The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program was established by Congress as Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015. The purpose of this proposal is to provide STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) opportunities for students during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session, such as before and after school or during summer recess, particularly for students who attend low-performing schools. 21st CCLC programs offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities that are designed to complement the regular academic program such as STEAM related youth development activities, arts, music, environmental literacy programs, and career and technical programs. 21st CCLC programs also offer families opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their child's education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
Applicants receiving an award are responsible for utilizing these funds to carry out activities that advance student achievement and support student success, including but not limited to:
- Academic enrichment learning programs, mentoring programs, remedial education activities, and tutoring services;
- Well-rounded education activities including such activities that enable students to be eligible for credit recovery or attainment;
- Literacy education programs, including financial literacy programs and environmental literacy programs;
- Programs that support a healthy and active lifestyle, including nutritional education and regular, structured physical activity programs, and recreational activities;
- Services for individuals with disabilities;
- Programs that provide after-school activities for students who are English learners that emphasize language skills and academic achievement;
- Cultural programs;
- Telecommunications and technology education programs;
- Expanded library service hours;
- Parenting skills programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy;
- Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement;
- Drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, character education programs, and entrepreneurial programs;
- Programs that build skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including computer science, and that foster innovation in learning by supporting nontraditional STEM education teaching methods;
- Programs that partner with in-demand fields of the local workforce or build career competencies and career readiness and ensure that local workforce and career readiness skills are aligned with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. § 2301, et seq.) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. § 3101, et seq.); and,
- Expanded learning programs that provide students at least 300 additional program hours before, during, or after the traditional school day.
Absolute Priority: The MDE awards subgrants only to applicants primarily serving students who attend schools with a high concentration of low-income students and families. For this proposal, a high concentration of low-income students and families is defined as a poverty percentage (i.e., the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals) of 40% or greater as determined by school enrollment or the participating attendance area.
Competitive Priority: Competitive priority points will be awarded by MDE to those applicants that meet the criteria. For a complete list of competitive priority points please see Supplemental Form A. These criteria and point allotment will be awarded by adding additional points to Proposals demonstrating these criteria, but only after the proposal has met the minimum quality score of 80.
Current 21st CCLC Grantees can be seen at https://www.mdek12.org/sites/default/files/Offices/MDE/OFP/21st%20CCLC/21st_cclc_fy19_steam_rfp_final.pdf.