21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)

21st Century Community Learning Centers Program

Funder: U.S. Department of Education / Florida Department of Education

Geographic Scope: Florida, specifically Palm Beach County

Program Purpose:
Federal funding to establish or expand community learning centers that operate during out-of-school hours with three specific purposes:

• Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including tutorial services to help students (particularly students in high-poverty areas and those who attend low-performing schools) meet state and local student performance standards in core academic subjects such as reading and mathematics
• Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities, such as positive youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music, recreation programs, technology education programs and character education programs that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students
• Offer families of students served by 21st CCLC programs opportunities related to literacy and educational development

Focus Areas:

• Academic enrichment and tutoring
• Youth development activities
• Drug and violence prevention
• Technology education
• Arts and music programs
• Counseling and character education
• Family instructional programs

Eligibility:

• Community learning centers serving students at low-performing schools
• Programs operating during out-of-school hours

Funding Authority: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended – Title IV, Part B; CFDA Number 84.287

Recent Awards (2014):
BGCPBC received over $2 million in awards supporting academic enrichment programs at:

• Belle Glade Elementary
• Pioneer Park Elementary
• Gladeview Elementary School
• Teen Center in the Glades
• Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club
• Boys & Girls Club of Boca Raton
• Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club
• Marjorie S. Fisher Boys & Girls Club
• Florence De George Boys & Girls Club

Application Process

Request for Proposal (RFP): Florida Department of Education issues RFP for Discretionary, Competitive Projects

Submission Requirements:
Applicants must prepare proposals for specific club locations/schools to be submitted to Florida Department of Education

Current Status (as of April 2026):
BGCPBC is preparing 12 proposals to the Florida Department of Education to establish 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Required Documentation:
Proposals should address:

• Academic enrichment and tutorial services
• Student performance standards alignment
• Broad array of youth development activities
• Family literacy and educational development opportunities
• Program design for low-performing schools and high-poverty areas