Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 040424 002
The Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (Hawkins) Program is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.428A. The program is authorized by Part B of Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and it is built around a straightforward idea: strengthen high-quality, State-accredited teacher preparation programs by establishing "centers of excellence" at eligible institutions that have a mission and track record of educating students from communities that have historically been underserved. In practice, the Department is looking to invest in institutions that can prepare, support, and keep strong teachers in the K-12 schools that most need them, while also helping diversify the educator workforce.
At the core of the opportunity is the creation or enhancement of a center of excellence within a qualified teacher preparation program. The Hawkins Program emphasizes the full teacher pipeline, not just coursework leading to licensure. That includes recruiting future educators, preparing them through clinically rich and effective training, supporting them as they enter classrooms, placing them in under-resourced schools, and then working on retention so those teachers stay and grow in the profession. The notice also highlights retraining, which signals that proposals may include pathways for current educators to earn additional credentials, shift into high-need areas, or strengthen instructional skills aligned with local school needs. A key theme is closing opportunity and achievement gaps for underserved students by making sure the teachers serving those students are well-prepared and well-supported.
Another major expectation is the use of evidence-based practices. Applicants are expected to build proposals around strategies that have a credible research base or strong evidence of effectiveness in teacher preparation and educator development. While the synopsis does not list specific interventions, the Department is clearly signaling a preference for approaches that can be justified with evidence, measured through outcomes, and implemented with fidelity. In other words, a competitive application would not just describe activities, but explain why those activities should work, how they will be executed, and how success will be tracked.
Eligibility is limited to specific types of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have a qualified teacher preparation program and meet the statutory definitions in the HEA. Eligible institutions include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs, also referenced as Part B institutions), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), and Native American-serving nontribal institutions. The opportunity also allows a consortium of eligible institutions to apply together. In addition, an eligible institution (or eligible consortium) may partner with other IHEs, but the center of excellence must be located at one of the eligible institutions listed above, which keeps the primary investment anchored in the institutions the program is designed to support.
If applying as a consortium, the group must follow the federal group application procedures in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. That includes creating a formal consortium agreement that spells out what each member will do and binds each member to the statements and assurances in the application. Importantly, that signed agreement is not optional paperwork; it must be submitted with the application, and it is meant to ensure clear roles, shared accountability, and enforceable commitments among partners.
From the competition details provided, the funding opportunity number is ED GRANTS 040424 002, and the closing date listed is June 18, 2024. The agency anticipates making about 27 awards, and the listing includes an award ceiling field (though the synopsis does not provide the numeric ceiling amount). The eligible applicant types are broad within the defined eligibility categories, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities that fit the statutory definitions and partnership rules described in the notice.
Finally, the synopsis repeatedly points applicants back to the official Federal Register application notice for the details that determine whether an application is compliant and competitive. That Federal Register notice is where the Department lays out the required application components, submission requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact information. It also references the Department's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standard guidance on how to obtain and submit applications and how to follow the Department's general discretionary grant procedures.Apply for ED GRANTS 040424 002
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "for Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Institutional Service: Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (Hawkins) Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.428A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.428.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 27 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (ALN 84.428A) - FAQs
What is the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (Hawkins) Program?
The Hawkins Program is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.428A. It supports the creation or enhancement of "centers of excellence" within eligible, high-quality, State-accredited teacher preparation programs.
What is the overall goal of the Hawkins Program?
The program aims to strengthen teacher preparation at institutions with a mission and track record of educating students from communities that have historically been underserved. The Department is looking to invest in institutions that can prepare, support, place, and retain strong teachers in the K-12 schools that most need them, while also helping diversify the educator workforce.
What does "center of excellence" mean in this grant context?
In this competition, a center of excellence refers to a formal effort within a qualified teacher preparation program to improve outcomes across the educator pipeline. The grant supports establishing a new center or enhancing an existing one, focused on preparing and sustaining effective educators for high-need K-12 settings.
Is the grant only about teacher coursework leading to licensure?
No. The Hawkins Program emphasizes the full teacher pipeline, not only coursework. The described scope includes recruiting future educators, clinically rich preparation, support during entry into classrooms, placement in under-resourced schools, and retention efforts to help teachers stay and grow in the profession.
