Title IV, Part B - 21st Century Community Learning Centers Resources

The Title IV, Part B - Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program provides grants to schools, community-based, faith-based, and/or non-profit organizations as partners for the establishment of community learning centers to keep children safe while providing academic and enrichment activities during after-school hours.

The overarching goal of the state-administered federal program is to establish or expand community learning centers during non-school hours to provide students with academic and enrichment opportunities along with supportive services necessary to help them achieve academically and develop socially, emotionally, physically and behaviorally.

The grants are intended for schools eligible for Title I Schoolwide Program funds, where at least 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

Title IV, Part B Guidance

Iowa 21st CCLC Community Partners List

Back to top

Beware of Free Grant Writing

There are companies that operate online offering “free” grant writing services that are not free. Some require you sign a contract before receiving an award that ask you to purchase from a third party in exchange for their services if awarded.

However, you cannot use grant funds before you receive the award and any purchases must be allowable. Agreements entered into before you receive a grant award are not payable with 21st Century Community Learning funds. We recommend that you contact your attorney before entering into any agreements.

From Evaluation Guidelines in RFA: No more than 4% of each program's total budget can be used for local evaluation efforts. You may NOT use grant funds to pay for grant writing or make purchases, enter into any contract, or incur expenses before you have a signed grant agreement. – pg. 22 of Iowa RFA

Example: If you receive an award of $100,000, you may spend up to $4,000 on local evaluation.

Grant writing expenses are paid with your funds and are not reimbursable with grant funds.

Back to top

FY25 Grant Application Timeline & Application Update

  • September 2024 - Request for Application (RFA) and informational letter available.
  • Sept. 28, 2024 - In-Person Technical Assistance.
    • Thursday September 26, 2024, Stoney Creek Hotel - 5291 Stoney Creek Ct, Johnston, IA 50131
  • Oct. 10, 2024 - Grant Local Evaluation Training Webinar. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. We will review the Evaluation Support documents (posted in the Evaluation section).
  • Oct. 15, 2024 - First Virtual Technical Assistance Meeting. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Nov. 12, 2024 - Second Virtual Technical Assistance Meeting. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Online Letter of Intent - Open Sept. 26, 2024
  • Dec. 20, 2024 - Grant Application Due Date

Please review the following before you start the application:

When you have reviewed these documents, you may begin the application.

Timeline:

  • January 2025 - Application Compliance Check
  • December 2024 - January 2025 - Grant reviewers read and score applications for funding.
  • February 2025 - Grant reviewers conference
  • April 2025 - Grant awards announced.
  • April - June 2025 - Grant contracts finalized.
  • July 1, 2025 - Program implementation may begin with summer (Note: The Federal data reporting begins the school year with summer school).
Back to top

FY25 Request for Applications

The items listed below are for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers FY25 (Fall 2024).

21CCLC Request for Applications (RFA) Checklist

21st Century Community Learning Centers Instructions for the Application (Read this before you begin the RFA)

21st Century Community Learning Centers RFA  - Complete Application Packet

Iowa 21CCLC RFA Rubric - how points are awarded by Grant Reviewers

Request for Competitive Priority

U.S. Census Bureau - to document a rural location

21st CCLC Communications Template (to be uploaded when you apply)

21st CCLC Assurances and Agreements (to be uploaded when you apply)

Previous Sustainability Form (to be uploaded by prior grantees)

Sustainability Planning Template

Collaborative Signature (to be uploaded when you apply)

Community Partner Official Notice

Legal Status of Applicant

Additional Information:

​Application Financial Guidance

Guide to Program Budgets and Accounting

Iowa 21st Century Funding Estimator (Use this spreadsheet to calculate your award)

Appendix A Practice Lists

Appendix B Definitions

Appendix C Contractual Terms

Appendix D Iowa Site Monitoring Documentation Form

Appendix E Iowa Comprehensive Site Visit for 21st CCLC

Appendix F - Partnerships for Adult Literacy

Appendix G - Sustainability Plan and MOU Template

Appendix H - Research

Appendix I - 21st Century Guide to Iowa Program Budgets

Appendix J - After the Peer Review Process - Federal

Appendix J -1 - After the Peer Review Process - Iowa

Appendix J - 2 - Competitive Grant Appeal Process

Appendix J - 3 Competitive Grant Appeal Process

Appendix K - Data Collection Authority for the 21CCLC

Appendix L - Guidance for the Completion of the Minority Impact Statement

Appendix M - IAA Role of Advisory Boards in AS Programs

Appendix M - 1 IAA Advisory Board Planning Worksheet

Appendix N - Iowa 21CCLC Student Needs Assessment

Appendix O - Non Public School Consultation Guidance

Appendix P - Office of Inspector General Grant Fraud

Appendix Q Children with Disabilities and 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program

Back to top

Evaluation and Professional Development Support

Evaluation Support

Local Evaluation Guidelines

Local Evaluation Form (required for all local evaluations)

Monitoring of Evaluation Guidance

Iowa Local Evaluator Timeline

The required objectives are now the GPRA measures.

Grantees are encouraged to add local objectives in their evaluations. This data will be considered anecdotal since it will not be consistent with other grantees. However it is still important to your local evaluation.

