A forum for after-school providers interested in applying for 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding.  
 
                       The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (www.emsc.nysed.gov). Its purpose is to create or expand community learning centers that:
 
1.      Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet state and local student academic achievement standards in core academic subjects such as reading and mathematics; 
2.      Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, such as youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music, and recreation programs, technology education programs, and character education programs, that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and
3.      Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
Funding is distributed by the New York State Education Department.  Applications must be postmarked by March 27, 2009.

When:             The GRASA forum will be held Friday, March 6, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
 
Where:           Lake Riley Lodge, 100 Norris Drive (located in Cobbs Hill Park at the corner of Culver Road and Norris Drive)
 
Why:               The mission of the Greater Rochester After-School Alliance (GRASA) is to improve the quality, quantity, and accessibility of after-school programs and position the community to draw down state and national funding.   GRASA serves as a coordinator of responses to state and national funding opportunities, including 21st Century funding.
 
Questions:     Contact Caroline Merenda at cmerenda@racf.org or (585) 341-4352.
 
RSVP:             To Mairéad Hartmann at mhartmann@racf.org by Wednesday, March 4, 2009.