Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is a federal program funded under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

This federal funding stream focuses on out of school time programming for expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending high poverty schools. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are designed to help students meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition, programs may provide youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, art, music and recreation, counseling, and character education to enhance the academic component of the program.

Program Purpose

The goal of the 21st CCLC program is to raise student academic achievement through the creation and expansion of community learning centers that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities as well as additional activities designed to complement their regular academic program. Families of 21st CCLC youth participants also have access to educational development opportunities through the program. Centers can be located in elementary, middle or secondary schools or similarly accessible facilities. They provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, including tutoring and mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment (e.g., hands-on science or technology programs), and community service opportunities, as well as music, arts, sports and cultural activities.

Authorized under Title IV B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the specific purposes of the law are to:

Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including tutorial services to help students, particularly those who attend low-performing schools, meet state and local student performance standards in core academic subjects like reading and mathematics.
Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students.
Offer families of students served by community learning centers, opportunities for literacy education and related educational development.

Communities Served

34 Grants
53 Sites
19 School Districts and Communities

21st CCLC Program Contact Information

Allocations

21st CCLC Grant

The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant funds are intended to assist local education agencies (LEAs), community organizations (CBOs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs) in providing before school, after school, and summer programming to youth in high poverty communities through the creation of 21st Century Community Learning Center programs.

Summer 2025 STEAM Program Request for Application (RFA)
The 21st CCLC Summer 2025 STEAM Program provides a competitive opportunity for existing 21st CCLC programs to expand their summer programs. This initiative aims to complement regular academic programming by delivering activities that significantly, or are likely to, increase improvement of academic outcomes of participating students.

Grantees will design and implement summer programming in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) to enhance academic achievement, increase student engagement, and improve skills relevant to the workforce. Applications should be designed to complement a 21st CCLC program’s existing approved summer program.

Responses to this RFA received by the deadline (4/13/25) will be scored by independent peer reviewers based on the criteria outlined in the RFA document below. Applications must receive a minimum of 70 points to be funded. Priority will be given to the highest scoring applicants.

All questions must be submitted to Whitney McVeigh at Whitney.R.McVeigh@doe.nh.gov on or before March 20th, 2025 by 4:00 p.m. ET in order to be included in the updated FAQ sheet made available on the NHED website on March 21st, 2025.

2024-2025 School Year Competition

External Organization Profile

In accordance with Title IV, Part B, 21stCCLC of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the New Hampshire State Department of Education (NHED) is required to provide a list of prescreened external organizations, as described under section 4203(a)(11). By collecting, screening, and publishing a list of external non-profit organizations that have expressed interest, the potential for partnerships with current and future 21st CCLC programs is more easily realized.

NH 21st CCLC External Organization Profile Form

21st CCLC Prescreened List of External Organizations

Grantee Resources and Guidance

Contact

Whitney McVeigh, Education Consultant
Whitney.R.McVeigh@doe.nh.gov

Cassie Broughton, Program Specialist
Cassandra.G.Broughton@doe.nh.gov