21st CCLC Century Community Learning Centers NTAC National Technical Assistance Center -

EXTERNAL RESOURCE LIBRARY

Here you’ll find free resources from government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and others in the field, curated by our team with 21st CCLC professionals in mind. The external resource library includes videos, web pages, publications, and more to help you learn about and implement evidence-based strategies and best practices. All were screened for their relevance to out-of-school time, and many are specific to 21st CCLC programs.

Featured External Resources

Looking for a resource in one of these 21st CCLC NTAC priority areas? Select each link to see a highlighted resource in that area.
Note: Selecting a link will take you to an external website.

Use the filters to narrow your search

Sustaining Efforts to Boost Regular Student Attendance

This two-page information sheet describes selected federal education funding sources, tools, and technical assistance that can be used to combat chronic absenteeism and boost regular school-day attendance. Out-of-school time programs may find some of these resources useful to make an impact on their programming in other ways. 

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education
  • Resource Type: Policy/Guidance Documents
  • Year: 2024
Take Action Toolkit

This toolkit includes links to federal resources that support adolescent health and well-being, encourages making local connections, and provides processes and tools to help programs accomplish a "triple dividend" -- health for adolescents now, a healthy adult life, and better health for the next generation. 

  • Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Population Affairs
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies
  • Year: 2023
The Impressive Effects of Tutoring on PreK-12 Learning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Evidence

This paper offers an in-depth look at the efficacy of tutoring programs, both in the school setting and in out-of-school time programs, focusing on the effectiveness of four different types of tutors (teacher, paraprofessional, nonprofessional/volunteer, and parent).

  • Source: National Bureau of Economic Research
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Research
  • Year: 2023
Tips for a Positive Start to the School Year!

This infographic provides four sets of tips for a successful school year. Geared toward parents of elementary and middle school students, these whole-child supports help students show up ready to learn for the school day and out-of-school time.

  • Source: CDC
  • Resource Type: Best Practices
  • Year: 2024
Tips for a Strong Start to the School Year!

This infographic provides four sets of tips for a successful school year (or testing season). Geared toward high school students, these healthy reminders will help students to show up ready to learn for the school day and out-of-school time.

  • Source: CDC
  • Resource Type: Best Practices
  • Year: 2024
Title VIII, Part F of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Other Educational Personnel, Non-Regulatory Guidance

This guidance document only addresses equitable services to eligible private school children and educators in covered ESEA programs under Title VIII. It provides information on the requirements of ESEA section 8501 and other applicable requirements in Title VIII. Programs governed by Title VIII include certain formula grants, including Title IV, Part B - Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education
  • Resource Type: Policy/Guidance Documents
  • Year: 2023
Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Strategies for Vulnerable Students

Although this tip sheet focuses on the school day, the prevention strategies and tips about trafficking and exploitation of students are readily applicable to out-of-school time programs.

  • Source: National Center of Safe Supportive Learning Environments
  • Resource Type: Best Practices, Evidence-Based Practices
  • Year: 2024
Trauma and Trauma-Informed Schools for Students

This web page includes a searchable database of activities and practices that can support student and staff members' well-being. 

  • Source: UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Research
TRIO Home Page

This web page provides information about eight federal grant programs that may be of interest to community-based organizations that serve disadvantaged youth. These programs focus on assisting low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education
  • Resource Type: Leadership and Management Practices
  • Year: 2024
Violence Prevention: Resources for Action

This collection of evidence-based violence prevention resources is intended for anyone involved in planning, implementing, and evaluating violence prevention efforts. Topics include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, suicide, and youth violence.

  • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Resource Type: Best Practices, Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Research
  • Year: 2022
What Can Young People Teach Us About Out-of-School Time?

This three-part podcast series shares findings from a student-led study on improving out-of-school-time programs. Topics include making programs accessible, creating a sense of belonging, and welcoming and supporting youth workers.

  • Source: The Wallace Foundation
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Research
  • Year: 2023
What Do I Need to Know About Afterschool Systems?

