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21st CCLC Budget Guidelines 

On August 25, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in cooperation with the Center for Schools and Communities provided a live, online session entitled "21st CCLC Budget Guidelines". The presenter will be Susan D'Annunzio, Student Services Supervisor, Bureau of Community and Student Services, Division of Student Services and Migrant Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The purpose of this presentation was to provide participants with a guideline to assist them in preparing their 21st Century Community Learning Center budget, including what is allowable, what requires specific detail and that which is prohibited.

Click here to access the recording, slides and handouts.


April 7, 2010

Pennsylvania Awards $29.9 Million to Support 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Harrisburg - Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today that $29.9 million in federal grants will be awarded to support 62 new sites that serve students before and after school through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. It is the largest state award in the history of the initiative.

"Working with students outside of regular school hours is essential in ensuring student achievement, which is exactly what these centers accomplish," Zahorchak said. "After-school programs provide a safe and structured atmosphere in which students can grow and learn."

The 21st Century Community Learning Center, or 21st CCLC, program provides funding to establish community learning centers to provide academic, artistic and cultural enhancement activities to students and their families when school is not in session. The primary goal of these centers is to assist students to meet state and local standards for core subjects, such as reading and mathematics, by providing them with academic enrichment opportunities.

In addition to academics, centers may also offer participants a broad array of other services and programs, including art, music, service learning, character education, drug and violence prevention programming, recreation activities and technology education. Supplementary services for parents, such as literacy instruction, may also be provided.

Last year in Pennsylvania, there were 285 21st CCLC sites that served more than 28,000 students and 5,700 family members. On average, centers were open for 13 hours a week, and provided key services such as academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, physical activities and career job training for youth.

For more information about 21st Century Community Learning Centers, please go to www.education.state.pa.us and enter 21st CCLC in the search box.