Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program administered by the Iowa Department of Education is a federally funded initiative under Title IV, Part B of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The program is designed to support the creation and expansion of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours. These centers aim to improve student achievement in core subjects such as reading and mathematics while also offering a broad range of enrichment activities that support social, emotional, and physical development. The program prioritizes students attending high-poverty schools, particularly those eligible for Title I schoolwide programs where at least 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The primary purpose of the grant is to establish or expand before-school, after-school, and summer learning programs that provide structured academic support and enrichment. Allowable uses of funds include tutoring, literacy development, STEM programming, arts and cultural education, physical fitness, career exploration, and family engagement services. Programs are required to include three core components: academic assistance, enrichment activities, and family engagement. Funding may not be used for grant writing, pre-award expenses, or unallowable contracts, and spending is subject to specific caps, such as a maximum of 4 percent for evaluation and a minimum of 5 percent for professional development. Eligibility for the program is broad but structured. Eligible applicants include local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based entities, cities, counties, and consortia of these groups. For-profit entities are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate partnerships with at least five community organizations and must collaborate with eligible schools. Programs must serve students from schools with significant low-income populations and must ensure equitable participation for nonpublic school students through documented consultation. The application process requires submission through an online portal and includes a comprehensive set of materials. Applicants must complete narrative sections covering student needs, project design, research base, management and sustainability plans, communication strategies, partnerships, evaluation methods, and budget justification. Required attachments include multiple forms such as assurances, memoranda of understanding, sustainability templates, and a minority impact statement. Applications are scored through a peer review process based on established criteria totaling up to 139 points. The application timeline for the referenced cycle included an optional Letter of Intent period beginning in mid-September and closing in mid-November, followed by a final application deadline of December 31. Applications are reviewed in early the following year, with awards announced in the spring and contracts finalized before program implementation begins on July 1. The grant operates on a five-year cycle, with three years of full funding followed by two years at reduced funding contingent on successful program performance and evaluation. Award amounts vary based on program design and scale. The minimum annual award is 50,000 dollars per application, while the maximum is 150,000 dollars per site and 300,000 dollars per application annually. Total available funding for the cycle exceeded 7 million dollars. Funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis and requires quarterly reporting. Programs must meet operational requirements such as delivering at least 60 hours of programming per month and maintaining attendance benchmarks. Evaluation and accountability are central to the program. Grantees must conduct annual local evaluations, participate in statewide data collection, and submit regular performance reports. The program emphasizes sustainability, requiring applicants to demonstrate how services will continue beyond the grant period through partnerships and diversified funding. The initiative is designed as a seed funding mechanism to build long-term community capacity rather than provide permanent funding.

Strong emphasis on partnerships and sustainability; align programming with student needs assessment; demonstrate measurable academic outcomes; ensure compliance with required components and documentation; secure at least five community partners