Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program

2025-2026 Grant Competition Events

Virtual Grant Writing Workshop
January 9, 2025, 11 am- 3 pm
Join Zoom Meeting

Bidders Conference Zoom Webinar
May 8, 2025, 9 am- 12 pm
You must register to attend.

ESSER III Afterschool Programs Infographic

OSPI enlisted the support of the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to collect data from ESSER-funded programs to enable them to examine the same information as 21st CCLC-funded programs.

Contact Information

21st Century Community Learning Centers

360-725-6100

Heidi Schultz

Lead Program Supervisor
360-819-0045

Dallas Artz

Program Supervisor
360-972-4512

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. OSPI oversees the administration of the federal grant, Title IV Part B, which funds 21st-century programs for our students.

2025-2026 21st CCLC Grant Competition Updates.

1. Priorities for Funding-

  • Programs proposing activities not accessible to students, or services that would expand access to high-quality services.
  • Programs proposing to serve students who attend comprehensive or targeted support and improvement schools.
  • Rural Education Agencies (LEAs) who are proposing to serve a school that is at least 40% or higher free and reduced lunch price rate. 
  • Geographic diversity - Priority will be given to applicants in Adams, Asotin, Clallam, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lincoln, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Whitman.
21st CCLC map showing the areas of the state where afterschool programs are located.

2022–23 Student & Teacher Survey Brief

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) are out-of-school time programs, many of which occur on school campuses. With the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on 21st CCLC programs, the evaluation team from the American Institutes for Research® administered a brief survey in spring 2022 to students who participated in programming, as well as to the school-day teachers of elementary student participants, to learn about the experiences and feelings of students and teacher perceptions of student engagement in learning in the classroom.

Washington COVD-19 Survey

This report describes how 21st CCLC subgrantees responded to the COVID-19–related school closures. The evaluation team administered a brief online survey to subgrantees to gather data that would answer the following evaluation questions: 1. Which programs still operated during spring 2020 and how? 2. What were the programs’ plans for summer 2020? 3. How were programs thinking about preparation for the 2020–21 school year? 4. What were the characteristics of online learning solutions implemented by programs during spring 2020?

Renewability of Awards

Washington's decision for fiscal year '25, beginning July 1, 2024, is to not exercise renewability but to award funds to eligible entities through the competitive application process. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows a State Education Agency (SEA) to renew 21st Century Community Learning Center subgrants based on subgrantees' performance during the previous subgrant period.

Program Guidance

Find non-regulatory guidance from the Department of Education, program evaluations, and a list of partners and resources.

Grantees

Find a list of 21st Century Learning Grantees.