Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant, administered by the Idaho State Department of Education (IDE), provides funding to support high-quality community learning centers for children in high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program is federally authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The primary aim of the 21st CCLC initiative is to offer academic enrichment during non-school hours to help students meet state and local standards. This includes not only academic support but also a wide range of services such as arts, physical fitness, cultural activities, drug and violence prevention, financial and environmental literacy, and career and technical education. The IDE is responsible for implementing the grant competition process and will award subgrants through a rigorous peer review. Applicants must propose programs that reinforce the regular academic curriculum and provide families with opportunities for meaningful involvement. Each funded program must provide academic enrichment, a variety of youth development services, and parent engagement initiatives. Applicants are required to host activities during both the school year and summer, with minimum operational thresholds of 100 days and 300 hours during the school year and at least 40 hours during the summer. Eligible applicants include local educational agencies, community-based organizations, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, public or private entities, or consortia of these. A partnership with a local education agency is mandatory unless a formal waiver is submitted and approved. Additionally, centers must offer services free of charge and cannot collect fees, co-pays, or program income. Each subgrantee may operate up to four centers under one application and must assign responsibilities to an Authorized Applicant Representative and a Project Director for compliance and reporting. For Round 18, the IDE will open the application portal on March 6, 2026. Letters of Intent must be submitted by March 2, 2026, to gain timely access to the portal, though late submissions are permitted with some delay. The final application deadline is April 3, 2026, by 4:00 PM Mountain Time. Applications must be submitted through the ISEE portal; printed, emailed, or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted. Workshops will be held virtually on February 25 and 27, 2026, to support applicants in preparing their proposals. Award announcements will be made in May 2026, and the five-year performance period begins on July 1, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2031. Grantees will be expected to engage in robust reporting and evaluation, including annual local evaluations and financial audits. The program emphasizes continuous quality improvement through data-driven assessment. Funding levels range from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $200,000 annually, with a total program funding of approximately $1.5 million and an estimated 8 to 10 subgrants to be awarded. While not required, a 10% in-kind or cash match is encouraged. Certain costs, such as indirect costs and remodeling expenses, are subject to specific federal and state limitations. Programs must also budget for mandatory participation in statewide professional development meetings. Applicants will be evaluated based on a 270-point scoring rubric across ten categories, including competitive priorities, project design, needs assessment, partnerships, fiscal planning, and sustainability. Competitive priority points may be awarded for targeting high-poverty areas, Title I schools, rural regions, and supporting a full-time program director. All proposed programs must align with the goals of the 21st CCLC initiative to improve academic outcomes, increase student engagement, and foster stronger school-community connections.

Meet LOI deadline; ensure partnership MOU is uploaded; avoid budget overruns or incomplete applications.