Department of Education: Talent Search Program

The Talent Search Program seeks to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with potential for education at the postsecondary level, and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. Talent Search projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education, and encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs. All projects must serve a minimum of 500 participants annually and have a per participant cost of no more than $555. There are three competitive preference priorities:

• Priority 1— Fostering Knowledge and Promoting the Development of Skills that Prepare Students to be Informed, Thoughtful, and Productive Individuals and Citizens: Projects support instruction in time management, job seeking, personal organization, public and interpersonal communication, or other practical skills needed for successful career outcomes.
• Priority 2— Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) Education, with a particular focus on Computer Science: Projects improve student achievement or other educational outcomes in science, technology, engineering, math, or computer science (as defined in this notice, see solicitation for details). These projects must increase access to STEM coursework, including computer science, and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Priority 3— Applications that Demonstrate a Rationale: Projects demonstrate a rationale, meaning that a key project component included in the project’s logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.

Amount: $171,000,000 is available to make an estimated 473 awards, ranging from $267,995-$1,030,588.
Note: For applicants not currently receiving a Talent Search Program grant, the maximum award amount is $277,375; for applicants currently receiving a Talent Search Program grant, the maximum award amount is the greater of (a) $277,375 or (b) 100 percent of the applicant’s base award amount for FY 2020.

Eligibility: Institutions of higher education; public or private agencies or organizations, including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth; secondary schools; combinations of such institutions, agencies, and organizations.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=330551

This post was filed under: