for Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): Institutional Service: Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence (Hawkins) Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.428A | ED GRANTS 040424 002

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.

• 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.

Apply for ED GRANTS 040424 002

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