Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 011521 003
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.351A, is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education aimed at strengthening arts education for K-12 students. The program is designed to expand access to high-quality arts learning experiences, with a clear emphasis on reaching students who are often underserved, including disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. In practice, the grant supports projects that build the capacity of schools and educators to deliver strong arts instruction, improve the availability of arts-based learning resources, and encourage partnerships that broaden and sustain arts education opportunities.
The core purpose of the AAE program is to promote arts education through several main strategies. One major focus is professional development, meaning projects can train and support arts educators as well as classroom teachers and school leaders (including principals) so they can deliver more effective arts instruction and better integrate the arts into the school environment. Another key strategy is the development and dissemination of accessible instructional materials and arts-based educational programming. This includes resources that can be used across multiple arts disciplines and may involve online tools or digital learning resources, with an emphasis on accessibility so that students with disabilities can participate fully. A third major strategy is outreach and partnership-building at the community and national levels, encouraging collaborations among schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), community organizations, and arts institutions or centers, including national centers for the arts. Taken together, these activities are meant to strengthen arts education systems, not just fund isolated events.
Eligibility is fairly broad compared to many education grant programs. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both those with 501(c)(3) status and those without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and other applicants as described in the official notice. This range of eligible entities reflects the program’s partnership orientation, since arts education efforts often involve collaborations between school systems, colleges or universities, and nonprofit arts organizations.
Administratively, the opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 011521 003, categorized as a discretionary grant within the Education funding activity. Applications were made available on January 15, 2021. The Department strongly encouraged applicants to submit a non-binding Notice of Intent to Apply by February 16, 2021 to help the agency plan for application review, though submitting (or not submitting) that notice did not affect eligibility to apply. The deadline to submit the full application was March 16, 2021, and the intergovernmental review deadline was May 17, 2021. The Department anticipated making about 25 awards. The synopsis provided does not specify an award ceiling amount (listed as 0 in the extracted data), which typically means applicants needed to rely on the official Federal Register notice and related guidance for detailed award size expectations, budget parameters, and any program-specific funding ranges.
The Department also offered a pre-application webinar for prospective applicants, directing them to program webpages associated with different AAE components (including national programs, model development and dissemination, and professional development for arts educators). These webinars are typically used to clarify program goals, application requirements, selection criteria, and priorities, and to reduce common submission errors. For formal application procedures, addresses, and general submission rules, applicants were instructed to follow the Department’s Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, in the Federal Register), and to consult the official Federal Register application notice for the definitive requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact details.
For questions, the listed program contact was Bonnie Carter at the U.S. Department of Education, with a Washington, DC office address, phone number (202) 401-3576, and email (Bonnie.Carter@ed.gov). The overall takeaway is that this opportunity funds projects that build educator skill, create and share accessible arts instructional resources, and strengthen community-to-school partnerships so that more students, especially those facing barriers to access, can participate in consistent and meaningful arts education.Apply for ED GRANTS 011521 003
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program Assistance Listing Number 84.351A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.351.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 15, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2021 Applications Available January 15, 2021. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply February 16, 2021. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications March 16, 2021. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review May 17, 2021.Notice of Intent to Apply The Department will be able to review grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line #8220Intent to Apply,#8221 and include the applicantaposs name and a contact person#8217s 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. Pre-Application Webinar Information The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. For information about the pre-application webinar, visit the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) programs#8217 websites at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/well-rounded-education-programs/arts-in-education-national-program/ https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/well-rounded-education-programs/arts-in-education-model-development-and-dissemination-grants-program/ and https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/well-rounded-education-programs/arts-in-education-professional-development-for-arts-educators/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Bonnie Carter, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 3E308, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone (202) 401-3576. Email Bonnie.Carter@ed.gov.. (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 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.351A) - FAQs
1) What is the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program?
The Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). It is intended to strengthen arts education for K-12 students by expanding access to high-quality arts learning experiences.
2) What is the Assistance Listing Number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing Number is 84.351A.
3) What is the main goal of the AAE Program?
The main goal is to expand access to high-quality arts learning experiences for K-12 students, with a strong emphasis on serving students who are often underserved, including disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.
