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Grand Forks Public School District Will Still Pay For Encore Program, Even Without Federal Funding

By Alex Carmenaty Aug 31, 2026 | 7:56 AM

(KNOX) –The Grand Forks Public School District will continue to pay for the Encore program even though they will not be receiving federal funding for it. Encore is an after school program for students. Kristin Vetsch is the executive director, and she explains what it does.

Encode had been funded through a federal grant, but a former Encore administrator did not apply in time in order to qualify for the current grant period. 

The district will pay $213,000 out of its general fund to pay for the program. The district can apply for the grant again in 2030. 

Encore is also funded through fees that are determined  based on whether a student is on free or reduced lunch and whether they attend a Title I school.

529 students have enrolled in the program for the 2026-27 school year. The program is offered at all 10 Grand Forks elementary schools, but six of them have wait lists this year. Nearly 80 students are still waiting to get accepted. 734 students participated in Encore last school year. 

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