21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV, Part B)
Program Information
Cohort 19 RFP Announcement
On October 1, 2026, the NC State Board of Education approved the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) to launch the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Cohort 19 Competition for the 2027-2028 school year for any Public School Unit (PSU) or Non-PSU organizations [NPO (Non-Profit Organization), CBO (Community Based Organization), FBO (Faith Based Organizations), For-Profit, IHE (Institutions of Higher Education), City/Local Gov].
Authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, the purpose of Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC Programs is to provide federal funds to establish or expand community learning centers that operate during out-of-school hours providing three specific services: intentional academic support, quality enrichment experiences, and family engagement opportunities.
The competitive grant opportunity will be processed through the CCIP system. Grant amounts will range from $50,000 to $500,000 depending on 1) needs identified in the community and schools; 2) scope of the program; 3) proposed number of students served; and 4) program design. Depending on funding availability, grant awards may continue for up to three years (through Summer 2029).
To determine the number of reviewers required to support the NCDPI Cohort 19 Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC Competition, potential applicants are encouraged to submit an electronic Notice of Intent by October 23, 2026. Please note that submission of a Notice of Intent is not a requirement to apply for the grant, nor does it obligate the organization to apply.
The Cohort 19 RFP (Request for Proposals) document is linked in this announcement. If you meet the eligibility requirements to apply, we welcome you to do so.
Additionally, we will host two technical assistance webinars on October 8th and 9th to support potential grantees as they navigate the RFP and application. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend both sessions as the information provided each day is different. To attend the webinars, please click on the links below on the day of the training.
Day 1: October 8, 2026 10:00am- 12:00pm
Day 2: October 9, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program is authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to provide federal funds to establish or expand community learning centers that operate during out-of-school hours with three specific purposes:
- Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students (particularly students in high poverty areas and those who attend low-performing schools) meet state and local student performance standards in core academic subjects such as reading and mathematics.
- 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.
- Offer families of students served by 21 st CCLCs opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
Any public or private organization wanting to provide out-of-school programs for K-12 students in North Carolina is eligible to apply for a 21st CCLC grant. Agencies and organizations eligible under the 21st CCLC program include, but are not limited to, local education agencies (LEAs), non-profit agencies, city or county government agencies, community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), and for-profit corporations. The 21st CCLC grant funds are solely available on a reimbursement request basis for actual allowable expenditures. Organizations are eligible to receive reimbursement grants of not less than $50,000 and up to $400,000 a year, based on the number of students served, with an opportunity for a second and third year of funding.
Purpose of Program
The 21st CCLC program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The program provides before and after-school, weekend, and summer school academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low-performing schools to help them meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science. In addition, programs may provide activities for youth development, drug and violence prevention, art, music, technology, character education, counseling, and recreation to enhance the program's academic components. The program also supports a component for family literacy and community outreach.
21st CCLC Subrecipients/Subgrantees
Formula grants are awarded to State educational agencies, which in turn manage statewide competitions and award grants to eligible entities or subrecipients.
21st CCLC Eligible entities include:
Local educational agencies or Public School Units;
Community-based organizations;
City or County government agencies;
Faith-based organizations;
Bureau of Indian Education schools;
For-profit corporations.
Navigate to the link to view a complete listing of subrecipients. Cohort 17 and Cohort 18 Subrecipients
21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Annual Foundations Conference Materials
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) host an annual Foundation's Conference for subgrantees.
NCDPIs 21st CCLC team is dedicated to building your program for success. The 21st CCLC program is designed to support students in out-of-school time programming who need additional support and tiered services. These services aim to enhance academic and enrichment pursuits, raise awareness of social-emotional needs, and foster positive parental engagement among all stakeholders.
21st CCLC Foundations Conference Google Drive Resources
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is pleased to announce they will offer 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant Readiness Trainings to help potential applicants determine their readiness to successfully implement and sustain a federally funded out-of-school-time program. These trainings are open to both current 21st CCLC subgrantees seeking to strengthen program quality and compliance, as well as new or novice organizations interested in learning more about the grant program and assessing whether they are prepared to apply for future funding opportunities.
The trainings provide an overview of key programmatic, fiscal, and compliance requirements associated with the Title IV-B 21st CCLC grant, including reimbursement-based funding, allowable costs, data collection and reporting expectations, and federal grant management responsibilities.
Participants will assess their organization's capacity to administer federal funds, maintain required fiscal controls, manage cash flow under a reimbursement model, and implement high-quality programming that meets grant expectations. The training also guides applicants through identifying student and community needs, developing evidence-based program designs, establishing meaningful partnerships, creating measurable goals aligned with North Carolina's Statewide Strategic Performance Goals, and developing realistic, compliant budgets.
By the conclusion of the training, participants will have a clearer understanding of the operational, fiscal, and staffing commitments required to successfully implement a 21st CCLC program and will be better positioned to determine whether their organization is prepared to submit a competitive application and effectively manage the grant if awarded.
Please note that multiple training sessions are offered to provide scheduling flexibility; however, each session covers the same content. Organizations only need to register for and attend one Grant Readiness Training.