21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grants

21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grants is sponsored by Virginia Department of Education. Provides funding for academic enrichment programs during non-school hours for students.

Overview and Application Information | West Virginia Department of Education Overview and Application Information The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Program – West Virginia 21st Century Community Learning Centers The 2026 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Request for Proposals is now open.

This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly those who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math.

It also offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs. Additionally, the program supports participating students’ families and offers literacy and other educational services to families.

The West Virginia Department of Education makes competitive grants, based on available federal funding, to eligible organizations that implement community learning centers to assist student learning and development.

Download the 21st Century Community Learning Center Request for Proposals Program and Grant Frequently Asked Questions The West Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce its statewide competition for grants to establish and/or expand 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) that will assist learning and development for school-age children and their families during out-of-school time.

Public and private organizations may apply for funding. Examples of public and private organizations include but are not limited to the following: local education agencies, non-profit agencies, city and county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education and for-profit agencies.

Each local 21st CCLC grant application must describe information such as: an evaluation of the community and student needs for an afterschool program and available resources for the learning center, evidence-based activities and practices to be funded, how the activities will improve student achievement and family engagement, descriptions of quality staff, facilities, and transportation, collaborative partnerships and sustainability, and other provisions requested in the application package.

When are the applications due? The 2026 21st CCLC grant application is due on April 17, 2026. Will there be technical assistance offered during the application process?

The WVDE provides Bidders’ Conferences and virtual technical assistance. This information is located under the Application Resources webpage . How many grants will be awarded and for how much?

The number of grants awarded is based on the amount of federal funds received annually by WVDE. By federal statute, a 21st CCLC grant may not be less than $50,000 and no matching funds are required. The maximum amount of funding is $250,000.

The WVDE has the discretion to award grants for a period of 5 years. Funding is based on average daily attendance. Funding is reduced to 80% of original funding in year 4 and 70% in year 5.

When will the grants be announced? The WVDE conducts a competitive peer review process in the spring of each year with funding expected to begin the following July contingent on the availability of funds from the US Department of Education. Applicants are notified when the process is complete, which is typically in July.

Who will be served by the program? Students and families who live in high-poverty communities and attend low-performing schools. What type of activities may the grantee use the program funds?

Funds may be used for the following listed activities: Academic enrichment learning programs, mentoring programs, remedial education activities, and tutoring services that are aligned with the challenging State academic standards and any local academic standards, Evidence based curricula designed to improve student academic achievement, Well-rounded education activities, including such activities that enable students to be eligible for credit recovery or attainment, Literacy education programs, including financial literacy programs and environmental literacy programs, Programs that support a healthy and active lifestyle, including nutritional education and regular, structured physical activity programs, Services for individuals with disabilities, Programs that provide after-school activities for students who are English learners that emphasize language skills and academic achievement.

Telecommunications and technology education programs, Expanded library service hours, Parenting skills programs that promote parental engagement, family literacy, and adult skill development, Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement, Drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, and Programs that build skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including computer science, and that foster innovation in learning by supporting nontraditional STEM education teaching methods; and Additionally, Programs may partner with in-demand fields of the local workforce or build career competencies and career readiness and ensure that local workforce and career readiness skills are aligned with the Carl D Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C 2301 et seq.)

and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) Applicants are reminded of their obligation under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure that their proposed community learning centers programs are accessible to persons with disabilities.

Are there competitive priorities? Priority points will be added to scored proposals by the WVDE if a proposal scores a minimum of 75 percent of the possible points. These priority points are listed below: Applications submitted jointly by school districts receiving Title I funds and community-based organizations or other public or private organizations will be awarded two priority points.

Applications submitted jointly by school districts receiving Title I funds and community-based organizations or other public or private organizations will be awarded two priority points.

Applicants that propose to serve only schools identified by the WVDE as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools designated as needing improvement under section 1116 of ESEA will be awarded two priority points.

Applicants that propose to serve schools in the following counties will be awarded one priority point: Applicants that propose to provide substantial opportunities for participants in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or for participants in science, technology, art, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) will be awarded one priority point.

A separate objective focused on STEM/STEAM must be listed in the Action Plan and further described in the “Afterschool Program Implementation” section to receive the point. Applicants that propose to provide afterschool programs to only middle school and/or high school students will be awarded one priority point. Where can I find more information?

Please visit the 21st CCLC Application Resources page for additional information and to register for one of the Bidders Conferences. This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate assistance please refer to our employee directory .

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