21st Century Community Learning Center
This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.
The You for Youth
The You for Youth website provides support to grantees of the U.S. Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Based on research and best practices, Y4Y offers training in the "what, why and how" of a variety of topics. Y4Y also presents a rich collection of resource materials, along with a variety of opportunities to connect with education experts and practitioners. Current course topics include project-based learning; aligning with the school day; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and strengthening partnerships. A course on family involvement will be available in October 2011.
Y4Y offers a series of webinars to introduce the web portal and its modules. Please make your grantees aware of the opportunity to sign up for webinars. Participants must become registered users to attend a webinar. Register for the site at http://y4y.ed.gov.
ESEA Reauthorization
The Obama Administration's "Blueprint for Reform, The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act" has been released. It is the Administration's vision for federal education policy, and has implications for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and other federal programs related to afterschool. The plan includes the diversions and consolidations of afterschool funding first hinted at in the President's budget proposal. The Afterschool Alliance has met with the Department of Education to voice concerns about the plan.
Members of Congress Question Administration's Vision For 21st CCLC
For the second time in a month, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan testified before a House of Representatives Committee on March 3 - and once again he faced congressional concern over the Administration's proposal for the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) afterschool initiative. At the hearing before the House Education Committee earlier this month, Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI) praised the 21st CCLC initiative, noting the direct benefits he has witnessed from the program in his district.
Senators Move to Improve, Expand 21st CCLC
On March 3, Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and John Ensign (R-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, introduced the Improving 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act of 2010 (21st CCLC). The bill would improve and expand access to afterschool programs for children across the country.
Afterschool Leaders Alarmed By President's Plan For Education Reform
Across the country, afterschool leaders and supporters are asking the Obama Administration tough questions about its "Blueprint for Reform: The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act" (ESEA). Coupled with the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, advocates are concerned that the Administration intends to take precious resources away from programs that provide educational and enrichment activities for children and youth before school, after school and during the summer, and instead use those resources to extend the school day.
At a time when 15 million children have no supervised activity after the school day ends, President Obama asked Congress to effectively cut funding for 21st CCLCs - the chief federal funding stream for afterschool programs - by $13 million in Fiscal Year 2011. And in its "Blueprint for Reform," the Administration contemplates: allowing extended day programs to compete for afterschool dollars; ending the formula allocations that ensure that funds will flow to the states based on the number of students in need in that state; and diminishing the role of community-based organizations (CBOs) in providing services for students.
Nevada Department of Education (NDE) announces Request for Funding Applications (RFA): 2010 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Two optional training sessions will be held to assist applicants when preparing applications; they will be held as follows:
Optional Trainings:
Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Carson City
Friday, March 12, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Las Vegas
Details of this funding process include the following:
Application Opening Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Application Due: Friday, May 14, 2010
Funding Available for New Programs: To Be Announced
Grant Period: July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011
Grant Amounts: $80,000 - $300,000 per year/maximum of 5 years
Source of Funding: U.S. Department of Education
To obtain additional information about 21st CCLC programs, please contact Sharyn Peal at (775) 687-9212 or at speal@doe.nv.gov. RFA available on: http://www.doe.nv.gov
Click here to read the 2010 Announcement Letter by Sharyn Peal
2010 21st Century Community Learning Centers Summer Institute
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education will offer the 21st CCLC 2010 Summer Institute to be held June 21-23, 2010 in Washington, DC. This event will showcase the success of the 21st CCLC Program in providing afterschool education through grants. Online registration for the 2010 Summer Institute will be available in early March 2010. ED is seeking proposals for breakout sessions and has issued a Call for Presentations. If you are interested in being a presenter at the 2010 Summer Institute, please review the solicitation and submit a proposal by clicking the “Call for Presentations” link above.