21st century community learning centers (21st cclc) expanded learning time (elt) under the esea...

8/14/2019 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Expanded Learning Time (ELT) under the ESEA Flexibility

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21stCentury Community Learning Centers (21stCCLC)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expanded Learning Time (ELT) under the EEA Flexi!ility "ptional #ai$er

I. 21stCCLC Program Requirements

1% #hat optional &ai$er &ith respe't to 21stCCLC program unds is a$aila!le to a tate

that re'ei$es EEA lexi!ility

A State that receives flexibility under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as

amended (ESEA),1has the option to reuest a !aiver of ESEA sections "#$1(b)(1)(A) and

"#$"(b)(#)(A), !hich reuire community learnin% centers to carry out #1st&&'& pro%ram

activities durin% nonschool hours or periods !hen school is not in session ( i.e., before school,after school, !eeends, or durin% summer recess)* +n a State that has reuested this !aiver, an

eli%ible entity may use #1st&&'& pro%ram funds to support E' durin% the school day in

addition to activities durin% nonschool hours or periods !hen school is not in session*

2% #hat is expanded learning time (ELT) in the 'ontext o EEA lexi!ility

As defined for purposes of flexibility under the ESEA, E' is the time that a local educational

a%ency ('EA) or school -extends its normal school day, !ee, or year to provide additional

instruction or educational pro%rams for all students beyond the Statemandated reuirements for

the minimum number of hours in a school day, days in a school !ee, or days or !ees in aschool year. (see uestion /0#"a in theESEA Flexibility Frequently Asked Questionsat

http22!!!#*ed*%ov2policy2elsec2%uid2eseaflexibility2index*html*)

*% #hy &ould an LEA or s'hool 'onsider implementing ELT and &hat might it look like3

A %ro!in% number of policy maers and educators reco%ni4e that the standard school calendar

does not meet the needs of all students* esearch su%%ests that students !ho attend under

performin% schools that have lon%er school schedules for tar%eted academic support achieve athi%her levels than students !ho are not exposed to additional learnin% time* E' provides a

%reater opportunity for 'EAs and schools to develop school!ide instructional strate%ies that

ali%n core academics, enrichment, and family en%a%ement !ith instructional %oals and desired

outcomes*

i%huality E' mi%ht include

7sin% the additional time to increase learnin% time for all students in areas of need8

7sin% the additional time to support a !ellrounded education that includes time for

academics and enrichment activities8

rovidin% additional time for teacher collaboration and common plannin%8

1#$ 7*S*&* :1:1:1:6*
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.htmlhttp://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.html


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artnerin% !ith one or more outside or%ani4ations, such as a nonprofit or%ani4ation !ith

demonstrated experience in improvin% student achievement8

edesi%nin% the !hole school day to use time more strate%ically, especially in desi%nin%

activities that are not -more of the same.8

rovidin% evidencebased activities and pro%rams8

ersonali4in% instructional student supports8 7sin% data to inform E' activities and practices8 and

;irectly ali%nin% E' activities to student achievement and preparation for colle%e and

careers*

+% ,o& 'an 21stCCLC program unds support ELT

/1? belo!)*

% 3 a su!grantee uses 21stCCLC program unds to support ELT. do the a'ti$ities

allo&a!le under the 21stCCLC program 'hange


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@o* he activities that are allo!able under the #1st&&'& pro%ram do not chan%e8 only the time

at !hich they may be offered chan%es (see Section "#$5(a) of the ESEA)*

4% 3 a su!grantee takes ad$antage o the optional &ai$er under EEA lexi!ility. must it

use 21st

CCLC program unds ex'lusi$ely during ELT

@o* As defined, E' means expandin% the school day, !ee, or year beyond the Statemandated

reuirements for the minimum number of hours in a school day, days in a school !ee, or daysor !ees in a school year (see =A> /#)*1)* +n other !ords, E' is a uantifiable amount of

additional time hours, days, or !ees* he optional #1st&&'& !aiver available under ESEA

flexibility authori4es the use of #1st&&'& pro%ram funds durin% the school day to supportE'*

