Pennsylvania Awards $29.9 Million to Support 21st Century Community Learning Centers

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today that $29.9 million in federal grants will be awarded to support 62 new sites that serve students before and after school through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. It is the largest state award in the history of the initiative.

"Working with students outside of regular school hours is essential in ensuring student achievement, which is exactly what these centers accomplish," Zahorchak said. "After-school programs provide a safe and structured atmosphere in which students can grow and learn."

The 21st Century Community Learning Center, or 21st CCLC, program provides funding to establish community learning centers to provide academic, artistic and cultural enhancement activities to students and their families when school is not in session. The primary goal of these centers is to assist students to meet state and local standards for core subjects, such as reading and mathematics, by providing them with academic enrichment opportunities. 

In addition to academics, centers may also offer participants a broad array of other services and programs, including art, music, service learning, character education, drug and violence prevention programming, recreation activities and technology education. Supplementary services for parents, such as literacy instruction, may also be provided. 

Last year in Pennsylvania, there were 285 21st CCLC sites that served more than 28,000 students and 5,700 family members. On average, centers were open for 13 hours a week, and provided key services such as academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, physical activities and career job training for youth.

For more information about 21st Century Community Learning Centers, please go to www.education.state.pa.us  and enter 21st CCLC in the search box.

Media contact: Leah Harris, 717-783-9802

Editor's Note: Below is a list of the 2010-11 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees:

ARIN IU 28, Indiana County -- $748,800

Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia County -- $270,000

ASPIRA, INC OF PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia County -- $749,974

Bangor Area SD, Northampton County -- $256,035

Bedford Area SD, Bedford/Huntingdon County -- $604,800

Berwick Area SD, Columbia/Luzerne County -- $142,376

Bethlehem Area SD, Northampton/Lehigh County -- $750,000

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA, Allegheny County -- $261,748

Casa Guadalupe Center/Allentown SD, Lehigh County -- $121,200

Cen-Clear Child Service Inc, Clearfield/Jefferson County -- $748,800

Central Susquehanna IU 16, Northumberland County -- $604,800

Chambersburg Area SD/KLAS of PA, Franklin County -- $180,000

CHAMPS Afterschool Enrichment Program (Erie SD), Erie County -- $654,000

Chester Community CS, Delaware County -- $750,000

Chester County IU 24, Chester County -- $336,000

CIS of the Laurel Highlands, Cambria County -- $168,000

Coatesville Area SD, Chester County -- $589,504

Connect Inc, Washington County -- $462,000

Cornell SD, Allegheny County -- $526,800

EducationWorks, Philadelphia County -- $738,000

Everett Area SD, Bedford/Huntingdon County -- $604,800

Foundations, Philadelphia County -- $630,000

Greater Johnstown SD, Cambria County -- $374,400

Greater Johnstown SD/Cambria Co. Child Dev Corp, Cambria County -- $486,720

Harrisburg SD/Rowland Middle School, Dauphin County -- $720,000

Human Services Center Corporation, Allegheny County -- $550,000

Keystone Central Area Vocational-Technical School, Potter/Clinton/Centre counties -- $698,880

Keystone Central SD, Potter/Clinton/Centre counties -- $698,880

La Academia CS, Lancaster County -- $150,800

Lancaster SD, Lancaster County -- $750,000

Lebanon SD, Lebanon County -- $372,000

Lehigh Carbon Community College, Carbon/Schuylkill County -- $693,018

Lincoln IU 12, Adams County -- $549,942

Lower Paxton Youth Center, Dauphin County -- $353,925

Maritime Academy Charter School, Philadelphia County -- $648,000

McKeesport Area SD, Allegheny County -- $468,000

Morrisville Borough SD, Bucks County -- $748,458

Nueva Esperanza Academy CS, Philadelphia County -- $262,263

Penn Hills SD, Allegheny County -- $360,000

Philadelphia City SD, Philadelphia County -- $750,000

Philadelphia Electrical & Technology CHS, Philadelphia County -- $504,000

Pottstown SD, Montgomery County -- $816,000

Private Industry Council of Westmoreland-Fayette, Fayette County -- $558,000

Reading SD, Berks County -- $492,710

Roberto Clemente CS, Lehigh County -- $360,000

Scholarship In Progress, Philadelphia County -- $576,000

Schuylkill IU 29, Schuylkill County -- $731,482

Shikellamy SD, Northumberland County -- $496,000

Southeast Delco SD, Delaware County -- $240,000

Steelton-Highspire SD, Dauphin County -- $192,000

The Hill House/One Small Step, Allegheny County -- $675,000

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of the Capital Region, Inc., Perry County -- $180,000

United Way of Bucks County, Bucks County -- $540,000

Universal Institute CS, Philadelphia County -- $300,000

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County -- $135,000

Upper Darby SD, Delaware County -- $230,800

Variety-The Children's Charity, Philadelphia County -- $276,000

William Penn School Dist. 21st Century, Delaware County -- $360,000

Williamsport Area SD, Lycoming County -- $351,251

Wireless Neighborhoods, Allegheny County -- $612,000

YWCA of Hanover, York County -- $432,000

YMCA of Titusville, Crawford/Venango County -- $362,485

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education