To be considered for an award under this competition, an applicant must be one or more of the following:

(a) State educational agency (SEA);
(b) Local educational agency (LEA);
(c) Bureau of Indian Education (BIE);
(d) Institution of higher education (IHE);
(e) Other public agency; or
(f) Other private agency or organization.

Note: A faith-based organization is eligible to apply for and receive a grant under this program on the same basis as any other private  organization, consistent with Appendix A to 34 CFR part 75.

 

Eligible Activities

The program supports evidence-based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary schools and secondary schools nationwide to identify gifted and talented students and meet their special educational needs. A major emphasis of the program is on implementing evidence-based activities that accelerate learning and improve student outcomes.

 

Competitive preference will be given to eligible entities whose projects or proposals are designed to strengthen core instruction through improving mathematics instruction to promote student achievement through one or more of the following priority areas:

(a) Developing and implementing pathways to accelerate conceptual understanding of mathematics or advanced mathematics coursework, including strategies like automatic enrollment that encourage participation in such pathways;

 

(b) Developing and implementing strategies for the dentification of gifted and talented students, including strategies for students to access higher grade-level and/or advanced placement in mathematics; or

 

(c) Offering high-quality professional development based on strong, moderate, or promising evidence (as defined in 34 CFR 7.1) in mathematics for educators, which may include teachers, paraprofessionals, and other licensed educators or support for principals and other school leaders on managing the implementation of high-quality mathematics instruction.

 

Award

Estimated Total Program Funding: $9,000,000

Estimated Range of Awards: $400,000 to $650,000

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $550,000

Estimated Number of Awards: 17

Project Period: Up to 60 months

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

 

Important Dates

Applications Available: April 22, 2026

Notice of Intent to Apply Deadline (optional but encouraged)*: May 11, 2026

Application Deadline: June 23, 2026

Intergovernmental Review Deadline: August 21, 2026.

 

*ED strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department of their intent to submit an application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed below under Next Steps with the subject line “Intent to Apply.” Please include the applicant's name and a contact person's name and email address. Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding; applicants that do submit a notice of intent to apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information provided.

 

Next Steps