21ST century community learning centers program

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received a $56.1 million formula grant 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 performance period of July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This funding supports the establishment and expansion of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment and developmental services to school-aged children, particularly those attending high-poverty and low-performing schools. The 21st CCLC program delivers comprehensive out-of-school time programming including tutoring, homework assistance, mentoring, academic enrichment in core content areas, and extracurricular activities in arts, music, sports, and cultural areas to supplement in-school instruction and support student achievement.

ISBE functions as the primary recipient and pass-through entity, distributing sub-awards to 47 local implementing organizations across Illinois, including school districts (Bloom Township High School District 206, Effingham Community Unit School District #40, West Chicago Elementary District #33, and Chicago Public Schools, among others), non-profit community-based organizations (Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education, and Metropolitan Family Services), regional offices of education, and higher education institutions (Northeastern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University). These sub-awardees provide instruction and intervention in core academic content areas, enrichment and recreation activities, parent engagement services, and professional development for staff aligned with Illinois Learning Standards to improve academic achievement and overall development for participating students and their families.