About Us

Florida's 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is a key component of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind Act." It is an opportunity for students and their families to continue to learn new skills and discover new abilities after the school day has ended. The focus of this program is to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending Title 1 eligible schools.

Types of Projects

Each eligible entity that receives an award from the state may use the funds to carry out a broad array of before- and after-school activities (including those held during summer recess periods) to advance student achievement. These activities include:

  • Remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including those which provide additional assistance to students to allow the students to improve their 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 (LEP) students and that emphasize language skills and academic achievement;
  • Recreational activities;
  • Telecommunications and technology education programs;
  • Expanded library service hours;
  • Programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy;
  • Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow them to improve their academic achievement;
  • Drug and violence prevention programs;
  • Counseling programs; and
  • Character education programs.

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)

21st CCLC programs support the creation of community learning centers that provide students (particularly those who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools) with opportunities for academic enrichment, personal enrichment, and other activities designed to complement the students regular day academics. The programs also engage adult family members of actively participating students through educational and personal development opportunities.

The 21st CCLC grant is 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.

21st CCLC Program Purpose/Priorities

21st CCLC programs provide safe environments for students during non-school hours and may have one or multiple centers/sites which may be located in schools, community facilities, and/or faith-based facilities. All centers must provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, including, but not limited to: tutoring and mentoring, academic enrichment (e.g., homework assistance, reading, math, science, and technology programs), service learning, character education, physical education and recreational activities, and dropout prevention.

As stated in the federal statue, the specific purposes of the law 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 academic achievement 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
  3. Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational development

Eligible Applicant(s)

Any public or private organization is eligible to apply. Federal law requires applicants to demonstrate that the eligible entity has experience, or promise of success, in providing educational and related activities that will complement and enhance the academic performance, achievement, and positive youth development of the students (Public Law 107-110, Sec.4204(b)(2)(J), Title IV, Part B). Examples of agencies and organizations include, but are not limited to

  • School Districts
  • Educational Consortia
  • Non-profit agencies
  • City or County government agencies
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Institutions of higher education
  • For profit organizations