+t does not reuire, ho!ever, that #1st&&'& activities occur only duringE'* (See also =A>/15 belo!*)

5% 6ust an eligi!le entity use 21stCCLC program unds to support ELT

@o* he ESEA flexibility !aiver authori4es an additional, but not exclusive, use of #1st&&'&

pro%ram funds for activities that support E'* 0eforeschool and afterschool pro%rams, as!ell as !eeend and summer pro%rams, remain allo!able uses of #1 st&&'& pro%ram funds*

7% Are 'urrent 21stCCLC su!grantees eligi!le to implement the lexi!ility aorded !y the

21stCCLC &ai$er under EEA lexi!ility

7nder certain conditions, as established by individual States, an existin% #1st&&'& sub%rantee

may implement the flexibility afforded by the #1st&&'& !aiver under ESEA flexibility* heuse of #1st&&'& funds by an existin% sub%rantee to support E' must be approved by the SEA

and may not involve a substantial chan%e in the scope or obBectives of the existin% proBect*

Chile a chan%e in the time !hen services are provided is permissible, the activities conductedusin% #1st&&'& funds, the partners committed to the proBect, and other conditions (such as

fundin% level and ualifications or sills of ey staff) must remain the same as those identified in

the existin% Stateapproved application* o use #1st&&'& funds to support E', an existin%sub%rantee must submit a !ritten reuest to its SEA for approval to amend its #1st&&'&

sub%rant application* +f approval is appropriate, theSEA must approve the sub%ranteeDs reuest

to amend its application to use #1st&&'& pro%ram funds to support E' prior to implementation

of the amendment*

18% 6ust a s'hool or LEA expand learning time prior to an eligi!le entity applying or a 21st

CCLC su!grant to support ELT

@o* A school or 'EA is not reuired to have implemented E' prior to submittin% an

application (or prior to an eli%ible entity submittin% an application as part of a partnershipa%reement) for a sub%rant to use #1st&&'& funds to support E'* o!ever, an SEA must have

received the optional !aiver under ESEA flexibility prior to a!ardin%, or approvin% an

amendment to, a sub%rant to use #1st&&'& pro%ram funds to support E'* Chen solicitin%

proposals to use #1st&&'& funds to support E', the SEA should conduct its competition in a


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manner that reuires the applicant to present a plan and outline the actions it !ill tae to ensure

that the school or 'EA has implemented E' by the time #1st&&'& pro%ram funds are made

available* lease note that the #1st&&'& statute does not allo! pro%ram funds to be used toprovide a plannin% period for development of a future pro%ram*

11% ,o& 'an eligi!le entities that are not LEAs. su'h as C"s and F"s. apply to use 21st

CCLC program unds to support ELT

@on'EA eli%ible entities may apply to use #1st&&'& funds to carry out authori4ed activities onthe same basis as 'EAs* Althou%h &0


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All partners commit to identifyin% adeuate fundin% and inind resources to sustain

support for E'*

All partners Bointly establish pro%ram direction and priorities, includin% plannin%,

bud%etin%, trainin% and ali%nin% pro%ram staff, communicatin% across the partnership,and continuously improvin% pro%ram services*

All partners coordinate to promote school and community safety, reinforce health and!ellness pro%rammin%, and provide necessary student supports*

All partners share information, data, performance measures, and evaluation strate%ies that

%uide proBect mana%ement, resource allocation, and service delivery !hile maintainin%

data privacy reuirements*

All partners develop a plan that addresses the interactions !ith families to stren%then

positive family en%a%ement that reinforces learnin% in multiple settin%s*

1*% ,o& does the equita!le ser$i'es pro$ision or eligi!le pri$ate s'hool students apply to

21stCCLC a'ti$ities 'arried out in pu!li' s'hools during an expanded s'hool day

Sub%rantees remain obli%ated to comply !ith Section 95$1 of the ESEA (#$ 7*S*&* :1) !henimplementin% #1st&&'& activities that support E' durin% the school day* 7nder section 95$1,each #1st&&'& sub%rantee must provide euitable services to private school students and their

families* A sub%rantee %enerally meets this reuirement by offerin% private school students in

the area served by the sub%rant comparable opportunities to participate in the #1st&&'&pro%ram* +f a sub%rantee in a State !ith ESEA flexibility receives funds to provide #1st&&'&

activities durin% the school day, ho!ever, it may be difficult to include eli%ible private school

students in those activities* Feetin% the euitable services reuirement in this instance mayreuire the sub%rantee to provide the opportunity for private school students to participate in the

