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21st Century Community Learning Centers

 

 21st Century Community Learning Centers 

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Program Summary

The purpose of the 21st Century Learning Centers Program:

Authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the law's specific purposes are to: (1)   provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help    students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet State and local student performance standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and mathematics; (2) offer    students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music, and recreation    programs, technology education programs, and character education programs , that are designed    to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and (3) offer  families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

Description of a Community Learning Center

A community learning center offers academic, artistic, and cultural enrichment opportunities to students and their families when school is not in session (before school and after school, or during holidays or summer recess). According to Section 4201(b)(1) of the program statute, a community learning center assists students in meeting State and local academic achievement standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and mathematics, by providing the students with opportunities for academic enrichment. Centers also provide students with a broad array of other activities - such as drug and violence prevention, counseling, art, music, recreation, technology, and character education programs - during periods when school is not in session. Community learning centers must also serve the families of participating students, e.g., through family literacy programs.

Authorized program activities include:

  • remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including special assistance to struggling students to improve academic achievement
  • mathematics and science education activities
  • 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 limited English proficient students that emphasize language skills and academic achievement
  • recreational activities
  • telecommunications and technology education programs
  • expanded library service hours
  • programs that provide parental involvement and family literacy
  • programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement, and
  • drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, and character education programs.
  • Serving students with disabilities (Mandatory Requirement)

Program Information:

  • Grant recipients are funded for a period not to exceed 5 years.
  • Grants cannot be made in an amount less than $50,000.