21ST century community learning centers program

The Alabama State Department of Education received a $21.2M formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program (CFDA 84.287) for the period July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award supports the establishment and expansion of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment, tutoring, homework assistance, mentoring, and developmental services to school-aged children, particularly those attending high-poverty and low-performing schools in Montgomery, Alabama and surrounding areas.

The 21st CCLC program delivers comprehensive out-of-school time programming including academic support, extracurricular activities in arts, music, and sports, and cultural enrichment opportunities. As the primary recipient and pass-through entity, the Alabama State Department of Education is responsible for distributing funds to local educational agencies, community-based organizations, and other eligible sub-recipients to implement these services. The funding supports services that supplement in-school instruction and promote student academic achievement and overall development among school-aged children and their families throughout the state.