PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHEAST OHIO

A student at Joseph Gallagher School receives academic support at the Boys and Girls Club at the school. The after-school program is made possible through a federally funded 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Initiative.

Youth attending the federally funded Boys & Girls Clubs at Joseph M. Gallagher Middle School on the Near West Side of Cleveland improved their reading and math scores during the 2024-2025 school year and showed high attendance, according to independent evaluations.

   The Club, funded by the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center initiative, also received high marks from parents for educational support and staff communication, the reports said.

   Ten percent of Joseph Gallagher Club members who were considered “off track” during fall reading evaluations were considered “on track” by spring. Notably, 75% of eighth grade students in the 21^st Century program tested proficient or better on their Spring 2025 math evaluations.

   Dr. Karen H. Larwin, an external evaluator who studied the Club, said the program “provided structured academic support and enrichment that aligned with program performance objectives, even though several targets were not fully met.”

   The 21^st Century Community Learning Center programs academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. Future funding for the program is uncertain, as it is not included in the proposed federal 2026 budget.

   “We continue to see positive academic results from the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program throughout Northeast Ohio, and it is our hope we will be able to count on this funding to help our youth and their families,” Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio (BGCNEO) Chief Executive Officer Allen Smith said.

   21^st Century grants run for five years. New applications are not being accepted.

   Fifteen BGCNEO sites in six counties were funded under this program during the 2024-2025 school year. For Clubs in Sheffield Lake and Barberton, it was the final year for this funding.

   BGCNEO provides safe, fun places for youth ages 6-18 to go after school with a focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, leadership and life and workforce readiness. There is no charge to join a Club. BGCNEO currently operates 30 Clubs in six Northeast Ohio counties.