U.S. Department of Education Invests Nearly $96 Million to Ensure All Students Have Same Opportunities to Learn, Achieve and Succeed

OCTOBER 2, 2014

VIA:U.S. Department of education 

Contact:   Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

The U.S. Department of Education announced today nearly $96 million in grants to ensure every student—regardless of wealth, zip code, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or disability—has the same opportunities to learn and achieve.

These grants focus on closing equity and opportunity gaps for minority students attending colleges and universities across the country. Education is the engine of opportunity and the great equalizer for every student because it provides the clearest path to the middle class. That's why the Obama Administration has worked to ensure that there are ladders of opportunity for all students through a variety of programs, such as the Excellent Educators for All initiative and the President's My Brother's Keeper initiative.

"Ensuring that every student—from the wealthiest to the poorest and historically underserved—has access to a high-quality education is what our work is all about," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "We aren't just talking the talk; we are awarding millions of dollars in grants to help institutions better serve minority students through various programs and services."

The grants awarded by the Department are:

• Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program ($20,141,221)
• Strengthening Institutions Program ($22,998,921)
• The Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Program ($16,360,038)
• Native Hawaiian Education Program ($10,054,780)
• Alaska Native Education Equity Program ($12,662,376)
• Promoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program ($10,625,456)
• Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program ($3,039,006)

The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program provides grants to assist institutions of higher education (IHEs) in expanding educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. These grants enable these institutions to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality and institutional stability.

The Strengthening Institutions Programs award funding to help eligible IHEs become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of eligible institutions.

The Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions program awards two-year grants to IHEs serving Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. The grants can be used for a wide range of activities such as faculty development and exchanges, curriculum development, counseling services, and the purchase or upgrading of library materials or laboratory equipment. To be eligible for grants through this program, an institution must have an undergraduate enrollment of at least 20 percent Alaska Native or 10 percent Native Hawaiian students.

The Native Hawaiian Education Program awards grants to support innovative projects that enhance the educational services provided to Native Hawaiians and to supplement and expand programs and authorities in the area of education. Types of projects supported by this program include early education and care programs, family-based education centers, beginning reading and literacy programs, activities to address the needs of gifted and talented native Hawaiian students, special education programs, professional development for educators, and activities to enable native Hawaiian students to enter and complete postsecondary education.

The Alaska Native Education Equity Program supports efforts to meet the unique educational needs of Alaska Natives by awarding competitive grants for innovative projects addressing the distinct educational needs of this student population. Along with educational institutions, eligible recipients include Alaska Native organizations and cultural and community-based groups.

The Promoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program provides grants to expand post-baccalaureate educational opportunities for, and improve the academic attainment of, Hispanic students. The program also provides funding to expand post-baccalaureate academic offerings, as well as enhance the quality of academic programs in IHEs that are educating and helping large numbers of Hispanic and low-income students complete postsecondary degrees.

The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program helps colleges and universities assists predominantly minority institutions in effecting long-range improvement in science and engineering education programs, and increasing the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into science and engineering careers. The program also supports special projects designed to provide or improve support to accredited nonprofit colleges, universities and professional scientific organizations for a broad range of activities that address specific barriers that eliminate or reduce the entry of minorities into science and technology fields.

For breakdown of allocated funds, follow this link.