The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grant funds to be awarded to school divisions and eligible organizations to support the implementation of community learning centers that will assist student learning and development. Funding for this program is provided through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended. 

The Department will fund projects that provide significantly expanded learning opportunities for children and youth and that will assist students in meeting or exceeding state and local standards in core academic subjects. Applicants eligible to submit a proposal for this competition are school divisions, nonprofit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and for-profit corporations. 

Per the statute Section 4204(i)(1), grantees must serve schools that meet the absolute priority of serving students who attend: 

Schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities (the lowest five percent of Title I schools, plus any high school with a federal graduation rate below 67 percent); 

• Schools implementing targeted support and improvement or additional targeted support and improvement activities (Title I and non-Title I schools, with low- performing student groups); 

• Other schools determined by the local educational agency to be in need of intervention and support; 

• Schools enrolling students who may be at risk for academic failure, dropping out of school, involvement in criminal or delinquent activities, or who lack strong positive role models; and 

• The families of such students.
  Priority points will be given to those applicants that: 

• Jointly submit applications between at least one local school division and at least one public or private community organization; 

• Propose to serve students in schools that either are a comprehensive support and improvement school, targeted support and improvement schools, additional targeted support and improvement school, and/or not fully accredited; 

• Propose to serve students in middle or high schools; and/or 

• Propose to serve schools with a free and reduced price lunch eligibility of 75 percent or greater. 

Applicants must consult extensively with parents, community organizations, businesses, arts, and cultural organizations, and other youth development agencies to develop 21st CCLC proposals. 

Technical assistance webinars are scheduled as outlined below. Registration is required. Materials will be emailed to registered participants. 

21st CCLC Request for Proposal (RFP) Webinar #1 

Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Meeting ID: 864 5919 5531 Passcode: 371430 

21st CCLC RFP Webinar #2 (This is a repeat.) 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Meeting ID: 869 1042 4221 Passcode: 598446 

21st CCLC RFP Additional Webinar for Nonprofits (This webinar will provide additional information about applying for and implementing a 21st CCLC program for non-profits who will be the lead applicant.) 

21st CCLC RFP Additional Webinar for Nonprofits   

Thursday, March 3, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Meeting ID: 839 7138 5373 Passcode: 716919

Applications for 21st CCLC competitive grant funds must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2022. The application and Guidelines, Instructions, and Assurances documents are available upon request from 21stcclc@doe.virginia.gov. 

The completed application and attachments must be emailed to 21stcclc@doe.virginia.gov. 

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Marsha Granderson at: Marsha.Granderson@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 786-1993.