The Department of Education makes many funding streams available to states and districts to be used in school improvement efforts. Although these streams are typically accessed through State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs), a working knowledge of these funding streams will assist writing projects in partnering with local districts for program work. Occasionally, these funding streams might be open to higher education institutions and non-profits.
You can find links to federal grants competitions through this portal: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grants-apply.html
Note: The items on this page are likely to go out of date quickly given the magnitude of change in our federal education budgets and priorities. Please help us keep this page up-to-date by editing, deleting, and adding content!
Provides funds to ensure that children in high-poverty schools meet challenging State academic content and student achievement standards.
Provides funds for additional academic instruction designed to increase the academic achievement of students in Title I schools in the second year of Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring.
Title IIA: Teacher and Principal Training
Provides funds to increase student academic achievement through strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality and increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom.
Provides funds to improve the education of Limited English Proficient (LEP) children and youths by helping them learn English and meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards.
Federal competitive programs to consider
Competitive Grant Programs are discretionary, and are awarded based upon specific criteria. Competitive grant funds are awarded to State Education Agencies who then release a state competition to Local Education Agencies.
21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC)
Provides competitive grant funds for the creation of community learning centers that provide services, during non-school hours, to help students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.
Provides competitive grant funds to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter, and succeed in, postsecondary education.
Allows districts to use up to 15 percent of Special Education funds for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 who have not been identified as needing special education and related services, but who need additional academic and behavioral support to succeed in a general education environment.
