CFDA#
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Funder Type
State Government
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IT Classification
B - Readily funds technology as part of an award
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Authority
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE)
Summary
The 21st CCLC program offers academic, artistic, and cultural enrichment opportunities for students attending high-poverty, low-performing schools, helping them achieve rigorous state academic standards. KDE is committed to collaborating with districts, schools, families, students, businesses, and community partners to provide the leadership and support needed for every student to succeed. Programs are required to deliver a well-rounded mix of enrichment experiences that emphasize active, hands-on learning, support the whole child, and align with local and state academic expectations.
The program is required to provide the following services to students and families:
- Daily academic support: Homework assistance must be available on every day the program operates during the school year. If homework help is offered in the morning, it must also be provided after school. When homework is not assigned, students should receive remediation or enrichment activities.
- Comprehensive, evidence-based programming: The program must offer research-based activities that enhance and support the regular school-day curriculum. These may include youth development, social-emotional learning, service learning, nutrition education, substance abuse and violence prevention, character education, counseling, physical wellness, literacy, STEAM, career and technical education, internships or apprenticeships, and connections to high-demand industries or careers.
- Family engagement opportunities: Families of participating students must be given meaningful opportunities to engage in their children's education through literacy and other learning activities, with specific attention to the needs of parents and working families.
The 21st CCLC program is designed to complement and strengthen the school-day experience by working closely with school staff to better support students and improve academic outcomes. Through partnerships among community organizations and public and private schools, youth and families gain access to a wide range of community resources. Community learning centers also provide opportunities for residents to share their time and expertise, helping students meet academic expectations and develop new skills beyond the classroom.
History of Funding
FY25 awardees can be seen at https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/fin/Documents/FY25%2021st%20Century%20Award%20Notifications.pdf.
FY24 awardees can be seen at https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/fin/Documents/FY24%2021st%20Century%20Award%20Notifications.pdf.
FY23 awardees can be seen at https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/fin/Documents/FY23%2021st%20Century%20Award%20Notifications.pdf.
FY22 awardees can be seen at https://www.education.ky.gov/districts/fin/Documents/FY22%2021st%20Century%20Award%20Notifications.pdf.
Additional Information
Absolute priority is given to applications that focus on serving students enrolled in schools eligible for Title I, Part A schoolwide programs. For this application, a school is considered Title I, Part A schoolwide if at least 40 percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Consequently, KDE awards 21st CCLC competitive grants only to applicants that primarily serve students from these Title I, Part A schoolwide schools and their families.
Competitive priority points for FY26 are as follows:
- Academic Improvement Priority (6 Points) - Applicants that are eligible and demonstrate significant student achievement gains will receive priority points. Use the 2024–2025 Center Profile data (available ~Nov. 1, 2025); for lapsed grantees, use the most recent profile. To earn full points, 50% or more of regular participants must maintain or improve proficiency in both reading and math. Improvement in only one subject earns 3 points.
- CSI Schools – Competitive Priority (5 Points) - Schools identified by KDE as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) for 2025–2026 (late October–mid-November) earn 5 points.
- Schools Never Served by a 21st CCLC Grant – Competitive Priority (5 Points) - Schools that have never received a 21st CCLC state grant and meet all RFA requirements earn 5 points.
- Programs Serving Students 90+ Hours – Competitive Priority (5 Points) - Programs where regular attendees participate for 90 or more hours, based on the most recent Center Profile, earn 5 points.
- Transportation – Competitive Priority (5 Points) - Applications including budgeted transportation for students home after daily program hours (school year and summer) earn 5 points.
Eligibility Details
Any public or private organization interested in providing out-of-school time (OST) programs for K–12 students in Kentucky is eligible to apply for a 21st CCLC grant.
Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to:
- Local education agencies (LEAs)
- Community-based organizations (CBOs)
- Faith-based organizations (FBOs)
- Institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations
- Private schools
- Nonprofit agencies
- City or county government agencies
- Other public or private entities
Deadline Details
Applications are to be submitted by January 20, 2026, by 4:00 PM (ET). A similar deadline is anticipated annually.
Award Details
For FY26 (cycle 23), projects will be for three (3) years, starting July 2026 through September 30, 2029. Years 1-3 have a maximum award of $150,000. Continuation of federal funding beyond the first year depends on both the availability of funds and the program's successful implementation. There is no cost sharing or matching required.
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