#1st&&'& activities implemented to support E' at the public school, or to offer comparable

#1st&&'& activities durin% the school day in private schools*

Cith respect to any #1st&&'& activities, a sub%rantee must consult !ith private school officials

durin% the desi%n and development of the #1st&&'& pro%ram on issues such as ho! the private

school studentsD needs !ill be identified and the services that !ill be offered throu%h the #1st&&'& pro%ram* his consultation must tae place before the 'EA, &0< or other public or

private entity maes any decision that affects the opportunities of eli%ible private school

students, teachers, and other educational personnel to participate in the pro%ram* Services andbenefits provided to private school students must be secular, neutral, and nonideolo%ical*

+t should also be noted that a private school is eli%ible to apply directly to the SEA for a #1st&&'& sub%rant on its o!n behalf, althou%h such funds may not be used to support E' in a

private school*

1+% ,o& may an EA a&ard 21stCCLC su!grants or the required three/ to i$e/year grant

period to a su!grantee that applies to use 21stCCLC program unds to support ELT

&hen the EEA lexi!ility &ai$er is appro$ed or only t&o years

Section "#$?(a)()(A) of the ESEA reuires an SEA to mae a!ards for #1st&&'& pro%rams for

a period of not less than three years and not more than five years (#$ 7*S*&* :1:"(%))* 7nder


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ESEA flexibility, the Secretary is %enerally %rantin% !aivers to SEAs that reuested flexibility in

Cindo! 1 or Cindo! # throu%h the end of the #$1?G#$1" school year, !ith the option to

reuest a rene!al throu%h the #$1"G#$15 school year* he ;epartment expects that a%reementseffective at the time of a #1st&&'& sub%rantee a!ard, includin% the application criteria to !hich

the successful applicant responded, !ould remain unchan%ed and in effect for the entire duration

of the %rant* Accordin%ly, an SEA may reuest an extension of the ESEA flexibility !aiver fromthe ;epartment for an additional year, consistent !ith the SecretaryDs authority under Section

9"$1(d) of the ESEA*

1-% 3s there a minimum num!er o hours that a s'hool day. &eek. or year must !e

expanded !eore a 21stCCLC su!grantee may use 21stCCLC unds to support ELT

Althou%h E; has not established a minimum number of hours by !hich a school or 'EA mustexpand learnin% time in order for a #1st&&'& sub%rantee to tae advanta%e of the optional

ESEA flexibility !aiver, the school day, !ee, or year should be expanded si%nificantly8 that is,

addin% a fe! days or a fe! hours a !ee !ould not be considered si%nificant* +n determinin%!hat is si%nificant, the school or 'EA should have a reasonable basis for believin% that the

additional learnin% time !ill advance student academic achievement*

1% #hat are some examples o models or a'ti$ities that a 21stCCLC su!grantee might

'onsider. 'onsistent &ith the 21stCCLC optional &ai$er or ELT

he follo!in% are examples of E' activities that a #1 st&&'& sub%rantee mi%ht support

6odel 19 :ersonali0ation;An'EA expanded its H5 elementary school day by

one 5$minute period based on assessments of studentsD achievement data andneeds* he schoolDs primary obBective for this additional time is to provide

tar%eted math interventions and enrichment opportunities to students, !ith the

amount and intensity of services varyin% dependin% on individual needs* eacherteams are assi%ned to develop an individuali4ed learnin% plan for each student for

use durin% this expanded time* he plans include a combination of math

interventions and enrichment opportunitiesbased on each studentDs needs, !ithschool staff employin% tar%eted intervention strate%ies alon%side local partner

or%ani4ations, includin% a science museum and public library, that deliver

enrichment opportunities*

6odel 29 :artnerships;A middle school offers a ninehour day three days per

!ee to allo! all students an opportunity to participate in enrichment activities some of !hich are supported !ith #1st&&'& funds desi%ned to nurture

interpersonal, behavioral, and or%ani4ational sills as !ell as to provide exposure topro%rammin% offered at the local hi%h schools* Students choose from a !idevariety of electives, includin% en%ineerin%, performin% arts, and poetry !ritin%*

