The mission of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is to advance school success for every student by providing leadership, support, and accountability. While not explicitly stated in the given text, MSDE's overarching goals typically include improving educational standards and outcomes across the state, which can be inferred to extend to the administration of grants such as the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center program.
The Maryland Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant program aims to support local education agencies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, community and faith-based organizations, higher education institutions, and for-profit corporations in providing out-of-school activities. These activities are designed to offer academic enrichment opportunities that help students meet state and local academic standards in core subjects like language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The program specifically targets students from low-performing schools. Additionally, it offers a wide range of services and activities beyond academic enrichment, including youth development, substance abuse prevention, counseling, and family literacy instruction, aiming to complement and reinforce students' regular academic programs.