The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced that applications are open for the fiscal year 2026 Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant competition, which will provide an estimated $37.8 million in federal funding over the next three years, subject to annual federal appropriations. Funded through Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, the program supports schools and community organizations in establishing or expanding after-school programs that help students meet state and local learning standards, particularly those attending high-poverty, low-performing schools. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24 through ISBE’s Attachment Manager. Interested applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria, which have been updated for clarity in this year’s competition.  Full application materials and instructions are available on ISBE’s 21st CCLC: Prospective Grantees webpage.