Commissioner Morath announces 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant awards
AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced today that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has awarded more than $64 million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants to 51 entities that will serve students in 371 centers across the state.
This federally-funded program (also called Texas Afterschool Centers on Education or Texas ACE), establishes centers that operate before and after school, as well as during the summer. These centers provide students in grades K-12 opportunities to access academic enrichment, tutorial services, and a broad array of additional programs and activities, such as physical fitness, nutrition, science, the arts, internships and dual credit.
TEA has awarded 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants to the following independent school districts (ISD) and charters: Alief ISD; Aransas County ISD; Atlanta ISD; Austin ISD; Bastrop ISD; Birdville ISD; Boles ISD; Coleman ISD: Crowley ISD; East Chambers ISD; Freer ISD; Galveston ISD; Harlingen CISD; Hooks ISD; Houston ISD; IDEA Public Schools; Jim Hogg County ISD; Karnes City ISD; La Joya ISD; Levelland ISD; Lometa ISD; Mathis ISD; Mercedes ISD; New Summerfield ISD; Palestine ISD; Pasadena ISD; Pearsall ISD; Promesa Public Schools; Quinlan ISD; Rio Grande City CISD; Santa Rosa ISD; Socorro ISD; Texans Can Academies; Texas City ISD; Waxahachie Faith Family Academy; and YES Prep Public Schools.
In addition, 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants have been awarded to the following entities: Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin and Travis County; Boys and Girls Clubs of Brazoria County; Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso; Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston; Communities in School of Brazoria County; Communities in Schools of North Texas; Communities in Schools of the South Plains; Education Service Center Region 12 (Waco); Education Service Center Region 13 (Austin); Greater San Antonio After-School All-Stars; Harris County Department of Education; SA Youth; Save the Children Federation; Texas Southmost College; and YMCA of Greater Houston.
Texas ACE programs are designed to provide students with a safe additional learning opportunity while school is not in session. The programs are free for participants. The federal program gives priority to serving students attending schools that are low performing.
This is the tenth cohort of the grants TEA has awarded since the federal program’s authorization in 2002. Grant funding will begin on Aug. 1, 2018 and run through July 2021. Thirteen programs were qualified to receive funds through July 2023. TEA will provide technical support and training to all grantees throughout the year.
Programs must begin serving students by Sept. 4, and regularly provide services for at least 15 hours per week during the school year and four hours per day for six weeks during the summer.
The complete list of grant recipients can be found here: https://tea.texas.gov/Finance_and_Grants/Grants/Grants_Awarded/2018%E2%80%932019_Texas_21st_Century_Community_Learning_Centers,_Cycle_10,_Year_1_Grant.
To learn more about the 21st Century Community Learning Centers or Texas ACE program, visit the TEA website at https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Schools/Support_for_At-Risk_Schools_and_Students/21st_Century_Community_Learning_Centers_-_Texas_ACE.
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