News and Updates
Afterschool Enrichment Grant – Now Open
The Office of Childhood’s Afterschool program has opened another competitive grant opportunity that will offer funding for current and/or new entities (LEAs or non-LEAs) for afterschool programming during the second semester of the school year (i.e. January to June 2024) to support keeping school-age students safe and engaged in enrichment opportunities during non-school hours. Deadline to apply is December 6, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. For additional information including the grant application and guidance, go to: Grants.
21st Century Community Learning Centers – Cohort 13 Awarded
Awards have been issued for the 21st Century Community Learning Center-Cohort 13 grant as of September 1, 2023. A list of recipients can be found by clicking on the “approved programs” on the right side of the screen.
Congratulations!
School Age Community – Cohort 10 Awarded
Awards have been issued for the School Age Community-Cohort 10 grants as of September 20, 2023. A list of recipients can be found by clicking on the “approved programs” on the right side of the screen.
Congratulations!
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting an extension for the FY 2021 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. Please read the extension request and submit any questions or comments to afterschool@dese.mo.gov.
See below for latest information on COVID-19 and your afterschool program.
Missouri's Afterschool Programs Guidance Related to COVID-19 (per email 3/19/20)
Missouri's Afterschool Programs Updates Related to COVID-19 (per email 4/9/2020)
School Age Community Guidance for COVID-19 (per email 4/28/2020)
Missouri's 21st CCLC Guidance Related to COVID-19 and School Reopening (per email 7/28/2020)
Serving Children in Afterschool during COVID-19
The following entities have provided many resources (i.e. professional development, activity ideas, guidance, etc.) that may be of assistance to afterschool programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note these are just resources, not grant requirements, if you have any questions about a resource listed please contact our office. This is not all inclusive list, we will add any others that come to our attention.
Missouri AfterSchool Network Home Page
National Afterschool Association Home Page
Afterschool Alliance Home Page
External Organization Profile
The Afterschool Programs of the Department accepted self-nominations for eligible organizations to be included as part of a published list of organizations that 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees may reference for potential partnerships or professional development support. As required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended on December 10, 2015) for this purpose, external organization is defined as:
(A) a nonprofit organization with a record of success in running or working with before and afterschool (or summer recess) programs and activities; or
(B) in the case of a community where there is no such organization, a nonprofit organization in the community that enters into a written agreement or partnership with an organization described in (A) to receive mentoring, and guidance in running or working with before and afterschool (or summer recess) programs and activities.
To be considered, nonprofit entities completed and submitted an application to the Afterschool Programs for review and approval of required documentation and eligibility. This list of organizations is intended to serve as a resource for 21st CCLC programs. Please note: the list is not an exhaustive list nor does it serve as an endorsement or certification of quality from the Afterschool Programs. Programs are not required to select from this list.
Current List of Approved Self-Nominated External Organizations
Please note: School districts should not apply; however, they may share this information with their partners and other external organizations who work with youth during afterschool hours.
21st Century Community Learning Center Evaluations
As required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) the state agency education must conduct a comprehensive evaluation process of the Title IV, Part B Nita M Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program. The evaluation results must be disseminated to the public. The state evaluations are available on the DESE Portal for Afterschool Programs.