Issue: ESSA and 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated to supporting local summer learning and afterschool programs. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (now known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)) updated and reauthorized the 21st CCLC program in December 2015. Each state receives funds based on its share of Title I funding for low-income students. Grants support afterschool and summer learning programs that provide the following services to students attending high-poverty, low-performing schools:

• Academic enrichment activities that can help students meet state and local achievement standards.
• A broad array of additional services designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program, such as: drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music, and recreation programs, technology education programs, and character education programs.
• Literacy and related educational development services to the families of children who are served in the program.

According to recent guidance from the Department of Education formula grant recipients will continue to operate in the 2016-2017 school year under the plans, procedures, and requirements that are in place for the 2015-2016 school year. Therefore, implementation of the new law and regulations for the 21^st CCLC formula grants will begin in the 2017-18 School year.

You can watch a recent Webinar on ESSA on our Afterschool Webinars page.