As part of the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program, the New York State Education Department awarded the City School District of Albany a competitive $2.7 million grant.

The 21st CCLC Program is designed to support the creation or expansion of community learning centers that serve students, particularly those who attend high-poverty or low-performing schools, and their families. Each 21st CCLC site provides:

• Opportunities for academic enrichment for students, including tutoring services
• An array of additional youth development services and activities to supplement academic programming
• Opportunities for families of students to engage in literacy and educational development activities

In order to reach these goals, the City School District of Albany is implementing 21st CCLC afterschool and summer programs for K-12 students and their families at six sites:

• Arbor Hill Elementary School
• Giffen Elementary School
• Schuyler Achievement Academy
• Sheridan Preparatory Academy
• Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School
• Albany High School

During the school year, each site will offer an hour of academic tutoring daily to participating students. After tutoring, students will engage in recreational and enrichment programming aligned with the themes of the high school’s four magnet academies. This enrichment time will include activities in areas such as fine arts and theater, STEM, career readiness, and leadership and service initiatives. The four elementary sites will offer similar enrichment programming during the summer. Through participation in these activities, elementary and middle school students can explore the different themed areas, while high school students can extend their learning in alignment with the theme of their chosen academy. The Albany 21st CCLC Program will also offer programming for families of students. New York State’s Department of Labor will provide on-site assistance to parents searching for employment. The sites will also schedule regular family activities and create family resources centers.

Evaluation & Research

CHSR is conducting an evaluation of the Albany 21st CCLC Program in accordance with federal and state requirements. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide comprehensive information on program implementation and outcomes. The mixed-methods evaluation will draw on multiple sources of data, including student and teacher surveys, site visits, attendance and disciplinary records, student grades, and standardized test scores. Specific indicators were developed for the evaluation based on three long-term project goals:

• Improve academic and behavioral outcomes for students at six target schools
• Expand support for parents’ educational and professional development
• Build and sustain school-based partnerships with local service providers

For more information, contact Margaret Gullick,Ph.D.