21st Century After School Programs for Family and Community Engagement

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program (CCLC) falls under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, states an information piece describing the 21st century after school programs for family and community engagement.

To help them meet local and state standards in core academic subjects like science, reading and math, the CCLC provides federal funding for the development of community learning centers that offer cultural, academic and artistic enrichment opportunities for children, particularly those from low-performing and high-poverty schools. The program also requires that families and communities be a part of the process.

Many states around the US are conducting competitions to award 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, says the Department of Education (ED). Each eligible entity that receives an award can use the funding for before- and after-school activities, including summer recess.

Programs are chosen for funding based on their ability to meet the needs of students and families, says the After School Alliance organization. These community learning centers provide families with opportunities for meaningful and active engagement in their child’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development. The organization wholeheartedly believes in the CCLC program because it knows that students reach higher levels of success when parents, school staff and community organizations work together as partners.

One of the activities outlined, in particular, promotes the academic achievement and language skills for limited English proficient (LEP) students, states ED. To help districts and schools meet these objectives for Latino LEPs, The Latino Family Literacy Project has come to the rescue for thousands of students and families through its proven, cost-effective parent involvement programs and training for teachers. The Project offers the following programs that meet the criteria for 21st century after school programs for family and community engagement:

• The Elementary School Program is a family reading program (Family Stories / Cuentos Familiares) that uses books for reading levels grades 1-4.
• The Preschool Program (I am READY / ¡LISTO!) uses age-appropriate books for preschool age kids. Parents learn to read, pose questions and teach school readiness skills. Together, parents and kids learn English vocabulary and simple English language grammar.
• The Infant/Toddler Program is for parents with children ages birth to two. It introduces parents to concepts of language development, child development and basic parenting skills.
• The Middle and High School Program is an effective interactive parent-child program that builds early college awareness by exploring cultural and familial situations arising within Latino families.

Teachers can attend a one-day, program training at a workshop near them or via an online webinar. For more information, please contact The Latino Family Literacy Project.