RFP #2026-01

 Out of School Time Program-Expanding Learning Beyond the School Day

“From Bright Pathways to Bright Futures – expanding learning, opening opportunity tomorrow.”

Bright Pathways, an initiative of the Escambia Children’s Trust, is a countywide Out-of-School Time (OST) program designed to expand learning beyond the traditional school day and promote opportunities for academic success, social-emotional growth, and lifelong learning. The program provides a structured framework of age-appropriate support and enrichment activities that meet the diverse needs of children and youth from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Through intentional alignment with school-day learning, high-quality youth development practices, and community partnerships, Bright Pathways offers students access to safe, engaging, and educational environments where they can explore interests, develop critical skills, and cultivate positive relationships. Organized into three developmental progressions—Elementary, Middle, and High School—each stage of Bright Pathways is designed to guide participants through key transitions in learning and life, ensuring continuity of support from early exploration to college, career, and civic readiness.

By investing in Bright Pathways, Escambia Children’s Trust advances its commitment to improving outcomes for children and families, strengthening community capacity, and expanding the reach of quality afterschool and summer learning experiences across Escambia County. By aligning afterschool and summer experiences with the goals of Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program, Bright Pathways cultivates the curiosity, persistence, and achievement that prepare youth to become strong candidates for postsecondary education and career pathways. This intentional alignment ensures that students in Escambia County not only thrive today but are positioned to access the opportunities and rewards of the Bright Futures promise tomorrow.

This RFP specifically aims to address the themes highlighted in ECT’s needs assessment https://escambiachildrenstrust.org/partners/impact ensuring that all students have access to the resources and support they need during the critical afterschool and summer hours.

Information Session Held February 18, 2026

• Recorded Zoom Session
• Bright Pathways Info Session PowerPoint

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Bright Pathways Financial Training Dates

Email Djoyner@escambiachildrenstrust.org to sign up

• March 4, 2026 9:30 a.m.
• March 11, 2026 9:30 a.m.
• March 25, 2026 9:30 a.m.
• April 1, 2026 9:30 a.m.
• April 8, 2026 9:30 a.m.

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Review Committee Meeting on April 10, 2026

• Recorded Zoom Session
• Bright Pathways Info Session for Reviewers PowerPoint

Questions & Answers Regarding RFP

• Q&A that have been asked.
• Please direct all questions concerning this RFP to info@EscambiaChildrensTrust.org. All questions will become part of the public record and will be posted, along with answers, on a public Q&A page.

Instructions to Apply

• **Please note: We encourage proposal submissions after the Question & Answer period ends and final answers are posted. Consider delaying submission of your final application in order to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from other applicants’ questions as well as ECT’s formal responses. In previous solicitations, we have received 50-100 unique questions!
• Application instructions: The entire application process is online. Click HERE to view the detailed, step-by-step application instructions.
• Application login page: Click HERE to login to the online application portal through SAMIS (ECT’s Services Activities and Management Information System).
• Full solicitation – PDF: You can view the PDF file HERE.
• Budget narrative template: You can view the XLSX file HERE.
• Scoring criteria: The scoring criteria can be viewed HERE.

Important RFP Deadlines

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