Urgent News: Funding Withheld

We want to share an urgent update that directly impacts thousands of NJ students, families, and the dedicated staff who run our afterschool and summer learning programs.

The federal government is currently withholding funding for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) — a critical program that keeps students safe, engaged, and supported outside regular school hours. These funds were fully approved by Congress and signed into law by the President in March. They were due to be released to states on July 1 to support summer programs happening now and to help programs prepare for the 2025/2026 school year.

Instead, the U.S. Department of Education has announced that it will not issue grant award notifications until it completes a review — with no clear timeline for when the funds will actually be released.

The impact in New Jersey:

New Jersey stands to lose over $30 million in 21st CCLC funds — part of a total $142.8 million in K–12 education funding currently frozen for our state.

Right now, there are 67 21st CCLC grantees in NJ:

• 34 School Districts, including 4 charter schools
• 4 Institutions of Higher Education
• 29 Community-Based Organizations, including:
  • 8 Boys & Girls Clubs
  • 3 YMCAs

These grantees serve thousands of children in our state’s most under-resourced communities, providing free or low-cost afterschool and summer programs that help kids learn, thrive, and stay safe while parents work.

If this funding delay continues, programs may be forced to cut services or shut down completely — harming students, families, and the OST workforce that depends on these grants to do their jobs.