2025 21st CCLC Grant Competition

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

NDDPI hosted an online Grant Applicant Workshop on April 29, 2025, to encourage high-quality proposals. 

• 21st Century Grant Applicant Workshop Presentation
• 21st Century Grant Applicant Workshop Recording

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. 

4/21/2025

• Page 21: Revised terminology to ensure alignment with ESSA, updating "Expanded Learning Time" to "Expanded Learning Program."
• Page 52: Incorporated an ESSA reference for Question 3 regarding the Measures of Effectiveness
  • See an additional revision to the required "Program Goals and Objectives Template," located in the "Grant Application Mandatory Forms" section.
• Page 57: Corrected the priority points, updating "+10 priority points" to "+5 priority points"
• Page 58: Corrected the priority points, updating "+10 statutory points" to "+5 statutory points"
• Page 59: Corrected the priority points, updating "+42 competitive points" to "+30 competitive points"

4/28/2025

• Page 65: Corrected the total points in Section F. Program Management & Operations, updating "30 total points" to "34 total points"
• Page 34: Updated the total possible points from "320" to "324" to accurately reflect the corrected total in Section F. Program Management & Operations.
• Page 54: Updated the total possible points from "320" to "324" to accurately reflect the corrected total in Section F. Program Management & Operations.

21st CCLC School Needs Rank List

Currently Funded Sites

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.

NDDPI Web Resources

NDDPI WebGrants-login page

• WebGrants User guide and training videos

2024-2025 Free & Reduced Enrollment Numbers by Site

2024-2025 Schools Selected for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI)

Schools Selected for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI)

Out of School Time Resources

North Dakota Quality Standards for Out-of-School Time Programs

21st CCLC Support Series for ND 21st CCLC Applicants 

• Register for Virtual Training Sessions
• Note: As a ND 21CCLC technical assistance provider, the Network is not able to review or provide specific feedback on proposals but can provide resources on data and best practices.

Program Operation Overview

Program Goals and Objectives Template**

• Column B was updated to read: "What evidence-based services, supports, and activities will be used to implement this performance target in the program?" to ensure alignment with the ESSA §4205(b)-Measures of Effectiveness requirement.

Program Budget Worksheet

21st CCLC Principal and Superintendent Commitment Form

21st CCLC Program Assurances
 

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.

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.

Q7: Is it possible for a BIE district to apply for the same grant twice - once through the BIE and once through the State? 

Yes, a BIE-funded school may apply for a 21st CCLC subgrant through both the State and the BIE. A school, however, may not receive two subgrants for the same activities. 

Q8: On page 41 of the grant application guidance, it states: "Proposals that include a school(s) with fewer than 12 points will not receive these priority points." Does this mean that for schools included in a consortium application with fewer than 12 points, that school would count as 0 individually, or if there are any schools with fewer than 12 points in the list, the whole group will not receive any priority points?

To receive the highest-need priority points, only schools with 12 or more points will be considered. The priority points awarded will be the average of those schools' scores. If an application includes any school with fewer than 12 points, no priority points will be awarded for that high-needs priority category. This rule applies to all applicant types.  

Q9: Are e-sports considered an allowable expense, or is it considered a video game?

Yes, this would be an allowable expense when it is aligned to the goals and objectives identified in the grant application.