21st Century Community Learning Centers
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC or 21st Century) grant is a federal funding opportunity that is distributed and managed in Illinois by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC or 21st Century) grant is a federal funding opportunity that is distributed and managed in Illinois by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This program is designed to provide academically focused afterschool opportunities for youth in elementary, middle, and high school as well as offer families of students opportunities for educational development. 21st CCLC programs particularly serve students attending low-performing, low-income schools to improve student attainment of state standards in core academic subjects (i.e., mathematics and reading). This program also offers additional enrichment opportunities in areas such as social-emotional learning, recreation, and STEM, serving students with a whole-child approach.
For questions or guidance on matters pertaining to 21st CCLC, please contact Nikki Gillani at GillaniN@actnowillinois.org.
Professional Development
21st CCLC Town Hall Meetings
21st CCLC Town Hall meetings are an opportunity for ACT Now to share information and policy updates with the entire 21st CCLC provider membership. These meetings are also an opportunity for ACT Now to lift up programs and elevate providers’ experiences in programming. These meetings occur virtually on a bi-monthly basis.
During these meetings, attendees will:
- Hear updates on programming, funding, and policy
- Access professional development
- Learn strategies to advocate for programming
- Share any concerns, questions, or feedback with ACT Now and their peers
Upcoming Town Hall Meetings
- August 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (archived)
- October 15, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Register Here
- January 14, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Register Here
- March 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Register Here
- May 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Register Here
21st CCLC Advisory Council
The 21st CCLC Advisory Council is made up of a group of 21st CCLC providers located across the state. The members of this group act as representatives of the 21st CCLC program statewide as we consider new strategies for outreach, advocacy, monitoring, and any other programmatic needs. Membership applications to join this group are now open! Learn more and apply by 4:00 p.m. CST September 8th, 2025.
21st CCLC Advisory Council Members
- Tiffany Mathis Posey – Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois
- Amy Vogt – Trico CUSD 176
- Autumn Berg – Chicago Public Schools District 299
- Jess Mater – America SCORES Chicago
- Kimberly David – Project Success of Vermilion County
- Lori Chalmers – East St. Louis School District 189
- Mark Goesel – Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Center
- Melissa Anderson – Regional Office of Education #33
- Meredith Williams – Metropolitan Family Services
- Michael Hannan – Alternative Schools Network
- Teju Adesida – Chicago Arts Partnership in Education
Important Links and Resources
ISBE 21st CCLC Grantee Page
Here current and prospective grantees can find important information, updates, deadlines, and more from ISBE about the 21st CCLC grant program.
ISBE 21st CCLC Grantee Dashboard
The dashboard provides the user information regarding 21st CCLC grantees, allocations and school sites served currently.
Archived 21st CCLC Town Halls
See below for archived Town Hall meetings.
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