The purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program is to provide before- and after-school, weekend, and/or summer school academic enrichment opportunities for children attending high-poverty, low-performing schools to help them meet local and state academic standards in core content areas such as reading, mathematics, and science. 21st CCLC programs may also provide activities for youth development, drug and violence prevention, art, music, character education, counseling, and recreation to enhance the program's academic components. 21st CCLC programs must also include a family education or family literacy component.
The Rhode Island department of Education (RIDE) provides funds to support the development of high quality after-school and summer programs through a competitive process that prioritizes high poverty areas. All 21st CCLCs must show a partnership between the target school(s) and a community- or faith-based organization.
RIDE currently supports after school and summer programs in over 50 elementary, middle and high schools, serving over 10,000 students each year.
2019 grantees can be seen at https://www.ride.ri.gov/InsideRIDE/AdditionalInformation/News/ViewArticle/tabid/408/ArticleId/577/RIDE-Awards-3M-for-21st-Century-Community-Learning-Centers.aspx
21st CCLC programs provide a broad array of opportunities for students and their families including such things as: