21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers
(21st CCLC) grant is a competitive grant that provides federal funding to
establish community learning centers that provide academic, artistic and
cultural enrichment opportunities for students and their families. These
opportunities must occur during non-school hours or periods when school is not
in session to help students attending high-poverty and low-performing schools
to meet state and local standards in core academic subjects. Centers must also
offer students a broad array of activities that can complement their regular
academic programs, to offer literacy and other educational services to their
families.
The 21st CCLC grant is authorized under, Title
IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (P.L. 107-110), as
amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015.
The 21st CCLC grant is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
(PDE) and provides funding for the establishment of community learning centers
to provide students with academic enrichment opportunities. In addition to
academics, 21st CCLC grantees may also offer participants a broad array of
other services and programs, such as counseling, character education, drug and
violence prevention programming, art, music, recreation activities and
technology education. Ancillary services for parents such as literacy
instruction may also be given.