Ohio · Federal Grant

Ohio 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Ohio's 21st Century Community Learning Centers program funds after-school and summer STEM enrichment at high-need Ohio schools, using federal Title IV-B funds administered by the Ohio Department of Education.

Funding

$50,000–$200,000/year

Eligibility

Ohio public schools and nonprofits serving Title I communities

Grade Focus

K-12

Subject

After-school / STEM / Academic enrichment

Deadline

Annual (Ohio DOE RFP, summer cycle)

Type

Federal Grant

About This Grant

Ohio's 21st CCLC program is one of the largest investments in after-school learning in the state. Funded by federal Title IV-B dollars and administered by ODE, the program supports after-school, weekend, and summer learning programs at high-need Ohio schools. STEM enrichment is a growing component, as Ohio pushes to close technology skills gaps and prepare students for a knowledge economy.

Ohio after-school programs funded through 21st CCLC serve tens of thousands of students in communities ranging from Cleveland and Columbus to rural Appalachian Ohio. CS and coding programs are increasingly popular in Ohio after-school settings, supported by the state's CS standards adoption and growing employer demand for technology skills.

Programs using Forward Education kits can document skill progression and student engagement easily — important for the data reporting requirements that Ohio's 21st CCLC program enforces. Our materials are designed for informal learning environments and include facilitator guides appropriate for after-school program staff.

View Ohio 21st Century Community Learning Centers →

Eligibility

Ohio public schools, school districts, and community-based organizations serving high-need students
Priority for Title I schools or schools with 40%+ students in free/reduced lunch
Programs must operate outside the regular school day
Required: academic support component, family engagement, and outcome measurement

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Snacks, transportation, and family engagement activities

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Ohio 21st CCLC reviewers weight the academic connection heavily — show explicitly how after-school STEM reinforces Ohio academic content standards.
Family engagement is scored; design a meaningful parent component that connects families to the technology learning their children are doing.
Plan for multi-year sustainability — programs that receive funding in year one and continue performing well are most likely to be renewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Ohio 21st CCLC and the federal program?

Ohio receives federal Title IV-B funds and distributes them through a state-run competitive grant. Ohio adds its own requirements on top of the federal base.

How long are grant periods?

Ohio 21st CCLC grants typically cover three to five years with annual performance review and continuation funding for high-performing programs.

Can standalone coding clubs apply?

STEM clubs can be a component, but the full program must include academic support and family engagement as required by the 21st CCLC framework.

Are there reporting requirements?

Yes. Ohio uses the federal 21APR reporting system and may have additional state data requirements. Build your evaluation plan before applying.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Ohio CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.