As a lifelong educator with over 40 years of service in North Dakota—first as an elementary teacher and principal and later as Project Director for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC)—I’ve witnessed many educational programs come and go. Few have delivered the sustained, measurable success of the CCLC program, especially in high-need, low-income districts throughout our region.
The CCLC initiative has been a cornerstone of academic and social growth in up to thirteen schools under my leadership. It provides extended learning in core subjects like reading, math, and STEM, along with critical supports in homework completion, problem-solving, and social-emotional development. According to the North Dakota 21st CCLC Evaluation 2022–2024, students in these programs consistently demonstrate improved performance on state assessments, stronger GPAs, and noticeable growth in attentiveness, motivation, behavior, and academic responsibility.
But the impact of CCLC reaches far beyond academics. In communities facing severe childcare shortages, these after-school programs offer safe, structured environments for children who would otherwise return to empty homes. Local school districts contribute significant in-kind support—snacks, transportation, staff hours, and supplies—maximizing the program’s effectiveness. Community partners offer enriching activities such as safety trainings (Police and Fire Departments), financial literacy (local banks), gardening (local nurseries), and skilled trades instruction (high school carpentry classes). These partnerships are invaluable and deeply rooted in local investment.
I want to emphasize: school districts across North Dakota depend on this funding. Each year, CCLC staff receive summer training to refine their programming and strengthen evaluation methods. In my career, this was among the most meaningful professional development I experienced, directly translating to better outcomes for students.
That’s why I am deeply concerned about President Trump’s decision to withhold federal funds from this critical initiative. It is hard to fathom how a well-documented, community-supported program—one that lifts students, families, and entire neighborhoods—could be cast aside, particularly in favor of tax benefits for the wealthiest Americans.
I urge you to rise above partisan divides and consider the real, long-term harm this decision will inflict on our children, our working families, and our communities. Please stand up for North Dakota’s students by rejecting these harmful funding cuts and fighting to fully restore support for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
Our students—and our future—deserve no less.
Julie Schuler, Sheyenne, ND
Verified by phone – LAO – July 18, 2025
