For more than 25 years, the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant Program has helped establish or expand community learning centers that operate during out of school time (OST) hours during the academic year and summer to provide students with academic support and enrichment opportunities and provide families and caregivers of the students served with opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children’s education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development. 21st CCLC funds are awarded to all 50 States. In this session participants will learn how North Carolina utilized these funds during the summer of 2025 to partner with Book Harvest, a national children’s literacy nonprofit organization headquartered in Durham, NC to bring Books on Break to 66 partner organizations with over 100 program sites across 47 North Carolina counties.

Books on Break is an evidence-informed program designed to increase reading engagement and achievement by ensuring that students have the opportunity to select ten brand new books to read over the summer and keep – building a culture of literacy in the home. Attendees at this session will learn about the easy implementation and successful outcomes of the program and have the opportunity to select their own books to feel the magic of Books on Break.