05/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/24/2024 08:19
Published on Friday, May 24, 2024
PROVIDENCE, RI - Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) today announced $3.3 million annually in five-year grant awards to 16 community-based organizations and local education agencies (LEAs) that provide high-quality after-school and summer learning programs for students. The award program is federally funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, first administered by RIDE in 2003. The 21st Century grants, which complement state investments through Governor McKee's Community Learning Center Municipal Grant program, wereawarded for partnerships between an LEA and one or more community-basedorganizations to provide academic support, enrichment, and family engagement services in targeted schools. Contingent on continued federal funding, grant recipients will receive funds for the next five years, totaling more than $15 million in support.
"My administration shares its gratitude with the community-based organizations working diligently alongside schools, districts, and municipalities to provide students with high-quality learning opportunities outside of the traditional school day," said Governor Dan McKee. "Working together under Learn365RI, we are proud to support these dynamic partnerships and set our students up for success."
In alignment with the Learning, Equity, and Accelerated Pathways Task Force Report, RIDE gave priority to applications proposing explicit strategies to serve multilingual learners, to serve differently-abled students, and/or to build knowledge and skills in mathematics. RIDE received funding requests totaling almost $6 million per year, making this an incredibly competitive process.
"These grants are a testament to Rhode Island's collective commitment to improving student outcomes by opening doors for all students, regardless of their zip code," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green."As we continue to expand out-of-school learning opportunities and promote good attendance, we are proud to support the 21stCentury Community Learning Centers."
Grant recipients include:
With this year's round of grants, Rhode Island now has 16 agencies operating 21stCenturyCommunity Learning Centers, serving a total of 49 schools in high-need communities.