4) Who is the funder for this grant?
The funder is the U.S. Department of Education, specifically the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).
5) Is this a discretionary or formula grant program?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program.
6) What types of projects does the AAE Program support?
The program supports projects that build the capacity of schools and educators to deliver strong arts instruction, improve the availability of arts-based learning resources, and encourage partnerships that broaden and sustain arts education opportunities.
7) What are the main strategies or activity areas emphasized by the program?
The synopsis describes three major strategies:
- Professional development for arts educators and also for classroom teachers and school leaders (including principals).
- Development and dissemination of accessible instructional materials and arts-based educational programming, potentially including online tools or digital learning resources designed so students with disabilities can participate fully.
- Outreach and partnership-building at community and national levels, including collaborations among schools, LEAs, community organizations, and arts institutions or centers (including national centers for the arts).
8) Does the program focus on one-time events or long-term systems?
Based on the description provided, the intent is to strengthen arts education systems rather than fund isolated events, by building educator capacity, creating usable resources, and establishing sustained partnerships.
9) Which students are prioritized or specifically emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes reaching students who are often underserved, including disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.
10) Are projects expected to address accessibility for students with disabilities?
Yes. The synopsis specifically highlights accessibility, especially when developing and disseminating instructional materials and arts-based educational programming, so that students with disabilities can participate fully.
11) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Other applicants as described in the official notice
12) Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status allowed to apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible, as long as they are not institutions of higher education, and subject to any conditions described in the official notice.
13) Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
14) Does the program encourage partnerships?
Yes. The program description emphasizes partnerships and outreach, including collaborations among schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), community organizations, and arts institutions or centers, including national centers for the arts.
15) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is ED GRANTS 011521 003.
16) When were applications made available?
Applications were made available on January 15, 2021.
17) Was there a Notice of Intent to Apply, and was it required?
Yes, applicants were strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Notice of Intent to Apply by February 16, 2021. Submitting (or not submitting) the notice did not affect eligibility to apply.
18) What was the deadline to submit the full application?
The deadline to submit the full application was March 16, 2021.
19) What was the intergovernmental review deadline?
The intergovernmental review deadline was May 17, 2021.
20) About how many awards did the Department anticipate making?
The Department anticipated making about 25 awards.
21) How much funding could an applicant request?
The synopsis provided does not specify an award ceiling amount (it is listed as 0 in the extracted data). Applicants were expected to rely on the official Federal Register notice and related guidance for details such as award size expectations, budget parameters, and any program-specific funding ranges.
22) Where should applicants look for the definitive requirements, priorities, and performance measures?
Applicants were instructed to consult the official Federal Register application notice for definitive requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact details.
23) Were there standard U.S. Department of Education instructions applicants needed to follow?
Yes. Applicants were instructed to follow the Department's Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, in the Federal Register), as well as the official Federal Register application notice for this opportunity.
24) Was there a pre-application webinar?
Yes. The Department offered a pre-application webinar for prospective applicants and directed applicants to program webpages associated with different AAE components.
25) What topics are typically covered in the pre-application webinar (as described in the synopsis)?
The synopsis notes that webinars are typically used to clarify program goals, application requirements, selection criteria, and priorities, and to reduce common submission errors.
26) What AAE components were referenced in relation to the webinar and program webpages?
The synopsis references program webpages associated with different AAE components, including national programs, model development and dissemination, and professional development for arts educators.
27) Who is the program contact for questions?
The listed program contact is Bonnie Carter at the U.S. Department of Education.
28) What is the contact phone number for the program contact?
The phone number provided is (202) 401-3576.
29) What is the contact email address for the program contact?
The email provided is Bonnie.Carter@ed.gov.
30) Where is the program contact located?
The synopsis indicates a Washington, DC office address for the program contact.
31) What is the overall takeaway of what this grant funds?
The opportunity funds projects that build educator skill through professional development, create and share accessible arts instructional resources, and strengthen community-to-school partnerships so more students, especially those facing barriers to access, can participate in consistent and meaningful arts education.
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