La Joya ISD Secures Up to $10 Million Texas ACE Grant to Expand Learning Beyond the School Day
La Joya, TX - For students, learning and opportunity do not have to end when the final bell rings. A new five-year investment in La Joya ISD students and families will extend both beyond the traditional school day, bringing additional academic support, enrichment, summer learning, and family engagement opportunities to 10 elementary campuses across the district.
La Joya ISD has been awarded Cycle 13 of the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) competitive grant, which funds the Texas Afterschool Centers on Education (Texas ACE) Program. The district has been awarded $2 million annually for five years, representing a potential investment of $10 million over the life of the grant.
Through Cycle 13, La Joya ISD will establish Texas ACE centers at 10 campuses:
Guillermo Flores Elementary
Elioda R. Chapa Elementary
N. G. Cavazos Elementary
Tabasco Elementary
Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary
Sam Fordyce Elementary
Juan N. Seguin Elementary
William J. Clinton Elementary
Evangelina Garza Elementary
Dr. Palmira Mendiola Elementary
All 10 centers are expected to begin serving students on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
“This grant represents an incredible opportunity to make a long-term investment in our students and families,” said Annette Lozano, Executive Director of Student, Family, and Community Engagement & Support for La Joya ISD. “Over the next five years, Texas ACE will allow us to provide safe, structured environments where students can receive additional academic support, discover new interests, build confidence, and develop skills that will benefit them well beyond the classroom.”
Funded through Title IV, Part B of the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant and administered by the Texas Education Agency, Texas ACE provides no-cost afterschool and summer programming designed to help students thrive both in and outside of the classroom.
At La Joya ISD, Cycle 13 programming will place a strong emphasis on ensuring afterschool learning is closely connected to what students are learning during the regular instructional day. Texas ACE Site Coordinators will collaborate with campus principals, teachers, counselors, and other staff to identify students who can benefit most from additional academic support and enrichment opportunities.
“Some of the most powerful learning happens when students are given the opportunity to explore, create, collaborate, and discover what excites them,” said Janeth Leal, La Joya ISD Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) Director. “Our goal is to make sure the additional time students spend with us is meaningful and connected to their needs. Whether a student is strengthening a skill through tutoring, exploring STEAM, discovering a new talent, or developing as a leader, every opportunity is designed with their growth and success in mind.”
The program is also designed with families in mind. Participating campuses will provide family engagement workshops and educational activities intended to strengthen the connection between home and school and give families additional tools to support student success.
For La Joya ISD, the Cycle 13 award represents more than additional programming. It represents a five-year commitment to creating safe, structured spaces where students can continue learning after the bell rings, explore their interests, receive targeted support, and build skills for their futures - all while ensuring families remain connected and engaged throughout the process.