Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Effective Educator Development Programs: American History and Civics Education National Activities (AHC-NA) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.422B | ED GRANTS 042823 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 042823 002

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) is offering a discretionary grant competition under the Effective Educator Development Programs umbrella called the American History and Civics Education National Activities (AHC-NA) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.422B (Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 042823 002). The program is run by the U.S. Department of Education and is intended to support national-level activities that strengthen teaching and learning in American history, civics and government, and geography. The central aim is to advance new or existing evidence-based strategies that improve instruction, student learning approaches, and professional development for educators, with an emphasis on efforts that benefit students from low-income backgrounds and other underserved populations.

In practical terms, this opportunity is about improving educator capacity and classroom practice by backing projects that can show credible evidence behind their approach, or that build strong evidence as they scale. Funded work may focus on innovative instructional models, high-quality professional development for teachers and school leaders, and tools or learning strategies that make history and civics education more effective and more accessible. The notice stresses that the Department is especially interested in strategies and activities that reach communities that have historically had fewer resources and fewer opportunities.

Eligibility is fairly broad for an education-focused discretionary grant. Applicants may include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, along with other entities as allowed under the full notice (the listing indicates there is additional eligibility clarification in the official application notice). This mix signals that the Department is open to proposals from universities, research and development organizations, civic education groups, curriculum and professional learning providers, and other organizations capable of delivering national-activity-style projects.

Key timeline details are included in the announcement. Applications were made available on April 14, 2023. OESE planned to hold pre-application informational webinars about two weeks after publication of the Federal Register notice, with details posted on OESEs National Activities grant webpage. While not required, the Department strongly encouraged applicants to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by May 30, 2023, via email to the program contact, because it helps the Department plan a more efficient review process. The deadline for transmittal of applications was July 12, 2023, and the deadline for intergovernmental review was September 11, 2023.

On funding size and scale, the posted award ceiling is $1,000,000, and the Department expected to make about 30 awards. Because this is a discretionary grant competition, final award amounts, project scopes, and the number of funded projects depend on the quality of applications and available appropriations. Applicants are directed to the official Federal Register application notice for the authoritative requirements, including specific eligibility details, competitive priorities, application formatting and submission rules, performance measures, and contact and submission instructions. The notice also points applicants to the Departments Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022), which typically governs core submission procedures and standard administrative expectations.

For questions, the listed federal contact for this competition is Orman Feres at the U.S. Department of Education (400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5960), reachable at 202-453-6921 or Orman.Feres@ed.gov. The announcement repeatedly emphasizes that the summary is only a synopsis and that applicants should rely on the Federal Register version for complete and controlling guidance, including any required pre-application steps, mandatory forms, selection criteria, and program priorities.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Effective Educator Development Programs: American History and Civics Education National Activities (AHC-NA) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.422B" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.422.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 28, 2023 Applications Available April 14, 2023. Pre-Application Webinars The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education intends to conduct informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants for grants under the AHC-NA program. These informational webinars will occur approximately 2 weeks after this notice is published in the Federal Register, with information available at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/effective-educator-development-programs/national-activities-grant/. Note For potential grantees new or unfamiliar with grantmaking at the Department, please consult the resources on the Department#8217s Grants webpage www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/about/discretionary/index.html. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply May 30, 2023. Notice of Intent to Apply The Department will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a better understanding of the number of entities that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department of its intent to submit an application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line #8220Intent to Apply,#8221 and include the applicant#8217s name and a contact person#8217s name and email address. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications July 12, 2023. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review September 11, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Orman Feres, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5960. Telephone 202-453-6921. Email Orman.Feres@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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