Administration Announces Availability of Several New Grants

The Department of Education issued notices inviting applications for several new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021.  These include grant opportunities in the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) program, the Predominantly Black Institution Competitive (PBI–C) Grant program, the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), and the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP).

Discretionary grants in the AANAPISI program will be awarded for five-year Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. The total amount to be awarded is $4,638,703, with a maximum grant amount of $300,000. Applications are due June 28, 2021.  The program has two competitive preference priorities and one invitational priority: 

• Competitive Preference Priority #1: Fostering Flexible and Affordable Paths to Obtaining Knowledge and Skills (up to 5 points).
• Competitive Preference Priority #2: Applications from New Potential Grantees (3 points). 
• Invitational Priority: Addressing the Impact of COVID–19 on Students’ Mental Health and Academic Outcomes through Student Support Services.

A total of $14,115,000 will be awarded in discretionary grants in the PBI-C program to eligible institutions with a maximum award of $600,000. Applications are due June 28, 2021. The program contains one absolute priority, one competitive preference priority, and one invitational priority:

• Absolute Priority: Improving Educational Outcomes of African American Males. 
• Competitive Preference Priority: Building Capacity for Remote Learning (Up to 4 Points).
• Invitational Priority: Addressing the Impact of COVID–19 on Black or African American Students and Supporting Student Retention and Reengagement.

SIP program discretionary grants will be awarded for five-year Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. The total amount to be awarded is $17,182,981, with a maximum grant amount of $450,000. Applications are due July 13, 2021. The SIP program contains the two competitive preference priorities:

• Tutoring, Counseling, and Student Service Programs (up to 5 points).
• Fostering Flexible and Affordable Paths to Obtaining Knowledge and Skills (up to 3 points).

Eligible entities can apply for Institutional Project Grants, Special Project Grants, or Cooperative Project Grants in the MSEIP program. A total amount of $3,021,891 will be available overall and each three-year discretionary grant can be no larger than $250,000 (Institutional Project and Special Project Grants) or $300,000 (Cooperative Project Grants). Applications are due July 6, 2021. This program has one competitive preference priority:

• Building Capacity for Remote Learning (3 points)