21st Century Community Learning Centers Act

Summary: Retains the provision that authorizes such grants be used to plan, implement, or expand community learning centers, but eliminates the requirement that such centers include four or more of specified activities.
Extends the authorization of appropriations for such grants program.

SECTION 1. PROGRAM EXPANSION.

    The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Act (20 U.S.C. 8241 et 
seq.) is amended to read as follows:

           ``PART I--21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS

``SEC. 10901. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This part may be cited as the `21st Century Community Learning 
Centers Act'.

``SEC. 10902. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) Each day during the school year, millions of children 
        return to unsupervised homes after school. Each week, between 
        5,000,000 and 15,000,000 children return from school to empty 
        homes.
            ``(2) Child care experts believe that there is a direct 
        correlation between the degree of after-school supervision and 
        grade completion. Students who have little or no after-school 
        supervision are more apt to receive poor grades or to drop out 
        of school than students who are engaged in supervised, 
        constructive activities.
            ``(3) A recent study found that twice as many parents want 
        supervised after-school programs for their children than are 
        currently available.
            ``(4) Statistically, most juvenile crime takes place 
        between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and our children 
        are most at risk of being victims of crime during the hours 
        after school. Quality after-school programs help to protect our 
        children while affording them enhanced opportunities to succeed 
        academically.
            ``(5) Twenty-first century community learning centers serve 
        as a marvelous local resource for our communities to develop 
        the best strategies to integrate after-school programs into the 
        whole education of their youth. Strategies developed locally 
        best fit the unique needs of each community and those of its 
        school-aged citizens.

``SEC. 10903. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    ``(a) Grants by the Secretary.--The Secretary is authorized, in 
accordance with the provisions of this part, to award grants to rural 
and inner-city schools and organizations, or consortia of such schools 
or organizations, to enable such schools or organizations to plan, 
implement, or to expand after-school projects that benefit the 
educational, health, social service, cultural, and recreational needs 
of a rural or inner-city youth.
    ``(b) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants under this part, 
the Secretary shall assure an equitable distribution of assistance 
among the States, among urban and rural areas of the United States, and 
among urban and rural areas of a State.
    ``(c) Grant Period.--The Secretary shall award grants under this 
part for a period not to exceed 3 years.
    ``(d) Amount.--The Secretary shall not award a grant under this 
part in any fiscal year in an amount less than $40,000.

``SEC. 10904. APPLICATION REQUIRED.

    ``(a) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
part, a school or organization, or consortia of such schools or 
organizations, shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may reasonably prescribe. Each such application shall 
include--
            ``(1) a comprehensive local plan that enables the school or 
        organization, or consortia of such schools or organizations, to 
        serve as a center for the delivery of education and human 
        resources for youth through after-school programs;
            ``(2) an evaluation of the needs, available resources, and 
        goals and objectives for the proposed project in order to 
        determine which activities will be undertaken to address such 
        needs; and
            ``(3) a description of the proposed project, including--
                    ``(A) a description of the mechanism that will be 
                used to disseminate information in a manner that is 
                understandable and accessible to the community;
                    ``(B) identification of Federal, State, and local 
                programs to be merged or coordinated so that public 
                resources may be maximized;
                    ``(C) a description of the collaborative efforts to 
                be undertaken by community-based organizations, related 
                public agencies, businesses, or other appropriate 
                organizations;
                    ``(D) a description of how the school, 
                organization, or consortia of such schools or 
                organizations, will serve as a delivery center for 
                existing and new after-school services; and
                    ``(E) an assurance that the school, organization, 
                or consortia of such schools or organizations, will 
                establish a facility utilization policy that 
                specifically states--
                            ``(i) the rules and regulations applicable 
                        to building and equipment use; and
                            ``(ii) supervision guidelines.
    ``(b) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to applications 
describing projects that offer a broad selection of services which 
address the needs of youth in after-school programs.

``SEC. 10905. USES OF FUNDS.

    ``Grants awarded under this part may be used to plan, implement, or 
expand community learning centers.

``SEC. 10906. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For the purpose of this part--
            ``(1) the term ``community learning center'' means an 
        entity that provides educational, recreational, health, and 
        social service programs for youth within a local community;
            ``(2) the term ``organization'' means a youth development 
        group, local charity, religious organization, community-based 
        organization, or faith-based organization;
            ``(3) the term ``school'' means a public elementary or 
        secondary school.
            ``(4) the term ``after-school program'' means a child care 
        program to assist working parents when school is not in 
        session, including before- and after-school, weekends, 
        holidays, and vacations.

``SEC. 10907. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2001, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal 
year thereafter, to carry out this part.''.