The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded Ascend Leadership Academy, a nonprofit education organization in Sanford, North Carolina, $105,119 under the Impact Aid Program, Title VII, Section 7003 on October 1, 2025. The award provides financial assistance to support educational operations in school districts affected by federal activities that reduce local tax revenue. Ascend Leadership Academy operates in rural and underserved communities where the presence of federally connected children—including those living on federal property or with parents employed on federal property or on active duty in the uniformed services—creates financial burden on local educational agencies. The Section 7003 program provides assistance to districts where at least three percent or 400 of the total eligible federally connected children in average daily attendance live on or are connected to federal property. The award runs through September 30, 2031, with performance occurring in Sanford, North Carolina. Ascend Leadership Academy holds multiple Impact Aid grants under Section 7003 spanning fiscal years 2021 through 2031 and has previously received formula grants under the Small, Rural School Achievement Program. The organization serves as a subgrantee partner with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Department of Health & Human Services on pandemic response initiatives.