[Office of Elementary and Secondary Education](https://oese.ed.gov)

May 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply) | June 16, 2026 (Full Application) | August 17, 2026 (Intergovernmental Review)

$1,000,000–$4,000,000 per award (up to 48 months); total program funding $16,556,000; ~6 awards expected.

Supports State efforts to enhance the quality of assessment instruments and systems to measure academic achievement and growth in K-12 education.

--- ## Description This federal grant program provides competitive funding to State Educational Agencies (SEAs), including the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and consortia of SEAs, to improve the quality of academic assessment systems in K-12 education. The program aims to foster innovation in assessment design, scoring, and reporting, with an emphasis on measuring student achievement and growth, supporting diverse student populations, and informing educational decision-making. For the FY 2026 competition, the program emphasizes two absolute priorities: - **Developing Innovative Assessment Item Types and Design Approaches** - **Promoting Meaningful Learning Opportunities** Additional competitive preference and invitational priorities focus on improving assessment scoring/reporting, measuring student growth, developing comprehensive assessment instruments, and building assessment/data literacy. --- ## Due Dates - **Intent to Apply:** May 29, 2026 (Notification by email to the program contact; not required but strongly encouraged) - **Full Application Deadline:** June 16, 2026 (by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time; electronic submission required) - **Intergovernmental Review Deadline:** August 17, 2026 (Submission to State Single Point of Contact, if applicable) --- ## Funding Amount - **Estimated Total Program Funding:** $16,556,000 - **Award Size:** $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 per project for up to 48 months - **Expected Number of Awards:** Approximately 6 - **Minimum award** for each SEA is proportional to the state's share of the school-age population (see application notice for specific state minimums) - **No cost sharing or matching required** --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Applicants:** - State Educational Agencies (SEAs) of the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico - Consortia of SEAs (must designate one SEA as the fiscal agent) - **Note:** Other entities (e.g., universities, nonprofits) may participate as partners but cannot apply directly. --- ## Application Process - **Intent to Apply:** Notify the program contact by email with subject “Intent to Apply,” including applicant and contact information. This step is encouraged but not mandatory. - **Registration:** Applicants must be registered in both [SAM.gov](https://sam.gov/) and [Grants.gov](https://grants.gov/). - **Submission:** Applications must be submitted electronically via [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362142) by the deadline. - **Required Forms:** - SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) - SF-424A (Budget) - Project Abstract and Narrative - Budget Narrative - Resumes of key personnel - Assurances and certifications (including lobbying forms) - **Review Criteria:** Applications are reviewed on project design, management plan, adequacy of resources, and evaluation plan (see application notice for detailed scoring rubric). - **Pre-application Webinar:** Scheduled for May 11, 2026; registration details available on the [program page](https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/school-and-community-improvement-grants/competitive-grants-state-assessments). --- ## Additional Information - **Priorities:** Applicants must address at least one absolute priority. Competitive preference priorities can earn additional points but only one may be selected per application. - **Indirect Costs:** Unrestricted indirect cost rate applies. - **Restrictions:** Subgrants to carry out project activities are not allowed; all project activities must be directly managed by the grantee. - **Performance Reporting:** Grantees must submit interim and final performance reports addressing specific program measures. - **Compliance:** All federal civil rights and non-discrimination laws apply. --- ## External Links - [Official Program Page (U.S. Department of Education)](https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/school-and-community-improvement-grants/competitive-grants-state-assessments) - [Full Application Notice and Instructions (PDF)](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/84368a-cgsa-fy2026-application-notice-and-instructions-20260427pdf-113945.pdf) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362142) - [CGSA Applicant Webinar Registration](https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/f852ac98-7b30-4804-8275-da99cfac3f3d@bd5d4514-84de-4928-a9fd-6ae10bbad677) - [SAM.gov Registration](https://sam.gov/) - [Past Award Abstracts and Resources](https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/school-and-community-improvement-grants/competitive-grants-state-assessments#1) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | |-------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------| | Donald Peasley | [ESEA.Assessment@ed.gov](mailto:ESEA.Assessment@ed.gov) | 202-453-7518 |

Competitive Grants for State Assessments

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