WVDE Accepting 21st Community Learning Center Grant Proposals
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will release its Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the 2025 Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant Competition in early February. The WVDE encourages community organizations and agencies to apply for funds that will support engaging and academic afterschool programs and activities.
Students have opportunities to enrich and develop their academic aspirations through the 21st CCLC program by engaging in supportive and rigorous afterschool activities. Grant funding supports tutoring, homework assistance, and a broad range of supplementary programming beyond the regular school day. This grant also requires family engagement opportunities allowing parents and caregivers to engage in their children’s learning.
“When community organizations partner with public schools, great things can happen that support high academic standards and provide students the chance to thrive and achieve,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “The West Virginia Department of Education invites those with a desire to champion academic progress to apply and help students reach their goals.”
A Bidder’s Conference outlining 21st CCLC program expectations and requirements will be held in Charleston at the Kanawha County Public Library located at 123 Capitol Street beginning at 10 a.m. on February 11, 2025. An additional meeting will be held in Morgantown at the Erickson Alumni Center at West Virginia University located at 1 Alumni Drive starting at 10 a.m. on February 12, 2025. An online conference is available on February 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. for those who cannot attend in person.
All proposals are reviewed for completeness and adherence to the RFP before being submitted into the competitive peer review process. The peer review process consists of a meticulous scoring system to determine each proposal’s quality and potential for success. Grants will be announced at the end of July 2025 and afterschool programming must begin before October 15, 2025.
Grant funds are provided to awardees for five years, contingent on continued federal funding and successful program implementation.
For further details about the RFP process, contact Sherry Swint at sherry.swint@k12.wv.us or call 304-558-7805.