SAND SPRINGS — Sand Springs Public Schools is among 13 Oklahoma organizations selected to receive new 21st Century Community Learning Center grants from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, bringing $300,000 in federal funding to the district.
“These five-year grants will deliver high-quality out-of-school programs to students and families statewide,” said Tara Thompson, the OSDE interim communications director, in a press release.
Sand Springs grant is part of more than $3.2 million in new awards announced by OSDE.
Through the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade can participate in programming before and after school, during the summer and during holiday breaks.
Programs supported through the grants can include reading and math assistance, tutoring, robotics, chess, debate, art, music, drama, science, college and career readiness, and health and fitness activities.
The initiative also provides educational and literacy opportunities for families, with the goal of strengthening connections between schools and students' homes.
Sand Springs is one of 50 organizations now receiving 21st CCLC funding in Oklahoma. Statewide, the program supports 57 grants at 92 locations and serves more than 16,000 students annually.
The 21st CCLC initiative prioritizes high-poverty communities and schools requiring targeted support, providing students with safe and academically focused opportunities outside regular school hours.
The grants are authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, and are awarded annually through a competitive application process to school districts and community-based organizations.