Division: Educational Services

Office: Student Support Services

View Published NGO Document (Microsoft Word)   

Purpose: 

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Training and Technical Assistance, Year 2/5 continuation grant program is to provide training and technical assistance to support new and existing 21st Century Community Learning Center programs throughout the state. The grantee will be required to fulfill the following:

• Design and provide training and technical assistance that helps the 21st CCLC grantees fulfill program requirements and build the capacity of the program staff which in turn will enhance the quality of the program;
• Assist the NJDOE in addressing program quality, sustainability and networking;
• Promote the development, continuity and expansion of quality programming through on-site quality visits;
• Facilitate professional learning communities, especially around the following themes: science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), career awareness and exploration, visual and performing arts and civic engagement;
• Encourage the development of tangible partnership between 21st CCLC grantees and key stakeholders, including school administrators and staff, parents, and, collaborators;
• Collaborate with state-level evaluator, as appropriate;
• Assist the 21st CCLC grantees in the implementation of action research to encourage continuous quality improvement;
• Provide training sessions to other entities in New Jersey eligible to apply for a 21st CCLC grant;
• Provide training sessions to 21st CCLC grantees on best practice strategies for intentional planning, aligning with the school day, creating a youth-centered environment, effective management, summer learning, engaging parents and families, and designing program staff professional development;
• Integrate the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) within OST programming in order to improve participant achievement;
• Promote the use of a guided-inquiry and project-based approaches to support the development of participants’ 21st century skills;
• Design and plan professional learning experiences that are relevant, interactive and based on current national research;
• Provide professional development opportunities to build capacity to engage and meet the needs of English language learners and students with disabilities; and
• Utilize the New Jersey Quality Standards for Afterschool in developing trainings, workshops, and conferences.·

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has established a five-year grant program. This continuation grant program is open to the New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition (NJSACC); the grantee was selected through a competitive process in Year 1. Based on the availability of FY24 Federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers funds, this second year of the five-year grant program will begin September 1, 2023 and will end on August 31.

Eligible Agencies: NJ School-Age Coalition (NJSACC)

Approximate Number of Awards: 1

Grants Program Type:  Continuation

Total Amt. Available: $170,000                     

Application Due Date: 6/1/2023