A GOOD local evaluation should follow this formula:

GPRA measures + Local objectives+ Success Stories+ Pictures + other good data= A well-developed evaluation.

The new APR data system (which replaced the PPICS) does not have the same reporting functions as the previous system. In order to aggregate data and to provide a uniform reporting of local evaluation data, this form is required. Local evaluations may add additional facts and data and append the additional information to this form.

Teacher Survey Student Evaluation Questions (This is a short version of the teacher survey with only the GPRA measures that are required). You should include this in your local evaluation.

Teacher Survey (required for all local evaluations)

Professional Development Support

Iowa requires that no less than 5% be spent on professional development. This is monitored by the SEA (Items 6G and 6H) on the On Site Monitoring Form. In response to numerous visits, a template was created to assist grantees with their Professional Development plans.

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance visits all new grantees to assist them with staff development needs and will assist in developing a professional development plan. The IAA will contact new grantees and arrange a suitable date for their Best Practice visit.

21CCLC PD Activity Report (a PD plan is required for grantees)

Back to top

Children with Disabilities and 21st CCLC Programming

Iowa 21 CCLC and Children with Disabilities Guidance - Explains the responsibilities for providing children with disabilities with an equal opportunity for participation in 21st Century Community Learning Centers programming and other before-school and after-school programs operated by school districts.

Back to top

Activities of Before and Afterschool Programs

Each eligible organization that receives an award may use the funds to carry out a broad array of before- and after-school activities (or activities during other times when school is not in session) that advance student achievement.

  • Remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including providing additional assistance to students to allow the students to improve their academic achievement
  • Literacy activities
  • Tutoring services (including those provided by senior citizen volunteers) and mentoring programs; to reduce achievement gaps for at-risk children
  • Programs that provide after-school activities for limited English proficient students that emphasize language skills and academic achievement
  • Mathematics and science education activities
  • Arts and music and cultural education activities
  • Entrepreneurial education programs, Employment preparation or training
  • Physical Fitness, Nutritional Education and Recreational Activities
  • Drug and violence prevention programs. Counseling, character and behavior education
  • Youth leadership and character building activities
  • Volunteer and community service opportunities
  • College awareness and preparation
  • Homework assistance centers
  • Mentoring and service-learning projects
  • Activities linked to law enforcement
  • Supervised field trips, recreation and enrichment programs and events
Back to top

Grant Program and Awards

Cohorts VII-XX: Iowa provides a 5 year grant. In years 4 and 5 the funding is reduced 25% and we have a sustainability meeting as part of the Comprehensive Site visit by the Iowa Department of Education.

Cohorts I-VI: Entities eligible to receive Iowa’s grant funds for a period of five (5) years has been expanded to include local educational agencies (LEAs), cities, counties, community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs), non-profit organizations (NPOs), or a consortium of two or more such agencies, organizations or entities. Applicants are required to plan their programs through a collaborative process that includes parents, youth, and representatives of participating schools or local educational agencies, governmental agencies (e.g., cities, counties, parks and recreation departments), community organizations, and the private sector.

Grant Award - Cohort XX 2025-2030

Grant Award - Cohort XIX 2024-2029

Grant Award - Cohort XVIII 2023-2028

Grant Award - Cohort XVII 2022-2027

Grant Award - Cohort XVI 2021-2026

Grant Award - Cohort XV 2020-2025

Grant Award - Cohort XIV 2019-2023

Grant Award - Cohort XIII 2018-2022

Grant Award - Cohort XII 2017-2019

Grant Awards - Cohort XI 2016-2019

Grant Awards - Cohort X 2015-2018

Grant Awards - Cohort IX 2014-2017

Grant Awards - Cohort VIII 2013-2016

Grant Awards - Cohort VII 2012-2015

Grant Awards - Cohort VI 2010-2015

Grant Awards - Cohort V 2009-2014

Grant Awards - Cohort IV 2008-2013

Grant Awards - Cohort III 2007-2012

Back to top

State Evaluation

Every year, 21st CCLC grantees are required to submit basic information about the characteristics associated with their programs and the outcomes they were able to achieve as a result of providing services to the students and adult family members attending their programs. This data includes activities, attendance, partners/subcontractors, staffing, and regular attendees’ math and reading proficiency levels. This data is collected by the Iowa Department of Education, submitted to a federal data collection system and publicly posted on the program website.

Iowa Afterschool Report 2012 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, surveys, and PPICS.

Iowa Afterschool Report 2013 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, surveys, and PPICS.

Iowa Afterschool Report 2014 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, surveys, and PPICS.

Iowa Afterschool Report 2015 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2016 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2017 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2018 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2019 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2020 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2021 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Iowa Afterschool Report 2022 - Evaluation data from grantees, site visits, and the federal APR data system

Back to top

Afterschool Resources

The Wallace Foundation

Afterschool Alliance

Iowa Afterschool Alliance

SEDL National Center for Quality Afterschool

American Institutes for Research - Building Quality in Afterschool

US Dept. of Education - Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Advancing Afterschool

Iowa Kids Count

 

Back to top