Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services (also known as Equity Assistance Centers)
Active
- Assistance listing
- 84.004
- Agency
-
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 69 $145,500,679 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 91-1000-0-1-501
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education operates the Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services program (CFDA 84.004, also known as Equity Assistance Centers) to provide technical assistance and training to school districts and other responsible governmental agencies preparing, adopting, and implementing desegregation and equity plans for public schools, with the most recent grant award dated October 1, 2024.
The program has maintained steady activity since 2001, with 69 total awards distributed across 23 years. Award cadence declined notably in recent years: the program funded 10 grants annually in 2010–2011, dropped to 4 in 2016 following the most recent full competition, and has issued only 1 award per year in 2022 and 2024. The Department indicates that the most recent competitive round occurred in fiscal year 2016, suggesting the current single annual awards reflect continuation funding rather than new competitions. Combined federal dollars obligated total $145.5 million, with non-federal cost-share contributing an additional $1.7 million.
All 69 awards in the portfolio are Project Grants. Funding concentration is nearly complete: the Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education accounts for 65 awards totaling $132.9 million federal dollars, while the broader Department of Education administers 4 additional awards worth $12.6 million federal dollars. Representative recent awards include the EAC Region II–EAC South at Southern Education Foundation (October 1, 2024, $3.18 million through project completion September 30, 2026), EAC Region IV–Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (October 1, 2022, $6.59 million), and EAC Region I–Center for Education Equity (October 1, 2022, $8.07 million). Awards typically range from $3 million to $10 million and support regional centers serving multi-state service areas over two- to four-year project periods.
The most recent posted grant opportunity closed on May 16, 2022 (ED-GRANTS-021522-001), soliciting cooperative agreements to operate regional Equity Assistance Centers. Eligible applicants included 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, state governments, county and city/township governments, and other government entities. No open solicitations are currently active. The program appears dormant for new competitions, operating through continuation funding of previously awarded regional centers.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide technical assistance and training to school districts and other responsible governmental agencies to cope with educational problems occasioned by desegregation.
- Description
The Training and Advisory Services program supports efforts to achieve the intent of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act by aiding educators in preparing, adopting, and implementing plans for desegregating public schools and in the development of effective methods of coping with special educational problems occasioned by desegregation. The Department awards grants under this program to Equity Assistance Centers (EACs) serving geographic regions established by the Secretary.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Any private, nonprofit organization or any public agency (other than a State educational agency or school board) may apply.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Educational personnel and elementary and secondary students in local school districts benefit.
- Uses of assistance
Funds support Equity Assistance Centers to provide technical assistance and training, upon request, in the areas of race, sex, religion, and national origin to public school districts and other responsible governmental agencies to promote equitable education opportunities. The centers work in the areas of civil rights and equity. This assistance helps schools and communities ensure that equitable education opportunities are available and accessible for all children.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Grants will generally be made for a period of 60 months. Funds are appropriated on an annual basis. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
See above.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
New equity assistance center applications are evaluated on the basis of selection criteria from 34 CFR 75.210, addressing significance, quality of project services, quality of project design, quality of project personnel, adequacy of resources, and quality of project evaluation. The highest-ranking application for each geographical service area was selected for an award. The most recent competition was conducted in FY16.
- Award procedure
After completion of competitive peer review of applications, the Department makes the final decision on the approval and funding of applications.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Approximately 30 to 90 Days.
- Renewals
Equity assistance centers receive awards for multi-year project periods if they meet the criteria for annual continuation in the regulations. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 69 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc. | $22,293,551 | 15% |
| 2 | Intercultural Development Research Association | $17,385,289 | 12% |
| 3 | Trustees Of Indiana University | $12,841,317 | 9% |
| 4 | Wested | $10,359,464 | 7% |
| 5 | Metropolitan State University Of Denver | $9,735,798 | 7% |
| 6 | Education Northwest | $7,179,600 | 5% |
| 7 | Kansas State University | $6,918,341 | 5% |
| 8 | Brown University | $5,581,170 | 4% |
| 9 | Touro University | $4,812,996 | 3% |
9 of 31 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $5,360,523 |
| FY2024 | $6,436,661 |
| FY2023 | $4,330,344 |
| FY2022 | $4,880,363 |
| FY2021 | $6,531,551 |
| FY2020 | $6,531,609 |
| FY2019 | $6,534,000 |
| FY2018 | $6,537,000 |
| FY2017 | $6,419,307 |
| FY2016 | $6,531,296 |
| FY2015 | $6,552,000 |
| FY2014 | $6,508,567 |
| FY2013 | $6,575,460 |
| FY2012 | $6,938,817 |
| FY2011 | $6,882,615 |
| FY2010 | $6,940,759 |
| FY2009 | $9,405,532 |
| FY2008 | $6,907,067 |
| FY2007 | $7,088,781 |
| FY2005 | $7,115,148 |
| FY2003 | $7,286,329 |
| FY2001 | $7,206,950 |
Show all 22
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.004?
Assistance Listing 84.004 is Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services (also known as Equity Assistance Centers), a federal grant program run by Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department of Education).
What is the CFDA number for Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services (also known as Equity Assistance Centers)?
Its CFDA number is 84.004: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.004 awarded?
69 grant awards under 84.004 have obligated $145,500,679 in federal funds to 31 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.004?
The recipients obligated the most under Civil Rights Training and Advisory Services (also known as Equity Assistance Centers) are Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc. ($22,293,551), Intercultural Development Research Association ($17,385,289) and Trustees Of Indiana University ($12,841,317).
How much did 84.004 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 84.004 obligated $5,360,523 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 84.004?
No opportunity listed under 84.004 is open now. The latest, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Program and Grantee Support Services: Equity Assistance Centers (EAC) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.004D, was posted on February 15, 2022.
On GovTribe
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