Title IV, Part B, Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Program, of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (20 U.S.C.7171-7176) recognizes
that improved student achievement occurs when communities implement programs
and strategies scientifically proven to be effective.
Program Description
This program supports the creation of community learning centers that
provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children,
particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The
program helps students meet state and local academic standards in subjects such
as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities
that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and
other educational services to the families of participating children. Additional
details regarding the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program can be
found in the U.S. Department of Education's Non-Regulatory Guidance.
Eligibility
Formula grants are awarded to State educational agencies, which in turn manage statewide competitions and award grants to eligible entities. For this program, eligible entity means a local educational agency, community-based organization, another public or private entity, or a consortium of two or more of such agencies, organizations, or entities. States must give priority to applications that are jointly submitted by a local educational agency and a community-based organization or other public or private entity.
Consistent with this definition of eligible entities, faith-based organizations are eligible to participate in the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Program. The Guidance for Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations Grantees governs the participation of faith-based organizations in federal programs for which they are eligible to participate.
Types of Projects
Each eligible entity that receives an award from the state may use the funds to carry out a broad array of before- and after-school activities (including those held during summer break periods) to advance student achievement. These activities include:
- Remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including those which provide additional assistance to students to improve their academic achievement
- Mathematics, science, arts and music education activities
- Entrepreneurial education programs
- Tutoring services, including those provided by senior citizen volunteers and mentoring programs
- Programs that provide after-school activities for English learner (EL) students and that emphasize language skills and academic achievement
- Academic enrichment activities
- Telecommunications and technology education programs
- Expanded library service hours
- Programs that promote family involvement and literacy
- Programs that help students who have been truant, suspended or expelled to allow them to improve their academic achievement
- Drug and violence prevention programs
- Character education programs
Power Hour of Learning Series
The Power Hour of Learning series includes brief training videos from Kentucky
Department of Education (KDE) programmatic staff supporting the successful implementation
of 21st CCLC programs.
Statewide Aggregate Reports
As a program under the U.S. Department of Education, the 21st CCLC
program is subject to the provisions of the Government Performance and Results
Act (GPRA). This requires that agencies establish performance goals and create
performance measures to assess progress, known as GPRA measures. KDE works with
evaluators to facilitate the collection of all data as required by the GPRA
measures, to evaluate the overall statewide effort and to analyze data on each
of the individual centers operating under the 21st CCLC grant. The following reports summarize data collected and reported by staff at program sites operating
during the Annual Performance Report (APR) years.
Self-Nominated External Organizations
KDE must pre-screen external organizations that could aid subgrantees in
carrying out program activities. External organizations are nonprofit
organizations with a record of success in running or working with before- and
after-school programs and activities (or
those that operate during school breaks); or, in the case of a community where
there is no such organization, a nonprofit organization in the community that
enters into a written agreement or partnership with an organization with a
record of success to receive mentoring and guidance in running or working with
before- and afterschool programs and activities (or those that operate during
school breaks). The list of current external organizations can be found below.
Self-Nominated External Organizations and Information
Current List of Self-Nominated External Organizations