21st Century Community
Learning Centers
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 and provides academic enrichment opportunities and a broad array of additional services such as art, music, physical fitness, culture diversity, drug and violence prevention, and youth development activities to students during non-school hours.
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General Information
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:
- 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));
- 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
- 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)).
Grant Application
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.
The Idaho Department of Education plans to open the next 21st CCLC Grant Application in March 2026, with funds going into effect July 1st, 2026.
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.
Eligible applicants that intend on applying must submit a Letter of Intent to Apply to Sheena Strickler by March 2, 2026. Letters submitted after this date are allowed but may result in delayed access to the online application.
21st CCLC Round 18 Request for Application Timeline
- February 25, 2026 @10am MT – Request for Application Workshops (virtual, will not be recorded)
- February 27, 2026 @10am MT – Request for Application Workshops (virtual, will not be recorded)
- March 2, 2026 – Letter of Intent to Apply Deadline
- March 6, 2026- Application Portal Opens
- April 3, 2026 – Application MUST be submitted via ISEE by 4:00 PM (MT)*
- April 2026 – Peer Review Process of Applications
- May 2026 – Announcement of Awards
- July 1, 2026- June 30, 2031 – Subgrantee Period of Performance (5 years)
- August 2026 – New Grantee / Director’s Meeting
* Applications that are incomplete, submitted late, over allowed budget, or do not follow the instructions in the Application Guidance document will not be considered for peer review. NO FACSIMILE, PRINTED, HAND DELIVERED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Supporting Documents
Other Resources
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Laws and Regulations
Subgrantee
Student Engagement Divisions
Quick Links
21st CCLC Key Contacts
2025-26 Idaho Subgrantee Map
2025-2026 Important Dates
Contact
Sheena Strickler
Coordinator
(208) 332-6813
sstrickler@sde.idaho.gov
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