This "key insight" web page describes the potential benefits of out-of-school time (OST) programs and the elements of quality OST programs, with links to a variety of resources for OST education and programming.

  • Source: The Wallace Foundation
  • Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Policy/Guidance Documents, Research
Sustaining Efforts to Boost Regular Student Attendance

This two-page information sheet describes selected federal education funding sources, tools, and technical assistance that can be used to combat chronic absenteeism and boost regular school-day attendance. Out-of-school time programs may find some of these resources useful to make an impact on their programming in other ways. 

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education
  • Resource Type: Policy/Guidance Documents
  • Year: 2024
Take Action Toolkit

This toolkit includes links to federal resources that support adolescent health and well-being, encourages making local connections, and provides processes and tools to help programs accomplish a "triple dividend" -- health for adolescents now, a healthy adult life, and better health for the next generation. 

  • Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Population Affairs
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies
  • Year: 2023
The Impressive Effects of Tutoring on PreK-12 Learning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Evidence

This paper offers an in-depth look at the efficacy of tutoring programs, both in the school setting and in out-of-school time programs, focusing on the effectiveness of four different types of tutors (teacher, paraprofessional, nonprofessional/volunteer, and parent).

  • Source: National Bureau of Economic Research
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Research
  • Year: 2023
Tips for a Positive Start to the School Year!

This infographic provides four sets of tips for a successful school year. Geared toward parents of elementary and middle school students, these whole-child supports help students show up ready to learn for the school day and out-of-school time.

  • Source: CDC
  • Resource Type: Best Practices
  • Year: 2024
Tips for a Strong Start to the School Year!

This infographic provides four sets of tips for a successful school year (or testing season). Geared toward high school students, these healthy reminders will help students to show up ready to learn for the school day and out-of-school time.

  • Source: CDC
  • Resource Type: Best Practices
  • Year: 2024
Title VIII, Part F of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Other Educational Personnel, Non-Regulatory Guidance

This guidance document only addresses equitable services to eligible private school children and educators in covered ESEA programs under Title VIII. It provides information on the requirements of ESEA section 8501 and other applicable requirements in Title VIII. Programs governed by Title VIII include certain formula grants, including Title IV, Part B - Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education
  • Resource Type: Policy/Guidance Documents
  • Year: 2023
Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Strategies for Vulnerable Students

Although this tip sheet focuses on the school day, the prevention strategies and tips about trafficking and exploitation of students are readily applicable to out-of-school time programs.

  • Source: National Center of Safe Supportive Learning Environments
  • Resource Type: Best Practices, Evidence-Based Practices
  • Year: 2024
Trauma and Trauma-Informed Schools for Students

This web page includes a searchable database of activities and practices that can support student and staff members' well-being. 

  • Source: UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Research
TRIO Home Page

This web page provides information about eight federal grant programs that may be of interest to community-based organizations that serve disadvantaged youth. These programs focus on assisting low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.

  • Source: U.S. Department of Education
  • Resource Type: Leadership and Management Practices
  • Year: 2024
Violence Prevention: Resources for Action

This collection of evidence-based violence prevention resources is intended for anyone involved in planning, implementing, and evaluating violence prevention efforts. Topics include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, suicide, and youth violence.

  • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Resource Type: Best Practices, Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Research
  • Year: 2022
What Can Young People Teach Us About Out-of-School Time?

This three-part podcast series shares findings from a student-led study on improving out-of-school-time programs. Topics include making programs accessible, creating a sense of belonging, and welcoming and supporting youth workers.

  • Source: The Wallace Foundation
  • Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Research
  • Year: 2023
What Do I Need to Know About Afterschool Systems?

This "key insight" web page describes the potential benefits of out-of-school time (OST) programs and the elements of quality OST programs, with links to a variety of resources for OST education and programming.

  • Source: The Wallace Foundation
  • Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Policy/Guidance Documents, Research
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This resource was developed by the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC),funded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and administered by Synergy Enterprises, Inc. underCooperativeAgreementNo. 287E230009 with the Department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Department or the federal government. The 21st CCLC NTAC project officers are Dr. Janell Wood and Ms.Andrea Jackson.