Lincoln-area organizations that provide school programming before and after school and during the summer are receiving nearly $275,000 in state grants.
The Nebraska Department of Education on Tuesday announced more than $700,000 worth of Expanded Learning Opportunity Grants, which are funded with Nebraska Lottery Proceeds. The two-year grants are focused on promoting academic achievement in high-need schools during out-of-school time. Applicants for the grants are required to have a one-to-one funding match.
To be eligible for the grants, a site must partner with or operate after-school programs funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center federal grant and have been in operation for at least five years.
Lincoln Community Learning Centers, partnering with the Lincoln Community Foundation, received the biggest grant: $158,000 to expand programming at 29 schools.
Partnership for a Health Lincoln received $80,000 to serve 11 school sites, and the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, which is located in Denton, received a $26,000 grant to serve two elementary and two middle school sites.
Great Plains Gaming Project, which is based in Lincoln, received a $10,000 grant to serve 15 sites in Crete, Lincoln and Kearney.
Top Journal Star photos for November 2024
Iris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Lincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Covered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes.
KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
Norris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Superior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Reflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Omaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Hasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard of Vitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Southwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Millard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Second graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Norris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Katie Goeling (left) fills out her ballot while her son Gunner, 4, holds her hand during Election Day on Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Malcolm.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Abigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) during the first half of the game on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12."
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Cadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
UCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
After the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to .
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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