Public and private organizations may apply for funding. Examples of public and private organizations include, but are not limited to: local education agencies, non-profit agencies, city and county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and for-profit agencies.

Application information will be made available on the 21stCCLC website in early spring of 2013. Information will also be emailed to public school superintendents and other interested persons.

Each local 21st CCLC grant application must describe information such as:

• the before- and after-school and-summer-school (optional) activities to be funded;
• how the activities will improve student achievement;
• how students will travel safely to and from the learning center;
• the partnership(s) between a local educational agency and a community-based organization and another public or private organization (as appropriate);
• an evaluation of the community needs and available resources for the learning center; and other provisions requested in the application package.

Attendance at the annual Bidders' Conference is strongly recommended but not required.

By federal statute a 21st CCLC grant may not be less than $50,000 and no matching funds are required. Grants awarded in 2012 were between $50,000 and $215,000.

Contingent upon funding from the USDOE and providing evidence of annual effectiveness, WV has the discretion to award grants to local organizations for a period of 5 years.  Funding will decrease to 80% of original funding in year 4 and 70% in year 5.

WVDE will conduct a competitive review process in the spring of each year with funding contingent on the USDOE expected to begin the following July.

Date has not been seet for 2013 applications:

Marsha Bailes
Educator Quality and System Support
Office of Federal Programs
West Virginia Department of Education
Building 6, Room 330
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E
Charleston, WV 25305
304-558-3199, Fax 304-558-6268

Funds may be used on remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including providing additional assistance to students to allow the students to improve their academic achievement.

• Mathematics and science education activities.
• Arts and music education activities.
• Entrepreneurial education programs.
• Mentoring
• Programs that provide after school activities for limited English proficient students that emphasize language skills and academic achievement.
• Recreational activities.
• Telecommunications and technology education programs.
• Expanded library service hours.
• Programs that promote parental involvement, family literacy and adult skill development.
• Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement.
• Drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, and character education programs.
• Health and Nutrition
• Remedial education activities, including tutoring
• Homework help
• Academic enrichment

Applicants are reminded of their obligation under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure that their proposed community learning centers programs are accessible to persons with disabilities

Federal criteria require that states make awards only to applicants that will primarily serve students that attend schools with a high concentration of low-income students, giving priority to applicants serving children in high-priority schools. Therefore, applicants must propose services ONLY to schools with 40 percent or more of the students enrolled eligible for free or reduced priced meals.   Priority will be given to the following:

1. School(s) included in the following:

• This will be updated for the 2013 application 

2. Programs that provide opportunities for participants in science, technology, arts, engineering and mathematics (STEAM).

3. Services to middle school and/or high school students

4. Services to students attending schools designated as in need of improvement under Title I and that are submitted jointly by school districts receiving Title I funds and community-based organizations or other public or private organizations

In determining whether an application has been “submitted jointly,” States should look for evidence in the application that the LEA and at least one other organization collaborated in the  

planning and design of the program, each have substantial roles to play in the delivery of services, share grant resources to carry out those roles, and have significant ongoing involvement in the management and oversight of the program. States may want to consider what organization(s) wrote the application, what organization will be the fiscal agent, whether there is a history of these organizations working together, and whether there is evidence in the application of integration of the after-school program activities with the regular school day program. Letters of endorsement are not by themselves sufficient evidence that organizations or school districts have substantially been involved in the design of a program.(This clarification comes from the USDOE Nonregulatory Guidance for 21^st CCLC programs.)

The date for the 2013 West Virginia 21^st CCLC Bidders’ Conference has not been set. It is anticipated that it will be held in mid-late March. When a date has been confirmed, it will be posted on this site. At this time the 21st Century Community Learning Centers application package will be distributed, information will be provided about existing programs, and questions will be answered regarding the grant application process.