Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§7171 Purpose; Definitions

Title 20 › CHAPTER 70 — STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › SUBCHAPTER IV — 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS › Part B — 21st Century Community Learning Centers › § 7171

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates chances for communities to open or grow community learning centers that help students do better in school, especially those in low-performing schools. These centers must give extra academic help like tutoring and other activities outside regular school hours (before or after school, or during summer) that support what students learn in class. They must also offer a wide mix of services and programs—such as youth development, health and nutrition education, arts and music, fitness, technology and career training, internships or apprenticeships, and other supports tied to in-demand jobs. Families must be given ways to take part in their children’s education, including chances to improve literacy. The law also defines several terms. Community learning center: an organization that provides academic enrichment and other out-of-school activities that match students’ schoolwork and involve families. Covered program: a program that had a grant under this part before the Every Student Succeeds Act took effect and whose grant period was still active on that date. Eligible entity: a local education agency, community group, Indian tribe or tribal organization (as defined in federal law), another public or private group, or a consortium of two or more of these. External organization: a nonprofit experienced with before/after-school or summer programs, or a local nonprofit partnered with one for mentoring. Rigorous peer-review process: state education staff check applications, the state picks expert reviewers who are not applicants or their representatives, and reviewers score applications against the program’s legal requirements. State: the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §7171

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Purpose
The purpose of this part is to provide opportunities for communities to establish or expand activities in 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 the challenging State academic standards;
(2)offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities, 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
(3)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.
(b)Definitions
In this part:
(1)Community learning center
The term “community learning center” means an entity that—
(A)assists students to meet the challenging State academic standards by providing the students with academic enrichment activities and a broad array of other activities (such as programs and activities described in subsection (a)(2)) during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session (such as before and after school or during summer recess) that—
(i)reinforce and complement the regular academic programs of the schools attended by the students served; and
(ii)are targeted to the students’ academic needs and aligned with the instruction students receive during the school day; and
(B)offers families of students served by such center opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
(2)Covered program
The term “covered program” means a program for which—
(A)the Secretary made a grant under this part (as this part was in effect on the day before the effective date of this part under the Every Student Succeeds Act); and
(B)the grant period had not ended on that effective date.
(3)Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” means a local educational agency, community-based organization, Indian tribe or tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 5304 of title 25), another public or private entity, or a consortium of 2 or more such agencies, organizations, or entities.
(4)External organization
The term “external organization” means—
(A)a nonprofit organization with a record of success in running or working with before and after school (or summer recess) programs and activities; or
(B)in the case of a community where there is no such organization, a nonprofit organization in the community that enters into a written agreement or partnership with an organization described in subparagraph (A) to receive mentoring and guidance in running or working with before and after school (or summer recess) programs and activities.
(5)Rigorous peer-review process
The term “rigorous peer-review process” means a process by which—
(A)employees of a State educational agency who are familiar with the programs and activities assisted under this part review all applications that the State receives for awards under this part for completeness and applicant eligibility;
(B)the State educational agency selects peer reviewers for such applications, who shall—
(i)be selected for their expertise in providing effective academic, enrichment, youth development, and related services to children; and
(ii)not include any applicant, or representative of an applicant, that has submitted an application under this part for the current application period; and
(C)the peer reviewers described in subparagraph (B) review and rate the applications to determine the extent to which the applications meet the requirements under section 7174(b) and 7175 of this title.
(6)State
The term “State” means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This part (as this part was in effect on the day before the

Effective Date

of this part under the Every Student Succeeds Act), referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), means this part as in effect before it was amended generally by Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4201(a), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1982. For

Effective Date

of Pub. L. 114–95, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–95 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to purpose and definitions of this part.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 7171

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110