Electives are tau%ht by school staff and professionals from local private and non

profit or%ani4ations, includin% some that also support instruction in local hi%h

school career academy and &areer and echnical Education (&E) courses* &0


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Ioun%er students participate in courses developed and delivered by one of the

partners that focus on enhancin% communication, !ritin% and leadership sills*


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=or additional information on blended learnin% partnerships, see$lended Learning &artnerships

or 'o((unity)based #rgani*ationsat http22!!!#*ed*%ov2about2inits2list2fbci2blendedcbo*pdf*

15% 3s more inormation a$aila!le on EEA lexi!ility

Ies* Additional information includin% =A>s is available on the ;epartmentDs ESEAflexibility !ebpa%e (http22!!!#*ed*%ov2policy2elsec2%uid2eseaflexibility2index*html)*

II. Use of Funds

17% pro$ision apply to the use o 21stCCLC

program unds to support ELT under EEA lexi!ility

Ies* he #1st&&'& -supplement, not supplant. provision applies to the use of #1st&&'& funds

to support E' under ESEA flexibility* hus, an SEA receivin% a !aiver to permit an eli%ibleentity to use #1st&&'& pro%ram funds to provide activities that support E' pro%rams must

ensure that the #1st&&'& funds are used to supplement, and not supplant, =ederal, State, local,

or other non=ederal funds that, in the absence of the #1st&&'& funds, !ould be made availablefor pro%rams and activities authori4ed under the #1st&&'& pro%ram (see Sections "#$?(a)(9)

and "#$"(b)(#)(J) of the ESEA)*

28% 6ay a su!grantee use 21stCCLC unds to pay tea'her salaries or a'ti$ities that

support ELT

Ies, as lon% as the services provided by teachers paid !ith #1st&&'& funds are allo!able underthe #1st&&'& pro%ram and supplement activities that the school !ould other!ise provide in the

absence of the #1st&&'& funds* Cith respect to supplantin%, if a school expands the school day,

!ee, or year for a si%nificant amount of time beyond the State minimum reuirements, bydefinition, the additional time is presumptively supplemental* Accordin%ly, a sub%rantee may

use #1st&&'& funds to pay teacher salaries for the additional time, as lon% as the funds do not

supplant other =ederal, State, local, or non=ederal funds (see section "#$"(b)(#)(J) of theESEA)* Similarly, a sub%rantee may use #1st&&'& funds to pay teacher salaries for

supplemental courses that support E' durin% other parts of the school day (see also =A> /19

above)*

21% 6ay a su!grantee use 21stCCLC program unds to pay or an ele'ti$e 'ourse in a high

s'hool &ith ELT i the ele'ti$e 'ourse is a prerequisite to an ad$an'ed 'ourse and earns

students 'redit to&ards high s'hool graduation

A hi%h school in !hich E' has been implemented may use #1st&&'& funds to offer an elective

course that !ould prepare lo!achievin% students to tae advanced courses* As described belo!,students tain% the elective course could earn credit to!ards hi%h school %raduation*

Jenerally, the use of #1st&&'& funds for courses that provide credit needed to meet %raduation

reuirements !ould violate the supplement, not supplant provision in Section "#$"(b)(#)(J) ofthe ESEA because, in the absence of the #1st&&'& funds, the school or 'EA !ould have to

provide sufficient opportunities for students to earn the reuisite credits for %raduation*
http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/fbci/blendedcbo.pdfhttp://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.htmlhttp://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/fbci/blendedcbo.pdfhttp://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.html


