21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV, Part B)
Program Information
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.