The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and reauthorized by The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The program provides federal funding for the establishment of community learning centers that provide academic, STEM activities, artistic and cultural enrichment opportunities for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools, in order to meet state and local standards in core academic subjects such as reading, math and science.

This program is also intended to offer students a broad array of activities and to include families and the community in the educational process.

• Increase Academic Enrichment: Provide tutorial services to support students, particularly those attending low-performing schools, in meeting challenging state academic standards.

• Offer a Broad Array of Services and Activities: Provide students with diverse opportunities, including youth development activities, service learning, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling, arts, music, physical fitness and wellness programs, technology education, financial literacy, environmental literacy, mathematics, science, career and technical programs. These activities are designed to reinforce and complement the students’ regular academic programs.

• Engage Families in Education: Offer families of students attending community learning centers opportunities for meaningful involvement in their children’s education, including financial literacy, community resources and related educational development initiatives.