utilize supplied learning materials.
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Tutoring: Tutoring services, aimed at academic support, may involve tutors providing learning materials, worksheets, or access to online educational platforms as part of their service.
It’s crucial to remember that ACE account funds cannot be used for purchasing electronic devices. This clarifies the scope of “materials” to primarily include physical or consumable educational resources and excludes hardware.
Identifying Qualified Education Service Providers (QESPs) as Material Sources
The Ohio Department of Education facilitates the ACE program by enlisting Qualified Education Service Providers (QESPs). These are organizations offering qualifying programs or services aligned with the Ohio Revised Code. The QESP marketplace is where parents can search for organizations and the services they provide.
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Alt text: “Ohio ACE Resources button, linking to a page with resources for the Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment program, suggesting access to information about material providers within the program.”
While QESPs are primarily service providers, they are the key entities through which families can access ACE-funded activities. Therefore, when considering “who supplies materials,” the answer, in the context of the ACE program, points towards these QESPs. These providers, offering after-school programs, camps, tutoring, and other eligible services, are the ones who will typically supply the necessary materials for the funded activities.
Families looking to utilize ACE funds for after school care programs should explore the QESP marketplace. By searching for providers offering relevant programs, they can indirectly find out “who supplies materials.” The program descriptions and details provided by QESPs will often indicate what materials are included within their program offerings.
Conclusion: Accessing Materials Through ACE-Funded Programs
In conclusion, the Ohio ACE program does not directly supply materials to families. Instead, it empowers eligible families with funding to access educational programs and services. The “supply of materials” for after school care programs, therefore, comes indirectly through the Qualified Education Service Providers (QESPs). These providers, offering ACE-eligible activities, are responsible for equipping their programs with the necessary educational materials.
Parents seeking after school care and related materials should:
- Understand the Allowable Activities: Familiarize themselves with the list of activities covered by ACE funds to identify relevant program types.
- Explore the QESP Marketplace: Utilize the online marketplace to find Qualified Education Service Providers offering suitable programs in their area.
- Inquire about Program Materials: When contacting QESPs, specifically ask about the materials included in their program offerings to ensure they meet their child’s needs.
By understanding this indirect approach, Ohio families can effectively leverage the ACE program to access enriched after school experiences for their children, which inherently include the necessary program materials supplied by the Qualified Education Service Providers.
