The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is a key component of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, the specific purposes of the federal law are to:
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provide opportunities during non-school hours for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students, who are academically eligible, to meet the challenging State academic standards;
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offer students a broad array of additional services, programs and activities during non-school hours such as youth development activities, service learning, nutrition and health education, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, arts, music, physical fitness and wellness programs, technology education programs, financial literacy programs, environmental literacy programs, mathematics, science, career and technical programs, internship or apprenticeship programs, and other ties to an in-demand industry sector or occupation for high school students that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
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offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
The School District of Lee County hosts five 21st Century Community Learning Center programs. Four of the programs are directly overseen by the school district and the one at James Stephens is supervised by the Boys and Girls club in close partnership with the school. For more information please contact the school or site manager.
Edgewood Academy - Site manager, Awilda Perry, (239)334-6205
G. Weaver Hipps Elementary - Site manager, Emily Ferreira Goncalves, (239)368-7042
Lehigh Elementary - Site manager and project coordinator, Betul Guner, (239)369-2477
Veterans Park Academy for the Arts - Site manager, Bettye Walker, (239)303-3003
James Stephens Elementary - The Boys and Girls Club of Lee County runs this program. (239)337-1333