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.
Use the filters to narrow your search
External Resource Library
Search Results
This webpage describes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach in out-of-school time (OST) and includes links to numerous resources OST programs can use to support healthy behaviors.
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies
This information sheet can be used by out-of-school time programs to help city leaders understand ways they could support local afterschool programs and potential benefits for students, families, and the community. Note: You must register to access this resource, but it's free.
- Source: National League of Cities (NLC)
- Resource Type: Best Practices, Evidence-Based Practices, Leadership and Management Practices
- Year: 2023
See above for our Featured External Resource in this focus area.
- Source: Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Research
This framework can be used to help communicate to students and families about the benefits of attending summer programs (e.g., to build routines, increase engagement, provide access to resources, and support learning).
- Source: Attendance Works
- Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Research
- Year: 2022
This toolkit includes a readiness assessment and automatic reporting so that out-of-school time programs can use their own data to develop their readiness to implement a program or practice. It also includes a readiness resource library.
- Source: American Institutes for Research
- Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Research
- Year: 2023
This recorded webinar discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in rural afterschool and summer learning programs.
- Source: Temescal Associates, How Kids Learn Foundation
- Resource Type: Best Practices
- Year: 2023
This two-page document describes and links to Department programs that provide funding opportunities, technical assistance, and other resources tailored to the rural context.
- Source: U.S. Department of Education
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Research
- Year: 2023
SAMHSA’s national youth substance use prevention campaign helps parents, caregivers, educators, and community members get informed, be prepared, and take action to prevent underage drinking and other substance use. Out-of-school time programs can use the campaign's short videos, fact sheets, brochures, and podcasts to inform their own efforts and to share with families.
- Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies, Research
Out-of-school time programs can use these short videos and discussion guides during a family, partner, or community event to demonstrate situations where parents and caregivers, program staff, volunteers, and other adult role models could have a conversation about alcohol with children and adolescents.
- Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies
- Year: 2026
These toolkits from SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You."® campaign include everything needed to plan, prepare, and host a session that informs parents and caregivers about underage drinking and drug use — and prepares them to talk with their children about these issues. Out-of-school time programs and community partners can use these materials to facilitate a session, either virtually or in person.
- Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies
- Year: 2026
This comprehensive site visit checklist can help sites prepare for, implement, and follow up on site visits from stakeholders.
- Source: Sperling Center for Research and Innovation
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Leadership and Management Practices
- Year: 2021
This fact sheet summarizes findings from the America After 3PM national survey about access to afterschool and summer programming in rural communities.
- Source: Afterschool Alliance
- Resource Type: Leadership and Management Practices, Research
- Year: 2021
Search Results
This webpage describes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach in out-of-school time (OST) and includes links to numerous resources OST programs can use to support healthy behaviors.
- Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies
This information sheet can be used by out-of-school time programs to help city leaders understand ways they could support local afterschool programs and potential benefits for students, families, and the community. Note: You must register to access this resource, but it's free.
- Source: National League of Cities (NLC)
- Resource Type: Best Practices, Evidence-Based Practices, Leadership and Management Practices
- Year: 2023
See above for our Featured External Resource in this focus area.
- Source: Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Research
This framework can be used to help communicate to students and families about the benefits of attending summer programs (e.g., to build routines, increase engagement, provide access to resources, and support learning).
- Source: Attendance Works
- Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Research
- Year: 2022
This toolkit includes a readiness assessment and automatic reporting so that out-of-school time programs can use their own data to develop their readiness to implement a program or practice. It also includes a readiness resource library.
- Source: American Institutes for Research
- Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Leadership and Management Practices, Research
- Year: 2023
This recorded webinar discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in rural afterschool and summer learning programs.
- Source: Temescal Associates, How Kids Learn Foundation
- Resource Type: Best Practices
- Year: 2023
This two-page document describes and links to Department programs that provide funding opportunities, technical assistance, and other resources tailored to the rural context.
- Source: U.S. Department of Education
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Innovation and Best Practices, Research
- Year: 2023
SAMHSA’s national youth substance use prevention campaign helps parents, caregivers, educators, and community members get informed, be prepared, and take action to prevent underage drinking and other substance use. Out-of-school time programs can use the campaign's short videos, fact sheets, brochures, and podcasts to inform their own efforts and to share with families.
- Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Resource Type: Evidence-Based Practices, Implementation Strategies, Research
Out-of-school time programs can use these short videos and discussion guides during a family, partner, or community event to demonstrate situations where parents and caregivers, program staff, volunteers, and other adult role models could have a conversation about alcohol with children and adolescents.
- Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies
- Year: 2026
These toolkits from SAMHSA's "Talk. They Hear You."® campaign include everything needed to plan, prepare, and host a session that informs parents and caregivers about underage drinking and drug use — and prepares them to talk with their children about these issues. Out-of-school time programs and community partners can use these materials to facilitate a session, either virtually or in person.
- Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies
- Year: 2026
This comprehensive site visit checklist can help sites prepare for, implement, and follow up on site visits from stakeholders.
- Source: Sperling Center for Research and Innovation
- Resource Type: Implementation Strategies, Leadership and Management Practices
- Year: 2021
This fact sheet summarizes findings from the America After 3PM national survey about access to afterschool and summer programming in rural communities.
- Source: Afterschool Alliance
- Resource Type: Leadership and Management Practices, Research
- Year: 2021
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. under Cooperative Agreement No. 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. La' Shawndra Scroggins and Ms. Andrea Jackson.
