View source for After-School Programs

{{Program
|ProgramName=After-School Programs
|ProgramType=Program
|OrgSponsor=Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
|TopOrganization=Department of Education
|CreationLegislation=Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-10), 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110)
|Purpose=After-School Programs, backed by 21CCLC and ED's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, fund community-based enrichment, tutoring, and recreation to boost academics, cut crime, and support families in low-income areas.
|Website=https://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html
|ProgramStart=1998 (for 21CCLC)
|InitialFunding=$40 million
|Duration=Ongoing
|Historic=No
}}
The '''After-School Programs''', rooted in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and formalized under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act of 2001, are administered by the Department of Education (ED) through its Office of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide grants to schools, community organizations, and nonprofits, allocating over $20 billion since inception to support approximately 1.6 million students annually by 2025. Initially funded with $40 million for 21CCLC in 1998, it has grown to distribute $1.3 billion in FY 2024 across 10,000 grants, funding programs like tutoring, arts, sports, and STEM activities at community centers, schools, and libraries nationwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html |title=21st Century Community Learning Centers |publisher=U.S. Department of Education}}</ref> Despite its impact, challenges like funding competition, limited access in rural areas, and program sustainability persist (web ID: 5), but it remains a cornerstone of ED’s efforts to support student success.

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html}}