Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools
Active
- Assistance listing
- 12.556
- Agency
-
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 awards Project Grants under CFDA 12.556 to support academic, social, and emotional programming for military-connected students in eligible school districts, with the most recent grant award dated July 30, 2026.
The program funds three primary activity streams: modernizing and upgrading school facilities to improve health, safety, accessibility, and learning conditions for military-connected students; establishing, improving, or expanding world language programs targeting elementary and secondary enrollment; and implementing academic and support programs addressing the needs of highly mobile military-connected populations. Recent awards for facility modernization have ranged from approximately $560 thousand to $60.2 million, while world language and academic support grants typically range from $500 thousand to $2 million. Recipients include independent school districts serving schools with 10 percent or greater military-dependent enrollment.
The program distributes $919.3 million in federal dollars across 657 awards since 2010. Department of Defense Education Activity has awarded 378 grants totaling $543.9 million, while the Department of Defense proper has awarded 279 grants totaling $375.4 million. The assistance mix is predominantly Project Grants (613 awards, 93 percent), with a smaller share of Block Grants (41 awards, 6 percent). Award volume has remained steady at 45–55 grants annually through 2024, though 2025 and 2026 show lower counts reflecting potential funding timing shifts.
Recent awards include facility modernization projects granted on July 30, 2026, ranging from $2 million to $60.2 million across multiple recipients. World Language Advancement and Readiness Program grants awarded in September 2025 totaled $12.5 million across six recipients, with individual awards of $500 thousand to $4 million. Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs awards in September 2024 ranged from $500 thousand to $2 million across numerous recipients.
Two grant opportunities were recently open. Solicitation HE125426R5001 (Military-Connected Schools Construction, Modernization and Facilities Maintenance Program) closed May 22, 2026, with $100 million available for facility projects. Solicitation HE125426R5000 (World Language Advancement and Readiness Program) closed April 24, 2026, offering grants of $500 thousand to $2 million for programs beginning September 30, 2026, through May 31, 2031.
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 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
See this program's full record
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