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​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.

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​​Public notice on website for waiver request of 21st Century Community Learning Cent​​​ers (21st CCLC)

​​This is a notice t​​o the public that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (Department or PDE) is applying to the U.S. Department of Education for a waiver for the funds listed below until September 30, 2025. 

A public comment period will be open from September 26, 2024, until October 5, 2024.  Comme​​nts can be sent to ra-edforpubliccomment@pa.gov.

The Department is​ requesting a waiver of Section 421(b) of General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) for the following grant programs to support operational activities that would be impacted by the expiration of funding on September 30, 2024. 

  • Title IV, Par​​t B, 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program 

Several activities at the Department level will be positively impacted by approving the extension. This "Tydings Waiver" will allow PDE to continue using these funds for afterschool programs that deliver high-quality services to supp​​ort student learning and development. The extension will also allow the Department to support the continued efforts of the 21st CCLC program to increase student achievement through a broad array of services and programs that are aligned to PDE's State Strategic Plan and statewide initiatives .  

PDE will​​ host additional grant competitions for these funds to enhance:

  • Science, Technology, E​ngineering and Math (STEM) programs
  • Summer bridge programs
  • College/Career Readiness programs

In addition, P​​DE will use these funds to continue its process to establish consistent and uniform program standards, and a more effective program evaluation tool.

The exten​​ded authority to obligate these funds will help improve academic achievement by offering enhanced educational experiences and opportunities for thousands of children and families in Pennsylvania.

These programs ​​help working parents by providing a safe environment for students outside of school hours. If approved, a waiver would allow the Department to continue its work in serving at-risk and underserved populations.   

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