1. What is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program?

The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program was established by Congress to award grants to rural and inner-city public schools, or consortia of such schools, to enable them to plan, implement, or expand projects that benefit the educational, health, social services, cultural and recreational needs of the community. School-based learning centers can provide safe, drug-free, supervised and cost-effective after-school, weekend or summer havens for children, youth and their families. Grants awarded under this program may be used to plan, implement, or expand community learning centers.

The authorizing legislation states that schools "should collaborate with other public and nonprofit agencies and organizations, local businesses, educational entities (such as vocational and adult education programs, school-to-work programs, community colleges, and universities), recreational, cultural, and other community and human service entities, for the purpose of meeting the needs of, and expanding the opportunities available to, the residents of the communities served by such schools." By statute, applications must include "a description of the collaborative efforts to be undertaken by community-based organizations, related public agencies, businesses, or other appropriate organizations."

2. What is the definition of a 21^st Century Community Learning Center?

A Community Learning Center is an entity within a public elementary, middle or secondary school building that (1) provides educational, recreational, health, and social service programs for residents of all ages within a local community, and (2) is operated by a local educational agency (LEA) in conjunction with local governmental agencies, businesses, vocational education programs, institutions of higher education, community colleges, and cultural, recreational, and other community and human service entities. An LEA -- usually synonymous with a school district -- is an entity defined under state law as being legally responsible for providing public education to elementary and secondary students. In some states this may include an entity performing a service function for public schools, such as an intermediate service agency. The full definition of this term is set out in Section 14101(18) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 8801(18)).

3. What are the components of a high-quality after-school program?

Safe and Smart, a publication produced by the Departments of Education and Justice, describes recent research on the effects of high-quality after-school programs, and provides an analysis of characteristics that appear to be common to those programs. Typically, high-quality programs can demonstrate:

• Goal setting and strong management;
• Quality after-school staffing;
• Low staff/student ratios;
• Attention to safety, health, and nutrition issues;
• Strong involvement of families;
• Effective partnerships with community-based organizations, juvenile justice agencies, law enforcement, and youth groups;
• Coordinating learning with regular school day;
• Linkages between school-day teachers and after-school personnel; and
• Evaluation of program progress and effectiveness.
4. Who is eligible to receive grants?

Rural or inner-city public elementary, middle, or secondary schools, consortia of such schools, or LEAs applying on their behalf, are eligible to receive a grant under the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program. Grants must be administered by the public schools, and 21^st Century Community Learning Centers must, by statutory definition, be located in public schools. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the statutory program purpose as being either a "rural" or "inner-city" school or a consortium of those schools.

In the report which accompanied the FY 1999 appropriation, the conference committee stated its intentions that 21^st Century Community Learning Center funds be targeted to "high-need rural communities, urban communities and small cities that have low achieving students and lack resources to establish after school centers..." and to communities with "high rates of juvenile crime, school violence, and student drug abuse."

5. Can other public and private agencies and organizations participate in this program?

Yes. Public schools applying for these grants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with other public and nonprofit agencies and organizations, businesses, educational entities (such as vocational and adult education programs, school-to-work programs, community colleges or universities), recreational, cultural, and other community service entities. By statute, applicants are required to describe in their applications "the collaborative efforts to be undertaken by community-based organizations, related public agencies, businesses, or other appropriate organizations." For instance, community-based organizations may receive a contract from a grantee to provide after-school services at the Community Learning Center. However, only public schools or LEAs can receive or administer a grant.

6. What will be the time period, size and number of grants?

Time period. By statute, a 21^st Century Community Learning Center grant cannot exceed three years.

Size of grants. By statute, the Department will not consider for funding any application that requests less than $35,000.

[Note: In 1998, the average grant size was approximately $350,000 and the typical grant supported three Centers, at an average cost per Center of approximately $125,000. Annual costs per Center ranged from $35,000 to $200,000, depending on the array of proposed activities and the availability of additional resources. An LEA with more than one school seeking to participate in this program is encouraged to submit a single application on their behalf, although large LEAs may consider submitting more than one application, e.g., separate applications for school clusters in different neighborhoods.]

Number of grants. The amount of available funds in FY 1999 for new awards under this Program is approximately $100 million. It is estimated that 300 new grants - supporting a total of approximately 900 Centers - will be awarded. However, the actual number of grants and Centers will depend upon the characteristics of the programs described in the highest-rated applications.

7. What kinds of program activities are required?

To receive a grant under this program, applicants must provide services that address the Secretary's absolute priority and must address at least four of the program activities stated in the law, as described below:

Absolute Priority: The Secretary will fund only those applications for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers grants that include, among the array of services required and authorized by the statute, activities that offer significant expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in the community and that contribute to reduced drug use and violence.

Program Activities: (1) Literacy education programs; (2) Senior citizen programs; (3) Children's day care services; (4) Integrated education, health, social service, recreational, or cultural programs; (5) Summer and weekend school programs in conjunction with recreation programs; (6) Nutrition and health programs; (7) Expanded library service hours to serve community needs; (8) Telecommunications and technology education programs for individuals of all ages; (9) Parenting skills education programs; (10) Support and training for child day care providers; (11) Employment counseling, training, and placement; (12) Services for individuals who leave school before graduating from secondary school, regardless of the age of such individual; and (13) Services for individuals with disabilities.

8. What priorities apply to this competition?

Two competitive priorities will apply to this competition:

Competitive Priority 1: The Secretary will award up to five (5) points, in addition to any points the application earns under the selection criteria, to projects that assist students to meet or exceed State and local standards in core academic subjects such as reading, mathematics or science, as appropriate to the needs of the participating children.

Competitive Priority 2: The Secretary will award up to three (3) points, in addition to any points the application earns under the selection criteria, to applications that serve children in an Empowerment Zone, a Supplemental Empowerment Zone or an Enterprise Community, as designated either by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

9. When will the application package be available to the public?

December 16, 1998.

10. What is the anticipated deadline for sending in applications?

March 1, 1999.

11. How can I get further information?

The quickest and most reliable way to get additional information about the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program is by sending an e-mail inquiry to 21^stCCLC@ed.gov. You are also encouraged to periodically check the program's Website www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/21stCCLC/ for new information or resources. In addition, the Department of Education, along with the C.S. Mott Foundation, National Center for Community Education and National Community Education Association will be sponsoring technical assistance workshops across the country for potential grantees during the month of January.

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