Two Decades of 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Providing Afterschool and Summer Opportunities to Millions of Young People and Families. Issue Brief No. 78

Afterschool Alliance. 1616 H Street NW Suite 820, Washington, DC 20006. Tel: 202-347-1002; Fax: 202-347-2092; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://afterschoolalliance.org

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Community Programs; After School Programs; Summer Programs; Poverty; Disadvantaged Youth; Achievement Gap; Experiential Learning; Enrichment Activities; Family Needs; At Risk Students; Academic Achievement; Academic Support Services; Federal Aid; Educational Legislation; Federal Legislation; Grants; Elementary Secondary Education; Health Promotion; Students with Disabilities; English Language Learners; Social Emotional Learning; Minority Group Students; STEM Education; Partnerships in Education; College Readiness; Career Readiness

United States; Oklahoma; Wisconsin; Alabama; Alaska; Indiana; New Hampshire

No Child Left Behind Act 2001; Every Student Succeeds Act 2015

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs. Over the years, the program has evolved to become a local afterschool model -- serving students attending high-poverty, low-performing schools in an effort to help address the opportunity and achievement gaps present in these communities. 21st CCLC programs engage students in hands-on learning activities aimed at supporting their academic growth; provide a variety of enrichment activities (ranging from service learning to physical fitness and health) to complement school day learning; and offer educational and support services to the families of participating children. As a national initiative with state leadership focusing on quality and professional development and built-in local flexibility to meet community needs, the infrastructure of 21st CCLC serves as a model that leverages federal, state, and local efforts. This brief looks at the evolution of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, including purpose, focus, funding, and evaluation.

ERIC

2021

ED614003