For Immediate Release
Monday, June 5, 2006 ISBE Announces Recipients of 21st
Century Community Learning Centers Program Grants
Springfield, Ill. – The Illinois State Board of
Education has announced awards to Illinois schools and
organizations through the 21st Century Community Learning
Centers Program for Fiscal Year 2007. A total of $6.1
million is available for funding that will be divided
among the 16 successful bidders.
The 21st CCLC Program, a key component of the No Child
Left Behind Act, is an opportunity for students and their
families to continue to learn new skills and discover
new abilities after the school day has ended.
In January 2006, the Illinois State Board of Education
issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 21st Century
Community Learning Centers competitive grant program,
with a March 16, 2006 deadline for application submission.
Seventy-three proposals totaling $26 million were received
from Illinois public school districts, charter schools,
regional offices of education, universities, and community
faith based organizations throughout Illinois.
The focus of this program is to provide expanded academic
enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing
schools with a high concentration of students from low-income
families. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities
are designed to help students meet local and state academic
standards in subjects such as reading and math.
“The funding enables us to go into Chicago’s
public schools and contribute to the educational advancement
of low-income and at-risk teens with our after-school
program,” said Kelly Cirino, program director for
National Puerto Rican Forum in Chicago.
In addition to tutoring and mentoring, 21st CCLC programs
can also provide youth development activities, drug and
violence prevention programs, technology education programs,
art, music and recreation programs, counseling and character
education to enhance the academic component of the program.
This 21st Century grant is made for a five year period
contingent on a sufficient annual appropriation from the
federal government for future years and the program having
satisfactory progress in the preceding year. The FY 2007
grant starts July 1, 2006, and ends June 30, 2007.
Proposals were evaluated by a panel of school and university
officials familiar with all aspects of 21st Century Community
Learning Centers and after-school programs.
Schools and organizations receiving grants are:
- Alton School District 11, Alton
- Bureau, Henry, Stark Regional Office of Education
28, Atkinson
- Centers for New Horizons, Chicago
- City of Chicago Schools 299
- Chicago Youth Centers, Chicago
- Chicago Area Project, Chicago
- Children’s Home and Aid Society, Chicago
- Cites in Schools Aurora 2000, Inc, Aurora
- Dolton West School District 148, Riverdale
- Family Focus, Inc., Chicago
- National Puerto Rican Forum, Chicago
- Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago
- Revere Community Partners Fund, Chicago
- Rockford Public Schools, Rockford
- School District U-46, Elgin
- Urban Solutions Association, Chicago
|
