Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): School Choice and Improvement Programs (SCIP): Stronger Connections Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (SCTAC) Grant Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.424H | ED GRANTS 062624 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 062624 001

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) School Choice and Improvement Programs (SCIP) Stronger Connections Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (SCTAC) Grant Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.424H) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education focused on strengthening mental health and well-being supports in K-12 systems and early learning settings. The central idea is to fund State educational agencies (SEAs) so they can serve as statewide capacity builders, delivering targeted technical assistance to local school districts that face the greatest needs. Rather than primarily paying for direct services in a single district, this program is designed to help states improve how high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) plan, implement, and sustain efforts that support student and staff mental health and overall well-being.

The stated purpose of the SCTAC program is to advance mental health and well-being for three groups: early learners (as defined in the official notice), school-age children and youth, and educators and other school staff. In practice, this means grant-funded activities should help districts develop stronger systems and strategies to prevent and respond to mental health challenges, promote supportive learning environments, and improve the capacity of schools to meet the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students while also supporting the adults working in schools. The emphasis on educators and school staff is significant, since the program recognizes that staff well-being, working conditions, and preparedness are closely tied to student outcomes and to the ability of districts to deliver consistent supports.

Eligibility is limited to State educational agencies as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(49) and the Bureau of Indian Education, consistent with Section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). This means individual school districts, nonprofits, universities, and other organizations are not the direct applicants for this specific competition; instead, the state (or BIE) applies and then provides technical assistance and capacity-building supports to high-need districts. The program materials repeatedly point applicants back to the official Federal Register notice for the precise definitions used in the competition, including what qualifies as an early learner and what counts as a high-need LEA, since those definitions drive both eligibility within the state and how the funded work must be targeted.

Key administrative details included in the opportunity listing are as follows: the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 062624 001, categorized as a discretionary grant with a grant funding instrument type, within the education funding activity category. The application closing date is August 26, 2024. The award ceiling listed is $1,000,000, indicating that awards may be made up to that maximum amount per grantee, though the actual award size can vary depending on the final notice, available appropriations, and the Department’s decisions. The listing shows “ExpectedAwards:” but does not provide a number in the excerpt, so the expected count of awards is not confirmed here and would need to be verified in the Federal Register notice or related Department materials.

The synopsis also underscores that the short description provided in the listing is not the authoritative source for requirements. Applicants are directed to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for the full set of details, including: eligibility nuances; pre-application and application requirements; how and where to submit; required performance measures; any absolute, competitive preference, invitational, or other priorities; and agency contact information. It also points to the Department’s Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standard submission and procedural guidance. In other words, the listing gives the basic “what it is and who can apply” framing, while the Federal Register notice governs what must be included in an application, how proposals are reviewed, and what grantees will be held accountable for delivering once funded.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): School Choice and Improvement Programs (SCIP): Stronger Connections Technical Assistance and Capacity Building (SCTAC) Grant Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.424H" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.424.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for ED GRANTS 062624 001

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