In Colorado: CDE Awards $3 Million in Grant Funding to Support Out-Of-School-Time Learning
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is supporting school districts and community organizations to expand out-of-school-time learning opportunities for students at 24 sites across the state. The department awarded $3 million in grant funding from the federal Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant to support academic enrichment opportunities with a focus on serving economically disadvantaged students.
This year’s grant recipients are the CDE’s eleventh cohort of 21st Century Community Learning sites. Some examples of what the funds will support include the following:
- The Boys and Girls Club of Pueblo County will partner with Pueblo Community College to provide STEM and college preparation activities after school and during the summer at Liberty Point Elementary School in Pueblo School District 70.
- Adams 12’s PEAK Learning Center at Thornton Elementary School will implement the Build-A-Robot Program, allowing students to learn computational thinking and coding while building robots of increasing functionality and complexity.
- The High Valley Community Center in Del Norte will provide comprehensive academic enrichment programming during the day on Fridays for students at Del Norte Jr/Sr High School, which uses a four-day school week (Monday through Thursday).
“We know that access to high-quality out-of-school-time learning helps to improve academic outcomes for students while providing opportunities for young people to explore their interests in safe and supportive spaces,” said Education Commissioner Susana Córdova. “We are excited to welcome this year’s cohort of 21st Century Community Learning Centers.”
The grantees for this year are the following:
- Adams 12 Five Star Schools –Coronado Hills Elementary School, Hillcrest Elementary School, Thornton Elementary School
- Boys & Girls Club Pueblo County – Liberty Point International
- Colorado Springs District 11 – Roosevelt Charter Academy
- Denver Public Schools – Barnum Elementary School, Beach Court Elementary School, Goldrick Elementary School, Hallett Academy
- Garfield School District 16 – Grand Valley Center for Family Learning, Bea Underwood Elementary, Grand Valley Middle School, Grand Valley High School
- Greeley-Evans School District 6 – Bella Romero Academy of Applied Technology, Jefferson Junior/Senior High
- High Valley Community Center – Del Norte Elementary School, Del Norte Junior/Senior High School
- Mapleton Public Schools – Adventure Elementary
- McClave School District – McClave K-6, McClave 7-12
- Pagosa Community Initiative – Pagosa Springs Elementary School, Pagosa Springs Middle School
- School Community Youth Collaborative – Mancos Elementary School, Montezuma-Cortez Middle School
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center grant is the only federal grant dedicated solely to after-school, before-school, and summer learning programs. This year’s grantee cohort will receive this funding starting in the fall of 2024 through summer 2029. The next 21st Century Community Learning Center grant competition is expected to be held in early Spring 2026.
For more information about the grant, visit CDE’s webpage. For more information on other out-of-school time grants and funding opportunities, visit the CDE Office of Student Support webpage.
Tags: equity, funding, social justice, State issues
