Data story, map highlight how out-of-school time opportunities boost student success across Wisconsin
MADISON —The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has launched a new interactive resource that highlights the significant impact of community learning centers across the state. The tool illustrates how these programs support student success beyond the classroom — especially in high poverty areas.
Partially funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Program, 168 sites across Wisconsin offer critical academic enrichment and wraparound services during out-of-school hours, including before and after school, weekends, and school breaks. These programs address students’ academic, social, emotional, creative, and curiosity needs. The competitive grant program, administered by the DPI, awarded more than $19 million in funding to support sites around the state in 2024-25, serving both public and private school students.
“We continue to see academic and social benefits provided by out-of-school time programs,” said State Superintendent Jill Underly. “Community learning sites are an example of the positive impact that collaboration between families, schools, and community organizations can have on the care and development of kids. This program works, and the proof is there. We should be building on these successes, not cutting them.”
The most recent Wisconsin Statewide CCLC Report finds that 62 percent of students improved school-day attendance, 50 percent of middle and high school students raised their GPA, and 63 percent of participants showed increases in classroom engagement. Since the program’s inception in 2002, Wisconsin’s 21st CCLC initiative has served nearly 600,000 students, including 20,000 during the 2024-25 school year.
The new resource comes as President Donald Trump recently proposed eliminating the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Program — the only federal funding stream solely dedicated to afterschool and summer learning opportunities. The DPI’s new interactive map and data story demonstrate the vital role these programs play in student development and community well-being throughout Wisconsin.
For more information on the importance of federal funding to Wisconsin’s K-12 education system, including additional interactive maps, resources, and real-time updates, visit the DPI’s Tracking Federal Funding webpage.