What kinds of activities does the Hawkins Program emphasize?
Based on the synopsis, emphasis areas include recruitment into educator pathways, high-quality preparation with strong clinical components, support for novice teachers as they enter classrooms, placement in under-resourced schools, and strategies to improve teacher retention. The notice also highlights retraining, suggesting room for pathways that help current educators gain additional credentials, shift into high-need areas, or strengthen instructional skills aligned with local needs.
What is meant by "retraining" in this opportunity?
The synopsis highlights retraining as an important element, signaling that proposals may include options for current educators to earn additional credentials, transition into high-need roles or subject areas, or build skills that match local school needs.
How does the program connect to addressing opportunity and achievement gaps?
A key theme is closing opportunity and achievement gaps for underserved students by ensuring that the teachers serving those students are well-prepared and well-supported. The program focuses on strengthening preparation and ongoing support for educators serving schools with the greatest needs.
What does "evidence-based practices" mean for applicants?
Applicants are expected to build proposals around strategies with a credible research base or strong evidence of effectiveness in teacher preparation and educator development. The synopsis indicates the Department favors approaches that can be justified with evidence, measured through outcomes, and implemented with fidelity.
Does the synopsis list specific required interventions or models?
No. The synopsis does not list specific interventions. It does, however, signal a preference for approaches grounded in evidence and paired with clear implementation plans and measurable outcomes.
What makes an application more competitive based on the synopsis?
The synopsis suggests that stronger proposals will go beyond listing activities and will explain why those activities should work, how they will be executed, and how success will be tracked using outcomes and evidence-based rationales.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to specific types of institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have a qualified teacher preparation program and meet the statutory definitions in the Higher Education Act (HEA). Eligible institutions include HBCUs (Part B institutions), HSIs, TCUs, Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), AANAPISIs, and Native American-serving nontribal institutions.
Can multiple eligible institutions apply together?
Yes. A consortium of eligible institutions may apply together.
Can an eligible applicant partner with other institutions that are not in the listed eligible categories?
Yes. The opportunity allows an eligible institution (or eligible consortium) to partner with other IHEs. However, the center of excellence must be located at one of the eligible institutions listed in the synopsis.
Where must the center of excellence be located if there are partners?
The center of excellence must be located at one of the eligible institutions identified in the program eligibility list (for example, an HBCU, HSI, TCU, etc.). This keeps the primary investment anchored in the institutions the program is designed to support.
What are the requirements for consortium applications?
Consortium applicants must follow the federal group application procedures in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. This includes developing a formal consortium agreement that clearly describes each member's responsibilities and binds each member to the statements and assurances in the application.
Is the consortium agreement required to be submitted with the application?
Yes. The synopsis states the signed consortium agreement must be submitted with the application and is not optional paperwork.
Why is the consortium agreement important?
The synopsis indicates it is intended to ensure clear roles, shared accountability, and enforceable commitments among consortium members, with each member bound to the application statements and assurances.
What is the Assistance Listing Number (ALN) for this program?
The Assistance Listing Number is 84.428A.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number provided is ED GRANTS 040424 002.
What is the application closing date listed in the synopsis?
The closing date listed is June 18, 2024.
How many awards does the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipates making about 27 awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listing includes an award ceiling field, but the synopsis provided does not include the numeric ceiling amount.
What types of institutions can be eligible applicants?
Within the defined statutory eligibility categories, eligible applicant types include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities that fit the statutory definitions and partnership rules described in the notice.
What law authorizes the Hawkins Program?
The program is authorized by Part B of Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Where can applicants find the official requirements and detailed instructions?
The synopsis points applicants to the official Federal Register application notice for the details that determine whether an application is compliant and competitive. That notice is described as the source for required application components, submission requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact information.
What are the "Revised Common Instructions" referenced in the synopsis?
The synopsis references the Department's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022). These instructions provide standard guidance on how to obtain and submit applications and how to follow the Department's general discretionary grant procedures.
Does the synopsis explain all compliance and competitiveness rules?
No. The synopsis repeatedly directs applicants back to the Federal Register application notice for the definitive requirements and details that control compliance and competitiveness.
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