We just learned from the Ohio Dept. of Education and Workforce that the federal government is going to release $1.3 billion in grant funding to support before- and after-school funding programs here in Ohio and across the nation.
The funding is associated with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.
On Thursday, we informed you about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and other local groups that were in limbo due to the federal government's funding freeze on $6 billion in education funds that had been previously approved.
Watch more about the hold below:
RELATED: Federal money on hold impacting before- and after-school programs across Northeast Ohio
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio is set to receive $1.8 million to operate 11 of its CCLC programs this upcoming school year. They told us yesterday that the funding freeze had them working on contingency plans, but they remained hopeful.
The letter the Ohio Dept. of Education and Workforce got from the federal government said that groups receiving the funding must not use it in a manner that violates the Constitution or civil rights laws.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio released a statement Friday night, applauding the release of funds.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio is applauding the decision by federal officials to release $1.8 million in previously approved funds, sparing 11 Clubs from possible closure this fall.
The funding freeze put about 1,500 local youth at risk of losing their Clubs.
At issue was the federal government’s indefinite hold on money allocated to the 21st Century Community Learning Center program, which supports high-quality, out-of-school time learning opportunities and related activities for students who attend eligible schools. The state, which administers the program, recently told BGCNEO and other afterschool providers that the U.S. Department of Education was putting an indefinite hold on the funding while it conducts a comprehensive review of several programs, including 21st Century.
Federal officials on Friday decided to release the funds for the 2025-2026 school year.
Even with the release of 21st Century funds for this year, the future of the program remains murky. Sites are funded for five years, and the 11 BGCNEO Clubs are at various stages in that cycle.
“We are relieved this funding was released and will be available to operate these highly effective 21st Century Community Learning Centers in the coming school year,” BGCNEO CEO Allen Smith said. “At the same time, we remain concerned about the future of this federal program and the remaining funds committed to our 21st Century sites in the coming years.”
About two dozen states sued the Trump administration over the freeze.
Boys & Girls Clubs are safe, fun places for youth ages 6-18 to go after school with a focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, leadership and life and workforce readiness. There is no charge to join a Club.
BGCNEO was formed in 2019 by the merger of Clubs in Cleveland, Akron, Lorain County and Sandusky. The organization had about 8,000 Club members in 2024.