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o!ever, a sub%rantee may use #1st&&'& funds for pro%rams or activities that allo! students to

receive credit to!ards hi%h school %raduation reuirements if the pro%rams or activities (1) are

an expansion of the options for receivin% hi%h school credit in a particular area that !ould nothave been provided !ithout the #1st&&'& funds8 and (#) do not replace or reduce any courses or

pro%rams normally provided by the school or 'EA (i.e., there is no reduction in the course

offerin%s or costs in that particular academic area)*

22% 6ay a su!grantee use 21stCCLC unds in a s'hool that pre$iously expanded its s'hool

day. &eek. or year

Ies* A sub%rantee may use #1st&&'& funds to conduct activities durin% the school day in a

school that previously expanded its school day, !ee, or year* o!ever, the sub%rantee !ould

need to demonstrate that the activities are allo!able under the #1st&&'& pro%ram and do notviolate the prohibition a%ainst supplantin% other =ederal, State, local, or non=ederal funds* =or

example, a school in a State !ith the optional ESEA flexibility #1st&&'& !aiver that expanded

its school day previously could use #1st&&'& funds to provide additional services or activities

(i.e., services or activities that it !ould not provide in the absence of #1

st

&&'& funds) to supportE' durin% the school day*

+n addition, if a school previously expanded its school day under a School +mprovement Jrant

(S+J) and the S+J funds are no lon%er available, the school could use #1st&&'& funds to pay for

allo!able #1st&&'& activities to support E' durin% the school day, as lon% as the school candemonstrate that #1st&&'& funds are not supplantin% other =ederal, State, local, or non=ederal

funds* 0y sho!in% that the S+J funds !ould no lon%er be available, the school could rebut the

presumption of supplantin%, even thou%h the S+J funds !ere used for the activities in prioryears*

2*% 6ay an EA require a mat'h as a 'ondition or re'ei$ing 21stCCLC unds

@o* Section "#$"(d)(") of the ESEA prohibits an SEA from considerin% an eli%ible entityDs

ability to match funds !hen determinin% !hich eli%ible entities !ill receive #1st&&'&sub%rants* o!ever, an SEA may reuire an eli%ible entity to match funds under certain

conditions (see Section "#$"(d)(1)(?) of the ESEA)*

Additionally, sub%rantees must develop plans to continue services after #1st&&'& fundin% ends(see Section "#$?(a)()(0) of the ESEA)*

III. Monitoring and Evaluation


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2+% EAs are responsi!le or monitoring 21stCCLC su!grantees? a'ti$ities and uses o

unds% #ill an EA?s monitoring responsi!ilities 'hange &ith respe't to su!grantees

that use 21stCCLC unds to support ELT

Chen monitorin% sub%rantees that implement #1st&&'& activities to support E', an SEA may

need to consider and revie! additional pro%ram functions* +n addition to continuin% fiscalmonitorin%, the ;epartment !ill !or !ith SEAs to identify potential compliance issues and

technical assistance and professional development needs in the #1st&&'& community to ensure

that #1st&&'& funds are used properly* Additionally, the ;epartment !ill !or !ith SEAs tofacilitate the sharin% of models, protocols, and other resources that may be helpful in monitorin%

the use of #1st&&'& funds that support E'*

2-% ,o& &ill EAs and su!grantees !e required to report on early a'ademi' indi'ators.

su'h as attendan'e at s'hool. tardiness. home&ork 'ompletion. and grades

&urrently, SEAs are reuired to report annually on #1st&&'& activities that occur durin% non

school hours (e.g., before school, after school, !eeends, and durin% the summer)* @ormally,ho!ever, these data do not include school attendance, tardiness, or %rades* Since the purpose of

allo!in% #1st&&'& funds to be used durin% the school day is to support hi%huality E',additional data may be needed to document the effects of #1st&&'& pro%ram activities* =or

example, one ne! data set that !e are considerin% is the separation of attendance data G

attendance data for students !ho participate in #1st&&'& activities durin% nonschool hours andattendance data for students !ho participate in #1st&&'& activities durin% an expanded school

day* he ;epartment is currently !orin% !ith %rantees to determine !hat, if any, ne! data are

necessary to meet reportin% reuirements*

21st century community learning centers (21st cclc) expanded learning time (elt) under the esea...

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