SDE Announces $5.599 Million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants

(Santa Fe, NM)— The New Mexico State Department of Education (SDE) announced today 19 public school districts and/or other public or private community organizations have been awarded $5.599 million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program grant awards to expand or create community learning centers.

The purpose of the 21st CCLC Program is to:

· establish or expand community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities for children, particularly those attending high-poverty and low-performing schools, to meet state and local standards in core academic subjects
· offer students a broad array of enrichment activities that complement their regular academic programs
· offer adult family members of participating students opportunities for literacy and related educational development. Services may not be provided to the community at large.

“There is a tremendous need for after-school programs to support improved academic achievement and to provide a positive, safe environment for students during non-school hours. A 40 percent cut in federal funding for this program for FY 2004 had a huge impact on the amount that states could allocate in grant awards and the number of students who will be served,” said Jennifer Yahn, the SDE's director of the Comprehensive School Reform Unit.

The SDE received 55 applications for a total request of $21,309,855.

The recipients and award amounts are as follows:

Albuquerque Public Schools/Rio Grande Educational Collaborative $405,000
Albuquerque Public Schools/University of New Mexico $524,763
Bernalillo Public Schools/Santo Domingo Pueblo $134,064
Central Consolidated Schools/Kirtland Youth Organization $416,250
Cobre Consolidated Schools $274,500
Cornstalk Institute/Albuquerque Public Schools $250,000

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SDE Announces $5.599 Million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants

Cuba Independent Schools/Presbyterian Medical Services $210,750
Dulce Independent Schools/DREAMS Community Partners $214,500
Eunice Public Schools $135,027
Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools/National Indian Youth Leadership Project $325,870
Hands Across Cultures Corporation/Espanola Public Schools $312,000
Mountainair Public Schools $125,000
Rehoboth Christian School/Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools $135,000
Roswell Independent Schools $394,500
San Juan County Partnership $123,803
Santa Fe Public Schools/Santa Fe Executive Leadership Council $460,800
Taos Municipal Schools/Town of Taos $245,250
West Las Vegas and Las Vegas City Public Schools/New Mexico Highlands University $349,500
Youth Development Inc./Albuquerque Public Schools $562,500

TOTAL $5,599,077

The recipients will receive 21st CCLC funding for five years, pending continued Congressional appropriations.