The 21st Century Community Learning Center is a federally funded program supported by the New Jersey Department of Education for out-of-school time programs in New Jersey, which include before-school, afterschool or summer.

Under Title IV, Part B of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), 21st CCLC are defined as centers that provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students meet the challenging state academic standards. The centers also offer a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities in such areas as the following: youth development activities; service learning, nutrition and health education; drug and violence prevention; counseling; arts, music, physical fitness and wellness education; technology education; financial literacy; environmental literacy; and mathematics, science, career and technical programs.

The centers also provide internship or apprenticeship programs and other ties to an in-demand industry sector or occupation for high school students that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students and their adult family members when school is not in session.

Services:

• well-rounded education activities, including those that enable students to be eligible for credit recovery or attainment;
• services for individuals with disabilities;
• programs that provide afterschool activities for students who are English learners that emphasize language skills and academic achievement;
• cultural programs;
• programs that support a healthy and active lifestyle, including nutritional education and regular, structured physical activity programs;
• telecommunications and technology education programs;
• expanded library service hours;
• programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement;
• programs that build skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this paragraph as 'STEM'), including computer science, as well as foster innovation in learning by supporting nontraditional STEM education teaching methods; and
• programs that partner with in-demand fields of the local workforce or build career competencies and career readiness and ensure that local workforce and career readiness skills are aligned with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)

Event Type	Advocacy Family Support Community Conversation Social Groups Educational Workshop
Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults
Community Services	Community Community Education Education Educational Services Employment / Training Life Skills Training Family & Support Services Child Care / After School Parenting & Caregiving

Last Updated: 08/18/22