Informational Webinar: Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC, Cycle 13 Grant

This To the Administrator Addressed letter is intended to inform potential applicants to the federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant program of an optional informational webinar being held on October 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time.

Background

The federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic and enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for students, particularly those attending high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math, and offers a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs. Additionally, it provides literacy and other educational services to families of participating children.

In Texas, Nita M. Lowey 21st CCLC operates as the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education (Texas ACE) afterschool and summer program and includes rigorous attendance and operation requirements. State evaluations consistently show that when students meet minimum attendance expectations for Texas ACE, it positively impacts performance in reading, math and CTE course completion and lowers rates of chronic absenteeism.

Overview

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) anticipates the release of a new competitive application for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant this fall. Applicants who received funding through the 21st CCLC grant would receive funding for the Texas ACE afterschool and summer program beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Eligible entities for this grant opportunity include:

• School systems, including independent school districts (ISDs), open-enrollment charter schools and regional education service centers (ESCs)
• Tribal organizations (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)
• Community-based organizations (CBOs)
• Faith-based organizations (FBOs)
• Other public or private entities
• A consortium of two or more eligible organizations

TEA is conducting an optional pre-application release webinar to provide eligible entities with information to help determine interest in the grant opportunity. Topics will include:

• Overview of 21st CCLC in Texas
• Eligibility Requirements
• Programmatic Changes from Previous Cycles
• How to Set Up an eGrants Account

Next Steps

Interested entities can register for the webinar at the link below.

Webinar Title: Preparing for the 21st CCLC Cycle 13, Year 1 Grant Application
Date: October 16th, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time
Register: Webinar Registration - Zoom

The recorded webinar and related materials will be posted on the Texas ACE | Texas Education Agency webpage.

Questions

For questions, please contact 21stCentury@tea.texas.gov.