MADISON — Wisconsin students will receive more academic opportunities during out-of-school time hours thanks to five-year grant awards announced by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The DPI will award a total of $6.2 million in federal funding to 57 sites across the state through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Grant Program, which aims to address students’ academic needs by providing enriching academic activities during out-of-school hours. Sites awarded grants were selected from 91 applicants to the competitive program.

Among the recipients is Brodhead School District’s Albrecht Elementary School.

“Investing in opportunities to learn outside of school hours is critical to helping Wisconsin students succeed academically,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “Programming offered through community learning centers reinforces the things students learn during the school day and offers students a connection with adults and peers to ensure they are safe and have the support they need. We must meet the unique needs of kids in communities across the state, especially their growing academic, social, and creative needs.”

21st CCLC program activities are aligned with state academic standards and school-day learning standards to provide comprehensive and well-rounded support for student learning. Students in grant programs participate in wide-ranging youth development activities, which may be otherwise unavailable, including tutoring, service learning, arts and music, drug and violence prevention, financial literacy, credit recovery, apprenticeships, environmental literacy, and hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) projects. 21st CCLC sites also provide adult family members with activities that promote engagement in their children’s education and individual skill development through adult learning and parental skill building.

During the 2022-23 school year, nearly 19,000 Wisconsin students received services through 21st CCLC programs. On average, students spent 21 hours per week at a 21st CCLC-funded program, operating for an average of 152 days during the school year. A student who attended a 21st CCLC program during the 2022-23 school year received access to a wide range of engaging activities, including hands-on STEM activities, nutrition education, mentoring programs, yoga, counseling services, career development skills, and more.

Community learning centers serve as a bridge between schools and communities, and actively engage a variety of community partners, ranging from local law enforcement and businesses to other youth serving agencies or government entities, all working in collaboration with schools to bring diverse and meaningful opportunities to students. These partnerships provide valuable resources and opportunities for participants that are often inaccessible under ordinary circumstances.

To be considered for the federal grant funds administered by the DPI, schools targeted for services must be Title I-eligible, meaning they serve a significant number of children identified as economically disadvantaged. Applicants must also demonstrate that they will target students in need of academic support and lacking access to diverse opportunities supporting youth development.

For more information on the grant program, visit the DPI’s 21st CCLC website where list of grant recipients can also be found.