21st Century Community Learning Centers Quality and Technical Assistance Project

Strengthening out-of-school time programs through statewide quality improvement and capacity building

Client

Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dates

September 2025 - August 2027

Problem

Washington’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers needed a coordinated system to improve program quality and build durable local capacity.

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) oversees the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, which provides academic enrichment and youth development opportunities outside of regular school hours. With over 100 sites serving students across diverse regions—including high-poverty, low-performing, and tribal-serving schools—OSPI identified a need for a more cohesive and sustainable system to support grantees. The challenge was to ensure fidelity to the Quality Improvement System (QIS), strengthen professional development, and build local capacity to meet student needs and improve outcomes. OSPI sought a partner to help implement a statewide infrastructure that would align with federal guidelines, support continuous improvement, and reflect the unique contexts of Washington’s communities.

Solution

NORC developed and implemented a statewide technical assistance system grounded in data, equity, and local expertise.

NORC at the University of Chicago, in partnership with Washington-based consultants, designed and launched a comprehensive technical assistance system to support OSPI’s 21st CCLC grantees. The dual structure combined NORC’s national expertise in evaluation and systems development with local leadership and coaching capacity. The team provided regional coaching, customized professional development, and leadership training aligned with OSPI’s QIS framework. NORC also developed a centralized accountability dashboard, integrated dashboard for professional learning tracking, and facilitated a statewide Advisory Council to ensure grantee voice and responsiveness. Trainings included quality assessment, planning with Data, and a new Leadership Practice Series tailored to Washington’s OST workforce. The system emphasized sustainability, equity, and continuous improvement, helping grantees move from compliance to shared stewardship of program quality.

Result

NORC aims to provide OSPI with the capacity to monitor 21st CCLC implementation fidelity, address emerging challenges, and guide innovation in real-time.

Through the strategic use of performance data, dynamic reporting systems, and targeted coaching, NORC aims to provide OSPI with the capacity to monitor 21st CCLC implementation fidelity, address emerging challenges, and guide innovation in real-time. This integrated approach fosters trust, strengthens statewide consistency, and ensures that Washington’s 21st CCLC programs remain responsive, high-performing, and sustainable long after the current contract ends.