Grant Details

Supported with federal funds, the purpose of this competitive Exemplary Grant Program is to expand and enhance a statewide network of high quality 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) programs that will serve as mentors and resources to new and existing programs.

Priorities:

• Increasing motivation to learn through culturally responsive, interactive, relevant, and engaging programming that includes high quality Project Based Learning (PBL) that is aligned to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Department) goals and strategies.
• Implementation of innovative teaching and learning strategies that are multi-disciplinary, cross curricular, and support students in all developmental areas (academic, social emotional, civic, wellness, etc.).
• Developing strong collaboration and partnerships for planning and implementation in order to align and leverage resources, improve program quality, and develop shared outcomes for success.
• Providing innovative shared professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, and community-based partners.
• Using data effectively in designing programming that addresses student needs and interests and demonstrates continuous program improvement efforts.
• Providing engaging summer programming that prevents and addresses the summer learning slide and supports the successful transition of students into elementary (including pre-K to K), middle, and/or high school.
• Engaging families in culturally relevant and meaningful ways that build strong school-community partnerships to support student outcomes in all developmental areas as described above.
• Contributing to increasing school day attendance and graduation rates and decreasing chronic absenteeism.
• Developing sustainable models for supporting additional quality learning time.

Out-of-School Time [OST] Applicants must continue to offer at least 400 hours of comprehensive OST programming during the schoolyear and summer for a selected population of students. Enrolled students are not expected to attend all 400 hours; however, it is expected that students will attend the programming an average of a minimum of 80–100 hours per year.

Expanded Learning Time [ELT] Due to requirements under the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) applicants must offer a minimum of 300 expanded learning program hours by:

• Continuing to provide a school schedule that has increased the total number of hours required for all students by at least 180 hours over the State mandated requirements;

and

• Provide a minimum of 120 hours of summer programming for a select population of students who could benefit from additional engaging learning opportunities during the summer. Please note the total hours for SY and summer must add up to at least 300 hours.