The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program provides federal funding to support 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, that:
- Help students meet West Virginia academic standards in core areas academic subjects, just as reading and math;
- Offer families of participating students opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and other educational services; and
- Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participants.
This program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. Allocations for each state are based upon a portion of a state’s Title I population ages 5-17, as well as census information. Current guidelines for the administration of this program were transferred to state education agencies under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (formerly NCLB Act of 2001) and may be found under Title IV Part B—Nita M. Lowery 21st Century Community Learning Centers of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) {[20 U.S.S.7171-7176].