Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (Partnership Grants)
Solicitation Title: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (Partnership Grants)
Funding Amount: Estimated Total Program Funding: $24,500,000
Award Ceiling: $7,000,000
Sponsor Deadline: Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Solicitation Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=292348
Solicitation Number: ED-GRANTS-031017-001 CFDA 84.334A
Overview
<p>For partnership grantees, services must include providing financial aid information, encouraging enrollment in challenging coursework in order to reduce the need for remediation at the postsecondary level, implementing<br>activities to improve the number of students who obtain a high school diploma and complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education. GEAR UP grantees can improve college readiness by identifying at an early age students likely to be referred to remediation at the postsecondary level and by engaging in strategies to address their needs at the secondary level, limiting their need to take remedial courses in college. For these reasons, this notice includes a competitive preference priority intended to encourage applicants to propose GEAR UP projects that address remediation strategies designed to help students address deficiency gaps well<br>before they graduate and enroll in postsecondary education. In addition, to more strategically align GEAR UP grants with broader reform strategies intended to improve postsecondary access and completion, this notice includes a competitive preference priority that encourages applicants to propose activities that are supported by moderate evidence of effectiveness (as defined in this notice). The Department is particularly interested in receiving applications that include plans to provide services for students, supported by evidence, that increase the likelihood that students will complete high school and enroll in and complete a program of postsecondary education. <br>Priority 1: Projects designed to reduce the need for remedial education for secondary school students, including students with disabilities, at the postsecondary level. Priority 2: Projects designed to implement at least one strategy supported by evidence of effectiveness that meets the conditions set out in the definition of ‘‘moderate evidence of effectiveness’’ in 34 CFR 77.1(c) (and as defined in this notice). To address the priority, an applicant<br>may submit up to two studies that it believes supports the implementation of an authorized activity proposed in the application that meets the moderate evidence of effectiveness standard.</p>
Solicitation Limitations: <p>In this notice we invite applications for partnership grants only. We will invite applications for State grants in another notice. Required services under the GEAR UP Program are specified in sections 404D(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24(a)), and permissible services under the GEAR UP Program are specified in section 404D(b) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24(b)).</p> Other Information:<p>GEAR UP funds may also be used to provide a number of additional support services such as mentoring, tutoring, academic English language development, academic and career counseling, and exposure to college campuses, and provision of scholarships as specified in section 404E of the HEA. Note: GEAR UP projects begin well before participating students are ready to apply for admission to a postsecondary institution. Therefore, as they consider how to respond to this competitive preference priority, we encourage applicants to think about how their projects will determine throughout the project period what services students will need in order to reduce or eliminate their need for remedial education at the postsecondary level. The Foundation follows National Institutes of Health guidelines for salary caps and travel (including conference travel). <br>Due to having a small staff, the Foundation is typically unable to discuss individual projects prior to the submission of a Stage 1 application. Due to the high volume of proposals, the Foundation is also unable to provide customized feedback to applications after review by the Board.</p>Last Updated:
RODA ID: 222