Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers - Title IV-B

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) grants administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) support the establishment or expansion of a broad array of services to students during non-school hours (i.e., before school, after school, on weekends and during the summer) or extended learning during regular school hours. These federal grants are available to local education agencies (LEAs) and community-based organizations through a competitive application process.

The 21CCLC program’s specific purposes are to:

provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including tutorial services, to help students meet state and local student performance standards in core academic subjects such as reading, mathematics and science (particularly students in high-poverty areas and those who attend low-performing schools);
offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities, such as youth development activities; drug and violence prevention; counseling; art; music; recreational activities; technology education; and character education, designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities to engage in their children’s education by offering literacy and other related educational development activities and services.

21CCLC grants are authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). OSSE currently administers $6.1 million of federal funding to 20 grantees.