Overview
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program was established by Congress as Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The passage of the Public Law 107-110, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 significantly amended the ESEA to expand State and local accountability and flexibility and to stress the adoption of research-based practice, substantially changing the 21st Century Communities Learning Center program. 

Purpose
The purpose of Maine’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is to establish or extend “Community Learning Centers”that provide students, (primarily those who are not meeting learning results) with academic support and enrichment opportunities designed to complement their regular academic program. These centers must link to the local School Administrative Unit’s (SAU’s) comprehensive education plan that is aligned with the system of Maine Learning Results, focused on the learning of all students and oriented to continuous improvement.  21st Century Community Learning Centers must also offer the families of these students’ literacy and related educational development services. Centers, which can be located in elementary or secondary schools or other similarly accessible facilities, provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, including tutoring and mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment (such as hands-on math, science or technology programs), health and safety education, cultural enrichment, and parent and family engagement. At the same time, centers help working parents by providing a safe environment for students when school is not in session.

The law’s specific purposes for USE OF FUNDS are to:

• provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial  services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to 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 youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music, and recreation programs, technology education programs, and character education programs, that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
  
  
• offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational development (Section 4201(a) 1-3), and specific parent engagement opportunities in their child/s after school learning.

 The State, under this program, will give priority to school/community partnerships who:

1. serve children in low-performing schools;
2. serve designated Title I priority schools;
3. meet the SAU minimum 40% free and reduced lunch count; 
4. demonstrate SAU and community partnership in delivering programs and services to children and families; 
5. propose to serve youth on a year round basis (includes a summer program);
6. link to existing educational support programs such as GEARUP; and
7. meet required evaluation and outcome measures.