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21st Century CommunityLearning Centers

Technical AssistanceWebcast

U.S. Department of EducationOffice of Elementary and Secondary Education

www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc

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Program PurposeTo establish or expand community learning centers that provide students with academic enrichment opportunities along with activities designed to complement the students’ regular academic program.

1) Provide opportunities for academic enrichment,

including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet State and local student academic achievement standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and mathematics;

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Program Purpose(Continued)

2) Offer students a broad array of additional services programs, and activities that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and3) Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational development.

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Project Activities• Remedial education

• Math and science activities

• Arts and music education

• Tutoring and mentoring services• Including the use of senior citizen volunteers

• Activities for limited English proficient students

• Entrepreneurial activities

• Technology telecommunications programs

• Recreational activities

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Program Overview Formula grant program—State Education Agency (SEA) applies to US Department of ED for funds

Organization can not apply to ED directly SEA disperses funds by awarding sub-grants Competition dates will vary by state Eligible organizations apply to SEA Applications reviewed by a panel of reviewers Up to 5% of SEA’s 21st Century funds to be used for administration and activities (training, monitoring,etc.) ED’s non-regulatory guidance:

www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/guidance2003.doc

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Program Facts Minimum award amount: $50,000 annually

Life of the grant award cycle: 3 to 5 years

Applicant may propose to conduct project in multiple sites

States are urged to fund projects in urban and rural areas

Competition dates will vary by state

Competitive priorities for partnerships between Local Education Agencies (LEA) and community based organizations

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Target Population• Schools with a high concentration of students from low-income families and high rates of poverty

• Title I schools designated in need of improvement

• Students attending charter schools

• Parents and family of eligible students

Adult residents not related to eligible studentsare not eligible to receive project services

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Eligible Applicants• Local Education Agencies (LEAs)

• City or county governments

• Institutions of higher education (IHEs)

• For profit agencies

• Non-profits, including faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs)

• Partnerships of these organizations

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Competition PriorityStates must give priority to applications that proposeto target services to students who attend schools that have been identified as in need of improvement and are submitted jointly by eligible entities consisting of not less than one— LEA receiving funds under part A of Title I; and Community-based organization or other public or private entity.

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Competition Priority(Special Rule)

The SEA shall provide the same priority to an application submitted by a LEA if the LEA demonstrates that it is unable to partner with a community-based organization in reasonable geographic proximity and of sufficient quality to meet the requirements of this part.

States may include other priorities

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Location/Hours of Operation• Center does not have to be located in a public school

• Facility is available and convenient to target population

• Facility operates during non-school hours• Before or after school• Weekends• Summers

Adheres to all safety and health code laws

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Application should be a road map Clear, concise, detailed “Reader Friendly”

Recipe for success: 2/3 Planning & 1/3 writing

Persuasive and informative document

Assemble a writing team 1 to 5 people to address selection criteria 1 person to serve as an editor At least an extra pair of eyes to review

READ CAREFULLY & FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

Grant Writing Tips

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• An evaluation of the community needs and available resources for the community learning center;

• A description of how the project proposed to be carried out in the center will address those needs (including the needs of working families);

• An assurance that the project will primarily target students attending schools where at least 40% of the children are from low-income families;

Application Contents

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Gathering Community Data Use recent local data to demonstrate need

Compare target to state, region, and nation

Work with LEAs, state and local governments

Contact Congressional Representative for stats

U.S. Census Bureau—American Fact Finder Primary tool for stats on:

Population Education Income

Census.gov

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• A description of the before and after school or summer recess activities to be funded, including—

• An assurance that the project will take place

in a safe and easily accessible facility;

• A description of how participating students in the project will travel safely to and from

the center and home;

• A plan to inform the community about project site—including its location—in an understandable manner;

Application Contents(Continued)

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Application Contents(Continued)

• A demonstration that the applicant has experience or promise of success in carrying out its project;

•A description of how the project activities are expected to improve student academic achievement;

• A description, if applicable, of how the eligible entity will encourage and use appropriately qualified seniors to serve as volunteers in the project;

• A description of how activities will meet the principles of effectiveness;

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Principles of EffectivenessA project’s activities shall be based on:• Assessment of objective data for the project’s need;

• Established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring the availability of high quality academic enrichment activities; and

• Scientifically based research that provides evidence that the project will help students meet the state and local student academic achievement standards.

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Application Contents(Continued)

• Include an assurance that the project was developed, and will be carried out, in active collaboration with the schools the students attend;

• Provide a description of the partnership between the LEA, a community-based organization, and another public entity or private entity;

• Include an assurance that the community will be given notice of an intent to submit an application and that the application and any waiver request will be available for public review after submission;

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•Identify federal, state and local programs that will be combined or coordinated with the project to maximize the most effective use of public resources;

• Include an assurance that funds under this part will be used to increase the level of state, local and other non-federal funds, and in no case supplant federal, state, local or non-federal funds; and

Application Contents(Continued)

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Application Contents(Continued)

• Give a description of a preliminary plan for how the community learning center will continue after funding under this grant program ends:

• Provide a budget for the life of the grant and beyond• Highlight community buy-in• Seek out sources to meet any matching requirements• Reach out to community businesses

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Budgeting Expenditures$ Allowable -- either permitted or not specifically prohibited

$ Allocable -- necessary for project success

$ Reasonable -- costs that would be incurred by “prudent” person

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Matching/Cost Sharing• Demonstration of institutional commitment

• Cash• In-kind contribution such as equipment, supplies, facilities and staff time

• May be required by the SEA

• Will not exceed grant award amount

• May not be derived from federal or state sources

• Ability to provide match will not affect the applicant’s score or the funding decision

Partnership grantees should share matching burden

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Matching Tips• Honor all commitments in application

• Primary grantee (fiscal agent) tracks matching contributions of all partners

• Read matching requirements carefully

•Total project costs include both the federal share plus the applicant share

• If the total project costs were $200,000 and there were a 50% matching requirement, the federal share would be $100,000 and the applicant share would be $100,000

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Quality of the Evaluation “The Clincher Category” strong evaluation is absolutely critical for successful project

Periodic review throughout life of the grant

Unbiased measurement of project goals and objectives

Solid understanding of up to date research on effective instructional practices

For both project design and evaluation

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Developing a StrongEvaluation Component

Assessment of objective data Consider the initial need Effectiveness of activities to achieve goals

Established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring high-quality academic enrichment opportunities

If appropriate, scientifically based research provides evidence project’s activities will improve student academic performance

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Evaluation Tips Conduct pre and post tests

Develop individual development plans for all participants

Communicate with students’ teachers

Measure five components of reading instruction Phonemic awareness

Phonics

Vocabulary Reading fluency, including oral reading skills Reading comprehension strategies

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Winning Reminders• Plan ahead

• Assess organizational strengths/weaknesses• ID target population and their need• Determine what services you can provide• Be aware of state submission requirements, deadlines, etc

• Develop a partnership with an LEA • Outline roles and responsibilities• Select a fiscal agent

• Attend technical assistance workshops

• Identify your state’s 21st Century contact at:

www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/contacts.html

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Resources 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program Office email address: 21stCCLC@ed.gov

Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives: www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity

www.afterschool.gov

www.afterschoolalliance.org

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Thank you for

ensuring that

No Child No Child Is Is

Left Left BehindBehind

1-800-USA LEARNwww.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc