About
Century Community Learning Centers Program
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The program is designed to provide academic support, enrichment, and family engagement opportunities for students during out-of-school time, including after school, school breaks, and summer.
The program’s purpose is to:
- Improve academic achievement through tutoring, homework help, and aligned learning support
- Provide safe, structured, and engaging environments for students outside the regular school day
- Offer enrichment activities such as cultural arts, STEM, recreation, leadership development, and service-learning
- Strengthen social-emotional development and positive youth identity
- Support families and caregivers with programs, resources, and meaningful opportunities to connect with student learning
21st Century programs typically operate 4–5 days per week, immediately following school dismissal or during scheduled out-of-school time hours. Programming is free of charge to participating students and families, removing cost barriers to access.
The Springfield Urban League, Inc. will continue to partner with Springfield Public Schools District 186 to expand access to high-quality after-school and youth development programming through this initiative.
Confidentiality
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all family information and children's files are kept strictly confidential. Only authorized League personnel have access to files. The League is obligated to receive written consent from parents, prior to sharing personal information with any other agency or individual.
For more information on your legal rights under the FERPA Act please see www2.ed.gov