21st CCLC
University of Florida
The 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program is a key component of President Bush's “No Child Left Behind” Act. It is an opportunity for students and their families to continue to learn new skills and discover new opportunities after the regular school day has ended.
The purpose of the program is to establish 21st CCLC programs that provide at-risk students with opportunities for academic enrichment, personal enrichment, and other activities designed to complement the students’ regular academic program. The 21st CCLC programs must also engage adult family members of actively participating students through educational and personal development opportunities. The 21st CCLC programs provide safe environments for students during non-school hours and may have one or multiple centers/sites which may be located in schools, community facilities, and/or faith-based facilities. All centers must provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, including, but not limited to; tutoring and mentoring, homework assistance, academic enrichment (e.g., hands-on science, technology programs), community service opportunities, music, art, sports, and cultural activities.
Authorized under Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the specific purposes of the law are to:
(1) Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students (particularly students in high-poverty areas and those who attend low-performing schools) meet State and local student performance standards in core academic subjects such as reading and mathematics
(2) 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, recreation programs, technology education programs, and character education programs that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students, and
(3) Offer adult family members of students served by 21st CCLC programs opportunities for literacy and related educational development
As envisioned in Federal Law, the 21st CCLC program supports the Florida Department of Education’s Goals and Strategic Imperatives 2, 3 and 5.
Effective leadership is essential to achieve such objectives, while also ensuring the quality of program development, implementation, supervision, and assistance. Florida’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Leadership Team is responsible for the statewide evaluation, monitoring, technical assistance, and training of all 21st CCLC programs within the state of Florida. The Leadership Team is conducted under the auspices of the Bureau of Family and Community Outreach (BFCO) within the Florida Department of Education. The overall direction of the Team is provided by Mr. Joe Davis, Bureau Chief of the BFCO, and Ms. Lani Lingo, Director of the Florida 21st CCLC Program.
