Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has awarded more than $64 million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants to 51 entities that will serve students in 371 centers across the state. This federally-funded program (also called Texas Afterschool Centers on Education or Texas ACE), establishes centers that operate before and after school, as well as during the summer. These centers provide students in grades K-12 opportunities to access academic enrichment, tutorial services, and a broad array of additional programs and activities, such as physical fitness, nutrition, science, the arts, internships and dual credit.

Locally, TEA has awarded 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants to Coleman ISD. Texas ACE programs are designed to provide students with a safe additional learning opportunity while school is not in session. The programs are free for participants. The federal program gives priority to serving students attending schools that are low performing. This is the tenth cohort of the grants TEA has awarded since the federal program’s authorization in 2002.

Grant funding will begin on Aug. 1, 2018 and run through July 2021. Thirteen programs were qualified to receive funds through July 2023. TEA will provide technical support and training to all grantees throughout the year. Programs must begin serving students by Sept. 4, and regularly provide services for at least 15 hours per week during the school year and four hours per day for six weeks during the summer.