Oct. 21, 2008 — With about $1.5 million in federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grants available, private and public organizations are urged to apply through the Education Department.
The grants are new, said Education Department spokesman Juel Anderson.
"The purpose of this program is to create local community learning centers that provide academic-enrichment opportunities to enable children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools," said Education Commission LaVerne Terry in a news release.
Daisy Millin, the director of the Education Department's Federal Grants and Audit office, elaborated further.
"They're for academic enrichment," she said. "They're designed to reinforce and complement regular academic programs."
Those regular academic programs include core subjects of reading, match and science, Millin said. The programs could include youth development activities; drug, violence and pregnancy prevention; counseling; technology education; and art, music and recreational programs.
Additionally, Millin said, programs should offer families of students literacy and educational-development programs. Those programs could include parent-and-child shared activities, governance and leadership activities, and activities that link parents to the schools.
Eligible applicants include schools, non-profit agencies, government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education and for-profit corporations. Terry also encouraged local housing communities groups to apply for this funding.
Applications are due Nov. 13. To apply, use the Education Department's 21st CCLC application package information to prepare a grant application. It's available at by clicking here, or may be picked up at Education Department offices at 1834 Kongens Gade, St. Thomas, or 2133 Hospital St., Christiansted, St. Croix.
Technical assistance in preparing the grant will be available Oct. 29 on St. Croix and Oct. 30 on St. Thomas, Millin said. Both sessions will be held at the Education Department offices.
For more information contact Millin at 774-0100 or via email.
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