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21st Century Community Learning Centers

• What are 21st Century Community Learning Centers?
• 21CCLC Time Line
• Components of 21CCLC programming
• CS Mott Foundation: Lessons Learned
• 21CCLC related Links

Taken from mott website: http://www.mott.org/21/about.asp

21st Century Community Learning Centers:
From 1998 to 2001, the U.S. Department of Education administered the 21st CCLCs program and supplied funds to local communities through a competitive proposal process. The Mott Foundation underwrote training and technical assistance to 21st CCLCs grantees for implementing and sustaining high quality programs and provides training for potential applicants on how to successfully apply for a grant. The key to success of this partnership has been the constant communication, collaboration, and ongoing relationships between liaisons and program officers working together to provide expertise on these issues. With the 21stCCLC initiative devolving to state administration in 2002, the U.S. Department of Education and the Mott Foundation continue to support afterschool programs.

There were 1,500 21st CCLCs in 2001. They operated in 6,600 schools and served 1.2 million children and youth, and 400,000 adults. The federal commitment to this  initiative rose from $40 million in 1998 to $200 million in 1999, $453 million in 2000, $846 million in 2001, and to $1 billion in 2002. This unique public-private partnership is also highlighted in "Partnerships for a Stronger Civil Society: Report to the President from the Interagency Task Force on Non-Profits and Government." It is being replicated by local communities and states. For example, the California Department of Education has partnered with Foundations Consortium to support an Afterschool Intermediary for all afterschool programs in California and possibly in the future to surrounding regions.

Mott Foundation Funding:
The C.S. Mott Foundation also recognizes that the key to sustainability of the 21st CCLCs -- and other major afterschool initiatives that support expanded learning opportunities for children and youth -- is building upon existing expertise and resources. In some instances, the Foundation has funded dialogue among advocates, practitioners, policymakers and evaluators from a variety of fields (e.g. youth development, education, juvenile justice, prevention, childcare). As a result, there has been significant increases in networking opportunities and collaborations by those working to improve the lives of children and youth.

The Foundation has committed $100 million over a multi-year period. Such funding enables the 21st CCLCs and other afterschool initiatives to promote sustainable, community-driven, expanded learning opportunities. These initiatives support developmentally cognitive, social, physical and emotional outcomes, especially for underserved children and their families. Specifically, grantmaking supports research and evaluation, identification and dissemination of promising practices, professional development for practitioners, policy development, and public awareness and advocacy. At the same time, grantmaking aims to incorporate access and equity to ensure program quality and availability among low-income and hard-to reach populations.

As a result of the grantmaking and the partnership with the DOE, afterschool programs have become a top agenda item for local communities, state and federal governments, and national organizations.

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Time-Line

1994
Congress authorizes the 21CCLC program to open schools up to broader use by their communities

1998
Refocus on supporting schools in providing academic program during out of school hours. 21CCLC program begins under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Requirement that programs include an academic component.

1998-2001
U.S. Department of Education provides 21CCLC funding to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and community programs, on a competitive basis. Mott Foundation provides training and technical assistance.

• 1998: $ 40 million
• 1999: $ 200 million
• 2000: $453 million
• 2001: $846 million, 1,500 21CCLC Grantees

2001
1,500 21CCLC programs operating. They operated in 6,600 schools and served 1.2 million children and youth, and 400,000 adults

2002
Reauthorization under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Greater focus on working with low income populations.
Transition to state administration of 21CCLC grants.
Formula grants totaling $1 billion awarded by DOE to State Education Agencies (SEAs).

SEAs put out a competitive Request for Proposal bid
Nonprofit and community organizations now eligible for awards

February 2003
Mathematica report findings:

• 21CCLC programs need to better influence academic performance
• Low student participation in programs
• Programs need to have a greater impact on safety and behavior of students
• 21CCLC programs have increased parental involvement

2005
$991.07 million appropriated

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Components of 21CCLC Programming

After School Definition: hours directly after and before school, evenings, weekends, summer vacations, and holidays

Focus: "to provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools"

21CCLC Programs vs Other After School Programs

• requirement that 21st-Century grantees offer academic activities
• until recently, only local education agencies could receive a 21st-Century grant, and the centers supported by the grant had to be located in a public education facility

Target Programs States are required by the DOE to award grants to programs primarily serving students who attend school serving low-income populations. States must also prioritize programs that serve students attending under-performing schools.

Programs promoted by U.S. DOE for 21CCLC

• Tutorial Services
• Academic Enrichment Activities
• Drug and Violence Prevention
• Technology Education Programs
• Art, Music, and Recreation Programs
• Counseling and Character Education

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C.S. Mott Foundation: Lessons Learned

http://www.mott.org/21/about.asp

Importance of Existing Expertise and Resources

"The C.S. Mott Foundation also recognizes that the key to sustainability of the 21st CCLCs -- and other major after school initiatives that support expanded learning opportunities for children and youth -- is building upon existing expertise and resources. In some instances, the Foundation has funded dialogue among advocates, practitioners, policymakers and evaluators from a variety of fields (e.g. youth development, education, juvenile justice, prevention, childcare). As a result, there has been significant increases in networking opportunities and collaborations by those working to improve the lives of children and youth."

From the C.S. Mott Foundation: Impact of Multi-Year Funding

"The Foundation has committed $100 million over a multi-year period. Such funding enables the 21st CCLCs and other afterschool initiatives to promote sustainable, community-driven, expanded learning opportunities. These initiatives support developmentally cognitive, social, physical and emotional outcomes, especially for underserved children and their families. Specifically, grantmaking supports research and evaluation, identification and dissemination of promising practices, professional development for practitioners, policy development, and public awareness and advocacy. At the same time, grantmaking aims to incorporate access and equity to ensure program quality and availability among low-income and hard-to reach populations.

As a result of the grantmaking and the partnership with the DOE, afterschool programs have become a top agenda item for local communities, state and federal governments, and national organizations."

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21CCLC Web Links

Pennsylvania Department of Education 21CCLC Program
www.pde.state.pa.us/21stcclc
Includes list of PA grantees, pertinent after school links, and the Request for Application from 2004 (for reference only)

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/
Information on some of the history of the program, and awards from DOE

Charles Steward Mott Foundation After School Programs
http://www.mott.org/21/about.asp
Information on the context of after school funding, and purpose

National Evaluation of 21st Century Community Learning Centers, 2003
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/21cent/firstyear/
Executive summary and full report of the comprehensive Mathematica evaluation

Pennsylvania Service-Learning Alliance: 21CCLC Support
http://21cclc.paservicelearning.org/
Resources and support for Pennsylvania funded 21CCLC programs

Statistics available from Mott Foundation website: http://www.mott.org/21/about.asp

Full report available at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/21cent/firstyear/

U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/

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