Grant Details

The purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is to establish or expand community learning centers that provide students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools with academic enrichment opportunities by Expanding Learning Opportunities during non-school hours along with activities designed to complement the students' regular academic program. Community learning centers must also offer families of these students' literacy and related educational development.

Centers, which can be located in elementary or secondary schools or other similarly accessible facility, provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, including tutoring and mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment (such as hands-on science or technology programs), and community service opportunities, as well as music, arts, sports, and cultural activities. At the same time, centers help working parents by providing a safe environment for students during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session.

Types of Extended Learning Opportunities An approved entity that receives an award from the state may use the funds to carry out a broad array of activities, including before and after school, summer, Saturdays and holiday programming. No student can be removed from regularly scheduled instructional hours to participate in an extended learning opportunity.These activities include remedial education activities and academic enrichment programs such as:

• Reading, Mathematics, science, and Language Arts education activities;
• Arts and music activities;
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Activities (STEM);
• Science Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Activities (STEAM);
• Entrepreneurial programs (students cannot be paid to participate or receive monetary compensation such as paid internships);
• Tutoring services/homework help and mentoring programs;
• Limited English proficient programs for parents and students;
• Recreational/physical activities (organized competitive sports such as PIAA, league fees, league participation, competitions, coaches' salaries, intramurals and all related costs are not permitted);
• Nutrition education;
• Telecommunications and technology;
• Expanded library services;
• Programs that promote parental education, involvement and family literacy;
• Student attendance and behavior programs;
• Drug and violence prevention programs;
• College, technical education and career readiness programs;
• High school credit recovery;
• Counseling programs;
• Character education programs; and
• Service learning programs.

Funds under this program must be used to provide services and cannot exclusively support planning. Applicants are limited to a maximum of two to four weeks per program year of planning time which can be divided between the school year and the summer. The federal legislation requires a local applicant to demonstrate prior experience or promise of success in providing educational or related activities. Local applicants should plan for implementation prior to applying for the grant. However, grantees may use funds for ongoing planning throughout the grant period to strengthen the program based on evaluation results.

Applicants are encouraged to develop innovative program models designed to improve state and local academic achievement standards in reading and math and focus on improving grades prekindergarten through 12 performance measures of school attendance, classroom performance, and/or reduced disciplinary referrals. Federal funds may not be used to support state mandates.