Grants support learning outside of school time

Programs that support student learning outside of school time may apply for 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $150,000 per year for five years. The South Dakota Department of Education will award the grants, which are available through the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

21st Century Community Learning Center grants are designed to strengthen after-school, Saturday and summer programs that support student learning and development and help students meet performance standards in core academic subjects such as reading and mathematics. The grants help schools, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations provide activities that complement or enrich regular academic programs for students attending high-poverty schools or schools identified for school improvement.

The department expects to award approximately six grants. In order to qualify for the grants, a program must serve school districts in which 40 percent or more of the students qualify for free and reduced meals.

In addition to academic enhancement, these grants can be used to provide a broad array of additional services for students, including drug and violence prevention programs; counseling programs; art, music and recreation programs; and character education programs.

Applications are available online at http://doe.sd.gov/oess/21cent/appprocess.asp. Applications must be received by Feb. 22, 2008.

For more information, contact Sue Burgard, South Dakota Department of Education, at (605) 773-5238 or sue.burgard@state.sd.us.