Purpose of 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). ESEA was reauthorized in December 2015 and renamed as the “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Under Title IV, Part B, USDOE provides grants to states using a formula in the law, based on the amount of funding provided in the federal budget. The authorizing legislation can be found at ESEA (see pages 233 through 244 of the legislation).

The overarching goal of the 21CCLC program is to provide students—particularly students who attend schools in need of improvement—with academic enrichment opportunities and support services to help them meet state and local standards in the core content areas. 21st Century Community Learning Centers provide students with opportunities for academic enrichment, youth development, and family support during non-school hours or during periods when school is not in session.

Elements of a comprehensive program

  • Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet the challenging State academic standards
  • Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as youth development activities, service learning, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, arts, music, physical fitness and wellness programs, technology education programs, financial literacy programs, environmental literacy programs, mathematics, science, career and technical programs, internship or apprenticeship programs, and other ties to an in-demand industry sector or occupation for high school students that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
  • Offer families of students served by community learning centers for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

As outlined in ESSA, the types of authorized activities that may be carried out as part of a 21CCLC project are:

  • Academic enrichment learning programs, mentoring programs, remedial education activities, and tutoring services, that are aligned with—
    • challenging State academic standards and any local academic standards, and
    • local curricula that are designed to improve student academic achievement;
  • 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;
  • 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 and counseling programs;
  • Programs that build skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this paragraph as ‘‘STEM’’), including computer science, and that foster innovation in learning by supporting nontraditional STEM education teaching methods; and
  • 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.).

State Priority Areas

In addition to the authorized activities of the federal law as described in above, HIDOE has established statewide priority areas that are strongly recommended for inclusion in all 21CCLC projects. These priority areas are:

  • Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI);
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM);
  • Health and Wellbeing/Social and Emotional Learning;
  • Summer Transitions/Dropout Prevention; and
  • College, Career, Community Readiness/Linking Learning and Career Pathways.

Duration of Project Grants

  • Three-year sub-grant period, annually awarded based on substantial progress
  • Two - 12-month extensions will be contingent upon program performance and evaluation

21CCLC Handbook

  • Provides organization of files and documents that are relevant and required for program implementation;
  • Contains documentation, tracking and monitoring of student achievement and student data in a systematized way;
  • Facilitates a seamless transition from Project Director to Project Director, and Site Coordinator to Site Coordinator, and other key program personnel;
  • Ensures compliance with state, local and federal statutes, laws and regulations for the 21CCLC programs;
  • Serves as the basis for site visits and monitoring. During any on-site review (HIDOE, USDE, external grant evaluator, or single auditor), the members of the Title IV, Part B Monitoring Team will look for evidence that:
    • The approved grant application is the foundation of the project;
    • If changes have been made to meet the changing needs of the sub-grantee and its community, HIDOE approval has been provided and documented; and
    • Title IV, Part B expenditures are aligned with the approved grant application, budget narrative and budget and accompanying revisions; and
  • Fulfills ESSA record retention mandates. ESSA requires records retention for only three years; however, USDE can review your records and demand the return of grant money for up to seven years. Maintain these records for at least 7 years after the grant ends.