Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools
Active
- Assistance listing
- 12.556
- Agency
-
DOD Education Activity
Department of Defense
- Grant awards
- 657 $919,330,830 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Educational Partnership Grant Program.
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 97-0100-0-6-000
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) funds local education agencies serving military-connected students under Assistance Listing 12.556, and its most recent recorded award is dated July 30, 2026. Activity is current but uneven: awards numbered 45 in 2022, 54 in 2023, and 55 in 2024, dropped to 8 in 2025, and reached 14 in 2026. The portfolio totals 657 awards since June 10, 2010, so the figures above reflect the recent years rather than the full history. Recent awards fund facility modernization, including a July 2026 batch titled "Modernizing Military-Connected School Facilities" with amounts of $60.2 million and $36.0 million on July 2, 2026, and $8.5 million on July 27, 2026. Other recent awards fund World Language Advancement and Readiness Program projects (September 30, 2025 awards of $500,000 to $4.0 million) and Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP) projects (September 30, 2024 awards, mostly $500,000 to $2.0 million). The source does not name recipients for these awards.
The portfolio is predominantly Project Grants (613 awards, 93%), with Block Grants (41 awards, 6%) and a small number of Formula Grants and one Cooperative Agreement. Two federal agencies fund the program. DoDEA accounts for 378 awards and $543.9 million in federal dollars obligated, and the Department of Defense accounts for 279 awards and $375.4 million. Combined federal dollars obligated total $919.3 million, or $1.06 billion including non-federal share.
Eligibility requires that awards go to local education agencies on behalf of eligible schools, and each eligible school must have 10 percent or greater military dependent student enrollment. Applications are accepted only through Grants.gov, with Standard Forms 424 and 424A. Funding decisions weigh applicant risk, peer-reviewer scores, and the availability of federal funds. Peer review uses five criteria, in weighted order: implementation plan, evaluation plan, needs assessment, goals and outcomes, and budget and sustainability. Awards are governed by 2 CFR 200 and the DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations.
No grant opportunity is open in the source. The most recent solicitation, HE125426R5001 (Military-Connected Schools Construction, Modernization and Facilities Maintenance Program), was posted April 19, 2026, offered $100 million under 10 U.S.C. 2008 for school facility construction and renovation, and was due May 22, 2026. The World Language Advancement and Readiness Program solicitation, HE125426R5000, was posted March 23, 2026, offered grants of $500,000 to $2.0 million with performance from September 30, 2026 through May 31, 2031, and was due April 24, 2026. Both deadlines have passed, and eligibility for both is limited to independent school districts.
Objective and description
- Objective
The DoDEA Educational Partnership Grant Program provide resources for local education agencies [LEAs] to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of the highly mobile military-connected students in their community. The Grant Program specifically
- Description
The DoDEA Educational Partnership Grant Program provide resources for local education agencies [LEAs] to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of the highly mobile military-connected students in their community.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Awards are be made to local educational agencies (LEAs) on behalf of their eligible school(s). To qualify all participating schools must have a 10 percent or greater military dependent student enrollment. School districts apply on behalf of eligible schools.
- Beneficiary eligibility
K-12 students are the primary beneficiaries, although the grants may also fund teacher professional development.
- Credentials and documentation
Awards are subject to the requirements in the notices of funding opportunity posted on grants.gov, including submission of certifications and representations and having a current registration in the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov).
- Uses of assistance
Projects use nationally recognized, research-based best practices to enhance student achievement primarily in academic areas. Projects should address identified needs at the target school(s). Projects must have an evaluation plan that uses multiple sources to measure both the fidelity and the results of implementation, especially as they contribute to improving the student achievement of military students at the target schools. The definition of military student is specified in the Federal Register announcement.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Grant award cycles are up to 5 years.
How to apply
- Application procedure
Applicants must complete Standard Forms 424,424A, and applicable certifications and representations (e.g., Lobbying) as indicated on Grants.gov. Applications are only accepted through Grants.gov submissions.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The selection of proposals are based on five criteria. They were weighted in the following order: implementation plan, evaluation plan, needs assessment, goals/outcomes, and budget/sustainabilty. Additionally, the funding decisions are based on the following specific criteria: Evaluation of risks posed by applicant to include history of performance and ability to effectively implement requirements; Application scores, as determined by peer reviewers; and the availability of Federal funds.
- Award procedure
1. Grants.gov will announce a notice of funding opportunity for this program and provide application instructions. 2. LEAs will apply directly to Grants.gov for opportunity. 3. LEAs apply by submitting required package paperwork through Grants.gov funding opportunity link. 4. Applications are peer reviewed using the evaluation criteria listed in the notice, with DoDEA making the final award selections.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Funding decisions are based on the following specific criteria: • Evaluation of risks posed by applicant to include history of performance and ability to effectively implement requirements. • Application scores, as determined by peer reviewers. • Availability of Federal funds.
- Appeals
Appeals may be made to the DoDEA Grant Program Manager.
Grant opportunities
Show all 12
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 657 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Math And Science Initiative, Inc. | $60,199,263 | 7% |
| 2 | Hawaii State Department Of Education | $34,565,111 | 4% |
| 3 | Knob Noster School District R 8 | $29,574,548 | 3% |
| 4 | York County School Division | $27,273,350 | 3% |
| 5 | San Diego Unified School District | $19,220,422 | 2% |
| 6 | Geary County Unified School District #475 | $19,027,978 | 2% |
| 7 | Escambia County School Board | $18,935,059 | 2% |
| 8 | Fairfax County Public Schools | $16,863,952 | 2% |
| 9 | Wichita Falls ISD | $16,800,000 | 2% |
| 10 | Madison City Schools | $16,539,920 | 2% |
10 of 177 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $96,176,558 |
| FY2025 | $11,925,572 |
| FY2024 | $70,907,247 |
| FY2023 | $73,179,351 |
| FY2022 | $63,067,590 |
| FY2021 | $46,266,026 |
| FY2020 | $20,652,430 |
| FY2019 | $23,145,773 |
| FY2018 | $38,672,289 |
| FY2017 | $44,876,000 |
| FY2016 | $82,367,747 |
| FY2015 | $65,909,051 |
| FY2014 | $27,834,024 |
| FY2013 | $59,989,654 |
| FY2012 | $64,329,348 |
| FY2011 | $78,376,778 |
| FY2010 | $22,639,990 |
Show all 17
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 12.556?
Assistance Listing 12.556 is Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools, a federal grant program run by DOD Education Activity (Department of Defense).
What is the CFDA number for Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools?
Its CFDA number is 12.556: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 12.556 awarded?
657 grant awards under 12.556 have obligated $919,330,830 in federal funds to 177 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 12.556?
The recipients obligated the most under Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools are National Math And Science Initiative, Inc. ($60,199,263), Hawaii State Department Of Education ($34,565,111) and Knob Noster School District R 8 ($29,574,548).
How much did 12.556 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 12.556 obligated $11,925,572 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 12.556?
No opportunity listed under 12.556 is open now. The latest, Military-Connected Schools Construction, Modernization and Facilities Maintenance Program, was posted on April 19, 2026.
On GovTribe
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