21ST century community learning centers program

The Maine Department of Education received a formula grant award of $6.5 million 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), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The 21st CCLC program funds the establishment and expansion of community learning centers that provide out-of-school time academic enrichment and developmental services to school-aged children, particularly those attending high-poverty and low-performing schools.

As the state educational agency and primary recipient, the Maine Department of Education serves as the pass-through entity responsible for distributing these funds to local implementing organizations, including local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based entities throughout Maine's 16 counties. The funded community learning centers deliver comprehensive services such as tutoring, homework assistance, mentoring, academic enrichment, and extracurricular activities in arts, music, sports, and cultural areas. These out-of-school time programs supplement in-school instruction to support student academic achievement and overall development for Maine's school-aged children and their families.