Idaho Department of Education

The Idaho Department of Education is the responsible State educational agency for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which is authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015.

The program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, primarily those who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet challenging state academic standards and local academic standards.

The purpose of 21st CCLC is three-fold:

1. Provide opportunities for academic enrichment. Including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet the challenging State academic standards (ESSA, Sec. 4201(a)(1));
2. Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as youth development activities, service learning, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, arts, music, physical fitness and wellness programs, technology education programs, financial literacy programs, environmental literacy programs, mathematics, science, career and technical programs, internship or apprenticeship programs, and other ties to an in-demand industry sector or occupation for high school students that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and (ESSA, Sec. 4201(a)(2)); and
3. Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development (ESSA, Sec. 4201(a)(3). In order to maximize federal funds and ensure quality programs with a high need are funded, the Idaho Department of Education hosts a grant competition for eligible entities (ESSA, Sec. 4204(b)). The Idaho Department of Education selects eligible grants through a rigorous peer review process, which consists of stakeholders from all regions of Idaho with experience in youth development, education, grant reviewing, and/or similar programming (ESSA, Sec. 4204(e)).

The Idaho Department of Education hosts a request for applications (RFA) for available funds under Title IV, Part B, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, to eligible entities on a competitive basis through a rigorous peer-review process.

Competitions are made available as federal funding allows. Typically, competitions open in December and close the last Friday of January.

The Idaho Department of Education will open the next 21st CCLC Grant Application in late Fall 2024, with funds going into effect July 1st 2025.

Eligible entities are encouraged to apply. An eligible entity may include a local educational agency, community-based organization, Indian tribe or tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), another public or private entity, or a consortium of 2 or more such agencies, organizations, or entities.

See Supporting Documents in the Resource Files below )under Grant Application) to review the Application Guidance.

21st CCLC Round 17 Request for Application Timeline

• November 18, 2024 and November 20, 2024 – Request for Application Workshops (Virtual)
• December 2, 2024 – Letter of Intent to Apply Deadline
• December 16, 2024- Application Portal Opens
• January 31, 2025 – Application MUST be submitted by 4:00 PM (MT)*
• February – March 2025 – Peer Review Process of Applications
• April 2025 – Announcement of Awards
• July 1, 2025- June 30, 2030 – Subgrantee Period of Performance (5 years)
• August 2025 – New Grantee / Director’s Meeting

* Applications that are incomplete, submitted late, over allowed budget, or do not follow the Application Guidance (as outlined in this document) will not be considered for peer review. NO FACSIMILE, PRINTED, HAND DELIVERED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

• Letter of Intent
• Application Guidance
• Application Scoring Rubric
• Register for November 18 Workshop
• Register for November 20 Workshop