Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Program Competition Information

Program Description

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Grant funded programs provide a broad array of activities during out-of-school time (such as before and after school, weekends and during school breaks). Grantees provide academic enrichment services that align to academic standards, the identified learning needs, and interests of students. Grantees also provide students with access to a wide variety of additional learning opportunities, such as those that focus on youth development, social and emotional learning (SEL), civic engagement, and nutritional and physical health. Additionally, grantees provide the adult family members of program participants opportunities for their own educational development and engagement in their children’s education.

Grant awards are made for five consecutive years and are contingent upon satisfactory progress toward goals. Grantees are required to evaluate their program performance and report to DPI on their progress. A description of the evaluation requirements and access to the annually published DPI Statewide Evaluation Reports can be found on the 21st CCLC Evaluation webpage

Learn more about the grant program by viewing the Introduction to the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers video

An “eligible entity” is defined as an local education agency (LEA), community-based organization, educational service agency (e.g. CESA) Indian tribe or tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self Determination and Education Act), another public or private entity, or a consortium of two or more such agencies, organizations, or entities.

All eligible entities must propose to serve a qualifying school. A qualifying school is:

☑️ eligible for Title I schoolwide programming,

☑️ either in program improvement status per Title I designation OR has been determined by a local education agency (LEA) as in need of intervention and support to improve academic achievement and other outcomes, and

☑️ enrolls students who may be at risk for academic failure, dropping out of school, involvement in criminal or delinquent activities, or who lack strong positive role models.

Grant Competition Information

DPI is not currently accepting applications.

Supplemental Materials
 

• 2024-25 21st CCLC Grant Application Guidelines
• Connecting Root Cause and Demonstration of Need Worksheet
• Appeals Process
• Private School Affirmation

To receive information on future grant competitions, as well as other information related to after-school programs, email Jake Wilson to join the DPI email distribution list.

DPI, in collaboration with the Consortium for Applied Research at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, has developed an on-demand webinar intended to help prospective grant applicants carry out the required needs assessment process.

• View the recorded version of the Evaluating and Demonstrating Your School’s Need for a 21st CCLC Grant Program presentation video.
• Slides for the webinar can be accessed here: Evaluating and Demonstrating Your School’s Need for a 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program Presentation Slides. 
• The handout referenced during the webinar can be accessed here: Needs Assessment Worksheets.

Please note that any resources above that link to the United States Department of Education You 4 Youth (Y4Y) website have been moved to the Y4Y Archived website.

What is consultation?

Consultation involves discussions between the 21st CCLC grantee and identified eligible private school officials in order to ensure equitable access to the funded 21st CCLC program and services.

Who is required to engage in consultation and submit a Private School Affirmation form?

All applicants and recipients of a 21st CCLC grant award. This may include public school districts, individual schools, charter schools, private schools, community-based organizations, or public or private entities.

How often must consultation occur?

Consultation between 21st CCLC subgrantees and the appropriate private schools must occur annually.

What private schools need to be included in the consultation?

Consultation must occur with all private schools located within the grantee’s program service boundaries, including independent schools and faith-based schools.

If no such schools exist within the service area this should be communicated in writing to DPI in lieu of the Private School Affirmation form.

What should be included in the consultation process?

• How the children’s needs will be identified.

• What services will be offered.

• How, where, and by whom the services will be provided.

• How the services will be assessed, and how the results of the assessment will be used to improve those services.

• How the size and scope of activities and their corresponding funds will be determined (8501(a)(4)(A));

• How and when the agency, consortium, or entity will make decisions about the delivery of services.

Applicants and recipients of the 21st CCLC grant are advised to document everything. This may include attempts for consultation, meeting minutes, agreements made, how decisions were made if there were disagreements, etc.

Download the Private School Affirmation here.