FY2027: Massachusetts 21st Century Community Learning Centers Exemplary Programs
This grant supports exemplary Massachusetts afterschool and summer learning centers that model best practices, boost student engagement, and drive continuous academic improvement.
Funder: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Full proposal due; projected)
Funding Amounts: ~$3,000,000 total available; minimum $50,000 per site; up to $10,000/site for transportation; project period 1 year with possible continuation for 2 additional years.
Summary: Supports exemplary afterschool and summer programs in Massachusetts that model best practices, foster student engagement, and drive continuous improvement in learning centers.
Key Information: Highly competitive; only sites with prior qualifying grants and full compliance are eligible.
Description
This grant opportunity, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), aims to fund exemplary 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) that provide high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs across Massachusetts. The focus is on supporting programs that demonstrate continuous improvement, serve as models for best practices, and foster student engagement—particularly among historically marginalized populations and students with the greatest academic needs.
Key priorities include:
- Improving attendance and academic growth among the lowest-performing students.
- Deepening learning through project-based and academically enriching opportunities.
- Promoting youth agency and culturally relevant family/community engagement.
- Developing sustainable models for additional quality learning time.
- Building a library of high-quality project-based learning units.
- Leveraging assessment data to tailor programming to student needs.
Programs are expected to align with DESE’s educational vision and the Massachusetts Vision of a Graduate, emphasizing equity, relevance, and student empowerment.
