The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program provides federal funding to establish or expand community learning centers. These 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. 21st Century Community Learning Centers provide a broad array of services, programs, and activities that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students. Such activities/programs may include:
- Remedial Education
- Academic Enrichment
- Math and Science Activities
- Arts and Music Activities
- Limited English Proficient Classes
- Tutoring and Mentoring Programs
- Assistance to Truant, Suspended or Expelled Students
- Recreational Activities
- Technology Programs/Telecommunication
- Expanded Library Hours
- Parent Involvement/Family Literacy
- Drug and Violence Prevention
- Counseling Programs
- Character Education
- Entrepreneurial Education
In addition, community learning centers may offer opportunities for literacy and related educational development to family members of participating students including school readiness activities for younger siblings of students being served.
Absolute Priority: Grants can only be awarded to programs that primarily serve students who attend schools with a high concentration of low income students.
Competitive Priority I (5 points) Competitive priority is given to applications that both propose to serve students who attend schools identified as a Priority School (pursuant to Section 1116 of Title I) and that are submitted jointly between at least one LEA receiving funds under Title I, Part A and at least one public or private community organization. To receive Priority Points, the proposal and the collaboration form should clearly describe the partnership between a community-based agency and a school/district as evidenced by:
- Collaboration in the planning and design of the programming
- Each partner has a significant role in the delivery of programming and
- Each partner plays a role in the management of the program.
Competitive Priority II (2 points) The department wants to serve as many students as possible in extended learning programs throughout the state. To expand the geographic distribution of programs, priority points will be awarded to applications that propose to serve students in the follow counties: Benton, Chester, Clay, Franklin, Hickman, Houston, and Meigs. These counties have traditionally not had 21st CCLC or LEAPs programs.
Competitive Priority III (3 points) Competitive priority points will be awarded to applicants proposing to address youth mental health issues. The applicant should discuss the need for such services in the statement of need section. The applicant may choose to describe the types of activities that will be offered in the chronic absenteeism or family engagement performance goals sections.
The 21st CCLC Profile and Performance Information Collection System Database is available at https://21apr.ed.gov/login.
In an effort to ensure projects have a stronger connection to regular school-day programming, TN First to the Top initiatives and Common Core State Standards, proposals should address the following focus areas: