Page in progress
Local evaluators for 21st Century Community Learning Centers
21st Century Community Learning Centers money is federal, but each state runs its own competition and writes its own evaluation rules. Many states expect every funded after-school program to work with a local evaluator, and some require that the evaluator be independent.
What the states ask for
- Texas requires grantees in its program, Texas ACE, to select an independent evaluator with formal training and experience in program evaluation (Texas Education Agency, Texas ACE).
- States commonly limit what may be spent on local evaluation to a small share of the award. Iowa’s guidance gives the example of up to $4,000 on a $100,000 award (Iowa Department of Education).
- The rules, the forms and the deadlines differ in every state. Your state’s request for applications is the only reliable source.
Facts on this page were checked against the official sources on September 20, 2026. Rules change; rely on the official announcement or regulation linked here, not on this summary.
Where we fit
Budgets for this work are modest, so the evaluation has to be efficient and still useful to the people running the program.
- An evaluation plan and logic model that meet your state’s template
- Student, parent and staff surveys, and observations of the program as it is delivered
- Focus groups and interviews with students, families, teachers and partners
- Data management and quantitative analysis of attendance, grades and state-required measures
- Expert data visualization, and the annual local evaluation report your state requires
- Final reporting in multiple formats: full report, executive summary, slide deck, one-page brief or dashboard
Mixed methods is our default design: qualitative and quantitative data, collected together and reported as one story.
Timing
State competitions run on their own calendars, usually once a year or once per grant cycle. The best time to bring in an evaluator is while the application is being written, so the evaluation plan and the budget line agree.
Applying for or running a 21st CCLC program?
Tell us your state and where you are in the grant cycle. You will hear back within one business day.
Every inquiry is confidential. We never sell or share your information. Privacy policy.