ACE (21st CCLC) Grant, Cycle 13 Year 1 - Texas

Texas State Funding

Local Education Agencies (LEAs), charter schools, Education Service Centers (ESCs), community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations, and other public or private organizations may apply
Applicants must propose services for eligible Title I campuses
Campuses currently served by Cycle 11 or 12 - 21st CCLC grantees are not eligible for Cycle 13
PK–12 students may be served; campuses serving only PK students are not eligible

Provide high-quality after-school and summer programming
Offer targeted academic support aligned with the regular school day
Deliver enrichment activities such as STEM, arts, physical activity, leadership, and college/career readiness
Improve student engagement, attendance, and social-emotional development
Strengthen family engagement opportunities

Based on federal 21st CCLC guidelines and TEA ACE requirements
- Academic support materials
- STEM, enrichment, and hands-on learning materials
- Summer learning resources
- Family engagement materials
- Staff salaries, professional development, and operational costs
Alignment with LEGO® Education solutions:
LEGO® Education solutions support hands-on learning connected to the TEKS science, math, and technology standards.
- SPIKE™ Essential & SPIKE™ Prime: Support high-quality STEM enrichment, problem-solving, teamwork, and academic reinforcement
- LEGO® Education Science: Supports inquiry, experimentation, exploration, and enrichment aligned with academic goals
- Professional Development: 21st CCLC funds allow staff training that strengthens program quality and supports hands-on STEM and enrichment programming

Programs must operate five days per week after school, even if the district uses a four-day instructional week
Summer programs must also be offered
Programs may operate on-site or off-site if accessible, safe, and properly supervised
Programs must serve students with disabilities and ensure compliance with ADA, IDEA, and Section 504
Attendance, participation, and program performance data must be collected and reported to TEA

TEA has released a pre-release FAQ, webinar, and presentation deck that applicants should review
TEA is offering a Technical Assistance Office Hours on Dec 8th at 11:00 AM (CST) to help organizations prepare applications
Organizations new to TEA must complete TEAL identity verification early to avoid delays
Applicants proposing to serve the same campus may risk disqualification
All additional questions for TEA must be submitted by the published FAQ deadlines within the RFA
For any further questions, please reach out to Sarah Daly, 21st CCLC State Coordinator - 21stcentury@tea.texas.gov or Competitive Grants Unit - competitivegrants@tea.texas.gov