AUTHORIZATION:

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Executive Order Subpart 2, Title IV, Part A, Section 402C, 20 U.S.C 1070a-13.

OBJECTIVES:

To generate skills and motivation necessary for success in education beyond high school among low-income and potential first-generation college students and veterans. The goal of the program is to increase the academic performance and motivational levels of eligible enrollees so that such persons may complete secondary school and successfully pursue and complete a postsecondary educational programs.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are awarded to eligible grantees to provide academic instructional programs, personal and academic counseling, career guidance and special instruction to prepare project participants for careers in which persons from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly underrepresented, tutoring, and exposure to cultural events and academic programs not usually available to disadvantaged youths.

Projects must provide 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, services designed to improve financial and economic literacy, and guidance and assistance in re-entering and completing secondary school, Projects may also provide academic tutoring; personal and career counseling; information on career options; summer college campus residential programs; services specially designed for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, homeless children and youth, and students in foster care; and to pay stipends to students, not to exceed $40 a month during the academic year and $60 a month during the summer. A grantee may not use the project as part of its recruitment program. Separate projects provide special services for veterans and for students with a special interest in math and science.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Institutions of higher education, public or private not-for-profit agencies, a combination of the above, and in exceptional cases, secondary schools may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Low-income individuals and potential first generation college students who have a need for academic support in order to successfully pursue a program of postsecondary education. Two-thirds of the participants must be low-income individuals who are also potential first generation college students. The remaining participants must be either low-income individuals or potential first generation college students. Required low-income criteria are stated in application materials. Except for veterans, who can be served regardless of age, project participants must be between 13 and 19 years old and have completed the eighth grade but have not entered the twelfth grade (exceptions allowed).

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 program. 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, application 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, College and University Preparation and Support Team. This program is subject to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).

Award Procedure:   Selected nonfederal field readers who are not employees of the Federal Government evaluate new proposals on the basis of the selection criteria specified in 34 CFR 645.31 and 34 CFR 645.32. Grantees will be selected on the basis of rank order of total scores and availability of funds.

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

From 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:   

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.

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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. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Contact the program office for the information.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Five year projects; annual awards. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Contact the program office for the information.

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 75.702, 74.61.

Records:   In accordance with (EDGAR) 34 CFR 75.730, 75.731, and 75.732 and 34 CFR 645 43(c).

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Project Grants) FY 15 $320,010,000; FY 16 est $341,100,000; and FY 17 est $331,404,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

Varies by competiton. In FY 2015, the smallest award was $167,460 and the largest award was $746,235. The average award was $324,001.

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