The purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) is to create community learning centers that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities as well as additional services designed to complement their regular academic program. Community learning centers must offer families of participating students literacy instruction and related educational development programs. Proposed activities target students and families of students who attend schools eligible for Title I schoolwide programs or schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families.

Grantees are expected to attend bi-monthly networking meetings. These meetings offer technical assistance from the Maryland State Department of Education personnel, peer to peer technical assistance, and other outside resources selected by the coordinator based on expressed needs of the grantees. These meetings are either all day or half-day meetings.

TARGETED PARTICIPANTS

Grantees consist of schools, local school systems, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations.

SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SCHOOL ROLE/RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PARTICIPATION

Any public or private organization is now eligible to apply for a 21st CCLC grant. Examples of agencies and organizations eligible under the 21st CCLC program include, but are not limited to: non-profit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and for-profit corporations. The statute encourages eligible organizations applying for funds to collaborate with the schools the children attend. The statute also allows a consortium of two or more agencies, organizations or entities to apply.

This competition is open to:

• Local school systems
• Interagency, interdepartmental, community and faith-based, or other private or public organizations
• A consortium of two or more of the aforementioned

The participants must provide services to students, and families of students who primarily attend schools eligible for Title I school-wide programs or schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families.