Funding for Summer Programs

As school districts begin to plan for 2026 summer learning programs, here are a number of grants that can fund your initiative locally:

21st Century Community Learning Centers

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program was established in 2012 to provide before- or afterschool programs for K–12 children attending low-performing schools.

• Distribution: Each State Education Agency administers this program. School districts, private providers, and for-profit companies can apply for competitive grants that typically have an award length of 3 to 5 years. Grantees must serve public-school students in high-poverty schools.
• How the funds can be used: 21st Century programs can provide a wide variety of enrichment activities including academic remediation, tutoring, music, art, technology, health, counseling, and recreation.

Title I

Almost 60% of public schools receive some Title I money, providing services to about 25 million students.

• Distribution: Title I funds are distributed to school districts based primarily on census poverty estimates.
• How the funds can be used: Summer Learning falls under Title I’s mission to provide additional academic support and learning opportunities to help low-achieving children master challenging curricula and meet state standards in core academic subjects.

State Grants

States often provide competitive grants that can help fund summer school. Look for these key words to uncover grants in your state: summer programming, afterschool learning, out-of-school opportunities, tutoring, enrichment experiences, family engagement, community learning centers

Note: each state has unique eligibility requirements, allowable activities and application deadlines. Here are a few examples:

• Alabama: Each local education agency is allocated Education Trust Funds for summer reading camps, summer math camps and before/afterschool tutoring
• California: Afterschool Education and Safety (ASES) program funds expanded learning programs for elementary and junior high schools. 
• Georgia: Building Opportunities for Out-of-School-Time (BOOST) funds statewide organizations and community-based organizations operating afterschool and/or summer learning programs. 
• Illinois: The After School Programs - Non-School Districts grant prioritizes projects that serve schools with 90%+ low-income students. 
• Rhode Island: The Learn365 program funds summer learning programs in 38 communities 
• South Carolina: Districts receive state funding to hold Summer Reading Camp for rising 2nd-4th grade students needing extra literacy support.

Request more information on Savvas Programs for Summer Learning >

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