2025 Grant Competition Information
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is excited to announce the launch of the 2025-2026 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant competition.
Applications for this five-year grant will be available starting April 14, 2025 and located on our NDDPI 21st CCLC webpage. Eligible applicants include school districts, regional education associations, consortiums, nonprofit organizations, municipal or county government agencies, faith-based entities, higher education institutions, and for-profit corporations not currently holding a 21st CCLC grant.
The 21st CCLC program aims to create or enhance community learning centers that offer students engaging academic activities and opportunities to supplement their regular school-day programs. Grants will be awarded competitively and are contingent upon federal funding availability.
Applicants are required to partner with schools that serve a significant population of economically disadvantaged students and must offer a minimum of seven hours of programming per week.
To support applicants, the NDDPI will host a virtual Applicant Workshop on April 29 at 10:00 am CST. This workshop will provide insights into the 21st CCLC program, step-by-step guidance on the application process, and an introduction to WebGrants.
For further information on the grant program, application guidelines, or workshop details, please contact the 21st CCLC Program Administrator. All applications must be submitted by June 10, 2025, no later than 12:01 pm.
Intent To Apply
Although strongly encouraged, completing the Intent to Apply Form is not a required component of the application process. Completing the Intent to Apply assists NDDPI in securing a sufficient number of peer reviewers and provides a way to communicate important updates with potential applicants.
Intent To Apply Form
Applicant Workshop Registration
NDDPI will host an online applicant workshop on April 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. CDT to encourage high-quality proposals.
Participants are asked to register for the workshop using the following link: NDDPI 21st CCLC Applicant Workshop.
Grant Guidance
This guidance is intended as a reference document only and is not the official ND 21st CCLC grant application. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction reserves the right to make any changes to the online application before its release that may not be reflected in this guide (see below for tracked changes to the grant application).
Applications for the 21st CCLC grant program must be submitted through NDDPI WebGrants. You must be registered with WebGrants to submit a final application. Hard copies will NOT be accepted.
North Dakota 21st CCLC Grant Guidance Document
Updates to Grant Guidance:
4/15/2025
- Cover page: Update the cover page date to June 30, 2025 for eligible applicants applying for the 21st CCLC Competitive Grant.
- Page 54: Adjusted total priority points from 100 to 70 to ensure consistency throughout the grant document.
Grant Application Resources
21st CCLC School Needs Rank List
Equitable Services for Private Schools - LEA applicants may use the same Intent to Participate and Affirmation of Consultation forms used for all other Title programs.
Grant Application Mandatory Forms
Program Goals and Objectives Template
21st CCLC Principal and Superintendent Commitment Form
The following documents are only necessary for the applicable eligible applicants:
ND Consortium Signature Page - Only applicable to applicants applying as a consortium
Preliminary Risk Assessment Form - Only applicable to applicants that are new, non-LEA applicants
Non-LEA Private School Consultation Form - This applies exclusively to non-LEA applicants who will collaborate with private schools outside of the LEA.
21st CCLC Questions & Answers
Any clarifying questions about this Application for Selection must be submitted via email only, at any time prior to May 9, 2025 1:00 pm CDT to the state 21st CCLC email To ensure that all applicants have equal access to clarifying information, the state program coordinator will not respond to questions regarding the AFS through any other mechanism. Please do not call with questions. Questions and answers will be posted here.
Q&A
Q1: A question for clarification on the cover page of the new grant application. I’m interpreting this as our organization can NOT apply for the new grant application because we currently have a grant award, and our award expires June 30, 2025.
An error was identified in the grant application. The cover page should state: "The 21st CCLC Competitive Grant Application is intended ONLY for organizations that do not currently hold a 21st CCLC grant award OR those whose grant award will expire on June 30, 2025." This mistake has been corrected within the application and updated on the NDDPI 21st CCLC webpage. To stay informed about any future modifications to the Application for Selection, please visit the Grant Guidance section where updates to the application are communicated.
Q2: For Goal 1, what does increased engagement look like? How would we show that in our reporting?
Performance targets for these goals are further detailed within the Program Goals and Objectives Template. This template can be found under the "Grant Application Mandatory Forms." This template must be completed and submitted in the H. Program Evaluation Section of the Webgrants Grant Application
Q3: For Goal 3, what does reduced disparity in school engagement look like? How would we show that in our reporting?
Performance targets for these goals are further detailed within the Program Goals and Objectives Template. This template can be found under the "Grant Application Mandatory Forms." This template must be completed and submitted in the H. Program Evaluation Section of the Webgrants Grant Application
Q4: On page 17 it states we must give prior notice to the community that we intend to apply. Would posting our needs assessment survey which includes language stating we are applying for this grant count as sufficient notification?
Yes, providing public notice of intent to apply ensures that community stakeholders are informed about the proposed opportunity. It also encourages the development of new partnerships within the community. This process enhances the initiative's overall impact.
Q5: On page 18, it states that our schools are co-applicants and that we may not subgrant. Can you clarify what that means? For example, we currently reimburse our schools for their salaries and expenses, and they handle the actual payroll and accounting for their site. Is that still permissible?
Eligible entities designated as co-applicants, under the grant guidelines, may collaborate fully in the project without being treated as independent subgrantees. This means the fiscal agent cannot delegate grant funds in a way that creates autonomous subgrants for these programs. Nevertheless, reimbursing entities for their expenses and salaries, while they independently handle payroll and accounting, is acceptable. The key is that these transactions reflect reimbursement for eligible expenses, rather than constituting subgranting. Co-applicants are integral to the project’s development, management, and implementation. They actively contribute to decision-making and work collaboratively with the lead applicant and other team members, combining resources, expertise, and efforts to ensure the project's success.
Q6: On page 21 regarding family engagement activities, it states that family activities funded by 21st CCLC must be open exclusively to family members of program participants. If the family activities are in collaboration with another school family event which is paid for by district funds, is this still a requirement?
Yes, the requirement still applies. Family engagement activities funded by 21st CCLC must remain exclusively open to program participants' families, even if held alongside district-funded school events. To ensure compliance, clearly distinguish 21st CCLC-funded activities and document their exclusivity.
2025 Call for Reviewers
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) is seeking qualified peer reviewers for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) competitive grant review process.
NDDPI will be distributing over $3.5 million dollars to eligible and approved applicants for the 2025-2026 school year for afterschool enrichment programs that work to improve the academic achievement of students.
Qualified applicants should possess the knowledge of afterschool programs, previous experience/expertise as a grant reviewer and/or grant recipient, academic enrichment programs, or other experience in an education-related field. Additional qualifications can be found on the application.
Further information will be provided soon. Please revisit for updates.