A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Regional Bidders Conferences Slide Presentation January 1999
BRINGING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED
The purpose is to provide grants to inner-city and rural public schools, working in collaboration with community organizations and other educational and youth development agencies, to expand learning opportunities for children in a safe and healthy environment.
Why provide after-school programs?
Each week, 5 million school-age children are "latchkey kids."
During these unsupervised hours, children are more likely to engage in crime, drugs, and alcohol use, or be victims of crime.
FBI statistics show that most juvenile crime occurs between the hours of 3 pm and 8 pm.
A recent poll showed that over 90 percent of Americans, regardless of parental status or political affiliation, thought children should have access to after-school educational programs.
Yet, as late as 1994, 70 percent of public schools did not offer after-school programs.
In response to these needs and findings, the U.S. Department of Education and the C.S. Mott Foundation -- with help from the National Center for Community Education, the National Community Education Association, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time and many other community-based organizations, associations and foundations -- have created a partnership to dramatically expand access to high-quality programs and to bring after-school issues to national attention.
1998 Competition
October, 1997
Congress appropriates $40 million for FY 1998
December 2, 1997
Vice President announces competition
January 26, 1998
President announces ED-Mott partnership
June 17, 1998
President announces first 99 awards
October, 1998
Congress appropriates $200 million for FY 1999 November 12, 1998
President announces 183 additional awards
The 1998 grant application process was the most competitive in Department of Education history!
35,000 applications were distributed.
U. S. Department of Education (ED) responded to thousands of inquiries.
Over 5,000 participants attended 11 regional workshops sponsored by the Mott Foundation and ED.
Every state and most territories participated; 1,959 applications, requesting over $550 million in funding, were received.
1998 Grantees:
282 communities, in 46 states and the District of Columbia, received grants
825 Centers were funded
50% of the Centers are in middle schools, 35% in elementary schools, 5% in high schools, and 10% in other school-owned facilities (e.g., K-12 schools, vo-tech centers)
Half the Centers are rural and half inner-city
Proposed partnerships include -
community-based organizations (88%);
other government agencies (63%);
businesses (56%);
local law enforcement agencies (45%); and
libraries and museums (30%).
Extended-day programs include -
after-school (94%);
summer (79%) and weekends (59%);
and before-school (12%).
Proposed services include -
reading (83%);
math (81%) and science (69%);
tutoring and homework assistance (80%);
recreational activities (87%);
music (57%) and art (65%);
technology (89%);
nutrition and health (72%).
Characteristics of high-quality after-school programs
Goal setting & strong management
Quality after-school staffing
Low staff/student ratios
Attention to safety, health & nutrition issues
Effective partnerships
Strong involvement of families
Coordination with regular school day
Links between teachers & after-school staff
Evaluation of program progress
How will the FY 1999 appropriation be used?
$40 million will provide continuation funding for the 99 grants announced in June 1998.
$60 million will fund the 183 grants announced in November 1998.
$100 million will be used in this competition to fund about 300 new grants.
Fiscal Year 1999 Competition Timeline
Application package available on the Internet on December 3, 1998. Print copies available in mid-December.
Training workshops held in January, 1999, at 12 locations.
Applications due March 1, 1999.
ED hopes to announce new grants by May 31, 1999.
21st Century Community Learning Center Grants
Are for programs located in rural and inner-city schools;
Must provide expanded learning opportunities for children as well as services to benefit the community;
May not exceed three years; and
Must be for at least $35,000. (In 1998, the typical grant size was $375,000 per year and supported 3 Centers.)
1999 Applicants must
be a public elementary or secondary school, local educational agency (LEA), or consortium of schools;
identify the specific schools that will become 21st Century Community Learning Centers and justify their status as either inner-city or rural schools;
provide evidence of partnership or collaboration with other community organizations and service providers; and
propose to carry out at least 4 of the 13 statutorily required activities.
13 Activities in the statute:
(1) Literacy education programs.
(2) Senior citizen programs.
(3) Children's day care services.
(4) Integrated education, health, social service, recreational, or cultural programs.
(5) Summer and weekend school programs in conjunction with recreation programs.
(6) Nutrition and health programs.
(7) Expanded library service hours to serve community needs.
(8) Telecommunications and technology education programs for individuals of all ages.
(9) Parenting skills education programs.
(10) Support and training for child day care providers.
(11) Employment counseling, training, and placement.
(12) Services for individuals who leave school before graduating from secondary school, regardless of the age of such individual.
(13) Services for individuals with disabilities.
What is different in the 1999 competition?
The competitive priority for adolescents and middle schools will not apply.
The selection criteria place increased emphasis on the quality of project design, including measurable goals and linkages with other service agencies.
New performance indicators provide a framework for program evaluations.
The application package describes more clearly the requirement for collaboration.
Applicants must provide more explicit information about community demographics, Centers to be established, and the number of children to be served.
Some of the required forms have been improved and streamlined.
FY 1999 Priorities
Absolute priority: Applications must include activities that offer significant expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in the community and that contribute to reduced drug use and violence.
Competitive priority 1: Applications for projects that assist students to meet or exceed state or local standards in core subjects receive up to 5 extra points.
Competitive priority 2: Applications that provide substantial services to Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities receive preference over other applications of equivalent technical merit.
1999 Selection Criteria
Need for project
(30 points)
Quality of project design (30 points)
Adequacy of resources
(15 points)
Quality of management plan
(15 points)
Quality of project evaluation
(10 points)
How are applications selected for funding?
Each application is rated by three independent peer reviewers. Panels will be convened in Portland, Houston, Chicago, Providence, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and -- three weeks later -- in Washington, DC.
Scores are standardized to adjust for tendencies of panelists to consistently rate high or low.
Applications are funded in rank order based on their average standard score.
Typical Errors in 1998 Applications
125 applications were ineligible because they were not from public schools. For example, applications from community organizations, private schools, faith-based organizations, and for-profit companies cannot be funded.
Applications did not specify a clear vision, defined goals, or measurable objectives.
Applications did not identify the services to be provided, the days and hours of operation, or program participants.
Budgets were incomplete, inaccurate, or for less than $35,000.
Programs were not school-based.
Roles and responsibilities of community partners were not clearly stated.
Application narratives exceeded 20 pages in length or were not double-spaced.
Critical information -- such as cover pages, assurances, contact information or abstracts -- was missing.
Applicants submitted supplementary information that could not be considered.
A Few Reminders
To expedite panel reviews, submit a signed ORIGINAL and FOUR copies.
Send all the application materials in ONE package, postmarked no later than March 1, 1999.
Only a public school or school district can be the "OFFICIAL" applicant and fiscal agent.
A narrative no longer than 20 pages, double-spaced is STRONGLY encouraged.
Are there other Federal initiatives that can support my after-school program?
Reading Excellence Act
Safe and Drug-Free Schools
grants to promote safe and drug-free learning environments
GEAR UP
grants to support partnerships between colleges and high-poverty middle schools to increase college attendance
See "Safe & Smart" (in your application package) for additional programs
21stCCLC Contact Information:
This page last modified November 1, 2001 (edg)
