Student support and academic enrichment grants

Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants Award Summary

The Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded the Arkansas Department of Education $12.79 million through the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants program (CFDA 84.424) as a formula grant effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This program funds comprehensive educational services designed to increase the capacity of state and local educational agencies to (1) provide all students access to well-rounded education; (2) improve school conditions for student learning; and (3) improve technology use to enhance academic achievement and digital literacy. The award supports implementation of these objectives through academic enrichment programs, professional development for educators, school safety initiatives, mental health support services, and technology infrastructure upgrades across Arkansas's K-12 educational system.

As the state education agency, the Arkansas Department of Education distributed these funds through 97 sub-awards to local educational agencies, charter schools, and educational organizations throughout Arkansas, including school districts in Horatio, Hope, Hermitage, Imboden, Helena-West Helena, Hector, Huntsville, Heber Springs, Harrisburg, Hot Springs, Harrison, Harmony Grove, Hillcrest, Greenland, and numerous others, as well as specialized educational entities such as the Institute for the Creative Arts and Exalt Academy. Sub-grantees utilized SSAE funding to deliver well-rounded educational opportunities, enhance instructional materials, support professional development, implement tutoring and enrichment programs, improve educational technology, engage parents, and strengthen overall school conditions—directly supporting student academic achievement and digital literacy development across diverse student populations in rural, urban, and charter school settings statewide.