The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), through the Office of Federal Programs, is seeking competitive written proposals from qualified Applicants to provide services implementing the Nita M. Lowery 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program through grant awards issued by the Mississippi Department of Education. Proposals will be accepted for implementation of effective after-school programs. 

The Program was established by Congress as Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015. The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for academic enrichment activities during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session, such as before and after school or during summer recess, particularly for students who attend low-performing schools.

The 21st CCLC programs offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities that are designed to complement the regular academic program. The 21st CCLC Program’s goals are to:

1. Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet the challenging State academic standards (SBE Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6);
   
2. Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as youth development activities, service learning, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, arts, music, physical fitness and wellness programs, technology education programs, financial literacy programs, environmental literacy programs, mathematics, science, career and technical programs, internship or apprenticeship programs, and other ties to an in-demand industry sector or occupation for high school students that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; (SBE Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6); and
   
3. Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development (SBE Goals 2, 3, and 5).

Applicants receiving an award are responsible for utilizing these funds to carry out activities that advance student achievement and support student success. For Program Activities, please see p. 7 of the RFP listed in Supporting Documents below.

Funds are used for program implementation, as well as for operating expenses such as:

• Personnel and personnel benefits;
  
• Staff development and training;
• Consultants, subcontractors, and evaluators; and
• Classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.

Funds may also be used for an expanded learning program that provides students at least 300 additional program hours before or after the traditional school day and/or during the summer. 

For Allowable Expenses, see p. 25 of the RFP.