The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will accept request for proposals (RFPs) for the 2024 Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) in early February. Organizations and local educational agencies that design and implement robust academic programs across the state are invited to apply for funds.
The 21st CCLC program provides students with opportunities to expand their academic development while engaging in supportive and rigorous afterschool activities. Funding provides students with homework assistance, tutoring, and a broad array of enrichment activities that complement their regular academic programs during out-of-school times. Additionally, this grant requires grantees to engage parents and caregivers in their children’s learning.
“It takes a collaborative effort to provide high-quality academic support to West Virginia students and it is significant when community partners are engaged,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “Our students must be prepared to thrive and the WVDE encourages all efforts to reach that goal.”
To describe the 21st CCLC expectations and requirements, a Bidder’s Conference will be held in Charleston at the Kanawha County Public Library located at 123 Capitol Street beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7. An additional meeting will be held in Morgantown at the Erickson Alumni Center at West Virginia University located at 1 Alumni Drive beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8. There is no cost to attend.
All proposals are reviewed for completeness and adherence to the RFP before being entered into the competitive peer review process. The peer review process is a rigorous system of scoring to determine each proposal’s quality and potential for success. Grants will be announced at the end of Jul. 2024 and afterschool programming must begin before Oct. 15.
Grant funds are provided for five years to awardees if federal funding continues and the grantee is successful in the implementation of the program.
For further details about the RFP process, contact Sherry Swint at sherry.swint@k12.wv.us or Loren Farmer at loren.farmer@k12.wv.us or call 304-558-7805.
