‍Program Overview and Enrichment Services

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is a federal program that funds local community learning centers offering academic support outside of regular school hours. It is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to before-school, afterschool, and summer learning programs and is currently serving over 1.3 million students nationwide. The program primarily targets high-poverty, low-performing schools to establish or expand centers that provide:

Academic enrichment: Services such as tutoring, homework help, and remedial education aligned with the school curriculum.
A variety of enrichment activities: Hands-on STEM projects, arts and music, physical fitness, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention, youth development, and career/technical programs.
Family literacy and engagement services: Workshops, ESL classes, and other educational resources to help families support their children’s learning.

Each community learning center is tailored to local needs and is frequently operated through partnerships between schools and community organizations. On average, a 21st CCLC program works with about nine partner organizations. In many cases, community partners also contribute significant in-kind support (about $67,000 on average).

Evidence of Student Benefits and Outcomes

Research and performance data strongly indicate that 21st CCLC programs benefit students’ academic achievement and engagement. National performance reporting shows that students attending these programs improve in areas such as classroom engagement, school-day attendance, grades, and performance on state assessments in reading and math.

For example, 7 in 10 students improved their engagement in learning, and over half of those who began with a below–“B” average saw their grade point average improve. Approximately 40% of participants demonstrated growth in state standardized tests. Regular participation over multiple years yields cumulative benefits; a study of about 3,000 low-income elementary and middle school students found that those attending high-quality afterschool programs for more than two years gained up to 20 percentile points in math.

Afterschool participation is also linked to better school-day attendance. Nearly one in two students who had been chronically absent improved their attendance after a year in a 21st CCLC program. An Ohio report noted that frequent attendees had substantially fewer missed school days compared to their peers. Surveys indicate that 83% of high school participants reported feeling more connected to school, and more than 80% of parents observed improved attitudes toward school. Similar positive engagement rates have been observed in states like Montana and North Dakota.

Recent Data and Statistics: Funding, Reach, and Effectiveness

Centers operate in all 50 states, with over 1.5 million young people and family members participating in a typical year. In the 2021–2022 school year, nearly 1.4 million students were served. There are over 10,000 local community learning centers funded by 21st CCLC grants.

Annual funding for the program has held steady at roughly $1.25–$1.3 billion. For Fiscal Year 2023, Congress appropriated $1.329 billion for the program. However, after adjusting for inflation, current funding is about $167 million below the FY2014 level. Only about 1 in 3 grant requests is awarded, and over a ten-year span, $4 billion in proposed projects went unfunded.

Recent data also show that 70% of regular attendees improved in homework completion and class participation, and roughly 65–70% improved their reading or math grades. Nearly half of participating students improved their state assessment scores. In addition, 92% of 21st CCLC programs offer STEM opportunities, contributing to skill development in teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.

Case Studies of Successful 21st CCLC Programs

Pennsylvania: Nearly half of participating students in Pennsylvania’s programs showed gains, with approximately 46% of elementary students and 42% of middle and high school students improving their grades.

Ohio: Evaluations indicate that 21st CCLC participants in Ohio had a statistically significant lower rate of unexcused absences than their peers.

Delaware: In Delaware, 83% of high school participants felt more connected to school, and 89% of parents observed improved student attitudes. Other states, such as Montana and North Dakota, reported similarly positive outcomes.

Policy Updates and Recent Developments

The 21st CCLC program was reauthorized in 2015 under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), reaffirming its role in providing academic enrichment in community learning centers. In 2019, Congress honored Rep. Nita Lowey by renaming the initiative while preserving its mission.

Despite attempts to eliminate its funding in the FY2018 budget proposal, bipartisan support has ensured that funding remains stable. As of FY2024, Congress has maintained roughly level funding (around $1.3 billion). Public opinion polls also show strong support for afterschool investments, with 88% of Democrats, 74% of Republicans, and 66% of Independents favoring increased funding.

In response to pandemic-related challenges, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 provided a one-time supplemental appropriation of $50 million for the program. Additionally, the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act delivered funds that many states have used to expand afterschool and summer offerings. Updated non-regulatory guidance released in September 2023 further clarified permissible activities, data reporting, and program sustainability. Looking ahead, stakeholders continue to advocate for expanded funding and innovative approaches to enhance afterschool programs.

Supporting Students at All Hours

Overall, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program supports students outside of traditional school hours, providing academic enrichment and extracurricular activities that lead to measurable gains in academic performance, attendance, and student engagement. Case studies from states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Delaware highlight tangible improvements, while policy updates and sustained funding emphasize the federal commitment to these programs. The evidence shows that community learning centers play a vital role in supporting educational success for students across the nation.