AUTHORIZATION:

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Executive Order Title IV, Part A, Subpart 2, Chapter 1, Sections 402B, 20 U.S.C 1070a-12.

OBJECTIVES:

To identify qualified disadvantaged youths with potential for postsecondary education; to encourage them in continuing in and graduating from secondary school and in enrolling in programs of postsecondary education; to publicize the availability of student financial aid; and to increase the number of secondary and postsecondary school dropouts who reenter an educational program.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are awarded to educational institutions and agencies to identify qualified disadvantaged youths with potential for postsecondary education, encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary educational training, and publicize existing forms of student aid. . Projects must provide connections to academic tutoring services, advice on and assistance in selecting secondary and college courses, assistance in preparing for college entrance exams and in completing college applications, information on student financial aid and assistance in completing financial aid applications, connections to services designed to improve financial and economic literacy, and guidance and assistance in re-entering and completing secondary school. Projects may also provide academic tutuoring personal and career counseling; information on career options, exposure to college campuses; and services specially designed for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, homeless children and youth, and students in foster care. A grantee may not use the project as a part of its recruitment program.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations, a combination of the above and, in exceptional cases, secondary schools may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Individuals residing in the target area or attending a target school who have potential for education at the postsecondary level and who can benefit from one or more of the services provided by the project. Two-thirds must be low-income individuals who are also potential first generation college students. Project participants must be between 11 and 27 years old (exceptions allowed). Required low-income criteria for participants are stated in application materials.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with the Education Department General Administrative Regulations EDGAR). OMB Circular No. A-21 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-122 applies to this progam. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure:   OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Develop a proposal in accordance with regulations, applications, and timetables issued by the Secretary of Education; no State plan is required. Requests for program applications should be made to the Federal TRIO Programs. This program is subject to the provisions of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).

Award Procedure:   OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Develop a proposal in accordance with regulations, applications, and timetables issued by the Secretary of Education; no State plan is required. Requests for program applications should be made to the Federal TRIO Programs. This program is subject to the provisions of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

About 90 to 180 days.

Appeals:   

The program statute authorizes a second review of unsuccessful applications. The Department is developing regulations to implement a second review process for unsuccessful applicants. An unsuccessful applicant requesting a second review must provide evidence that the Department, an agent of the Department, or a peer reviewer made a technical, administrative, or scoring error in the processing or review of its application.

Renewals:   

Awards are for five year project periods. Continuation awards are approved on an annual basis, subject to the availability of funds and the grantee meeting the conditions of the grant and making substantial progress toward meeting the project objectives.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Five year projects, annual awards. Continuation awards are subject to the availability of funds and evidence that the grantee is making satisfactory progress. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Grantees must submit an annual performance report. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports (form ED 524B) are required for a project in its first year of funding. Staff monitor grants drawdowns using agency financial reports. Reporting on performance measures is required as part of the submittal of the required annual performance report.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR (74.26, 75.702, 75.910, 74.61.)

Records:   In accordance with EDGAR 34 CFR 75.730, 75.731, and 75.732.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Project Grants) FY 15 $135,055,000; FY 16 est $154,995,000; and FY 17 est $149,101,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

Varies by competition. In FY 15, awards ranged from approximately $102,984 to $681,210; the average award was $299,142. The statutory minimum is $200,000, unless the applicant requests a smaller amount.

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