Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004424
Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004424
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226 Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 24, 2014 and posted on Jan 24, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 3, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may only be submitted by (1) public secondary schools, (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, (3) institutions of higher education, or (4) nonprofit organizations (Attach IRS 501(c)(3) status under RR Other Project Information Field 12 Other Attachments).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (often referred to as SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The central purpose of the program is to strengthen the pipeline of students moving through agricultural education by improving agriscience and agribusiness instruction at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions (such as community and junior colleges), while also encouraging tighter coordination with four-year colleges and universities. In practical terms, the program is designed to help build and sustain a well-prepared U.S. workforce for the broader food and agricultural sciences system, which includes areas like production agriculture, natural resources, food systems, agricultural technology, and related agribusiness fields.
The opportunity emphasizes two linked outcomes. First, it aims to promote and strengthen educational programs that teach agriculture-related knowledge and skills to students before they reach a four-year institution, with the goal of improving instructional quality, relevance to industry needs, and student readiness for agricultural careers. Second, it prioritizes creating complementary and synergistic connections among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education programs. Those linkages are meant to reduce fragmentation across education levels, support smoother transitions for students (for example, from high school to community college to a bachelor's program), and ultimately encourage more students to pursue and complete a baccalaureate degree or higher in food and agricultural sciences.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SAECP 004424, and it falls under the funding activity category of Agriculture Education. The associated CFDA number is 10.226 (Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants). The program was posted on January 24, 2014, with an application closing date of April 3, 2014, and an archive date of May 3, 2014. While those dates indicate this specific notice is historical, the summary still captures the program's structure and intent as described in the announcement.
Financially, the notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $900,000. Individual awards could be as large as $300,000 (the award ceiling), and the award floor is listed as $0, which generally indicates there is no minimum award amount specified in the notice. A key feature of this program is that it includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the project. The exact percentage or form of match is typically defined in the full program announcement, but the headline takeaway is that applicants must plan for and document some level of matching support as part of their proposal.
Eligibility is limited to specific types of organizations involved in education and nonprofit work connected to agricultural learning. Applications may be submitted only by public secondary schools; public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges; institutions of higher education (including public/state-controlled and private institutions); and nonprofit organizations. For nonprofit applicants, the notice specifically calls out the need to attach documentation of IRS 501(c)(3) status as part of the application package. The "Eligible Applicants" field also notes "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the eligibility language provided in the announcement narrows submission to the four categories listed above.
Overall, SPECA is best understood as an education workforce-development grant focused on improving agricultural learning experiences and strengthening education-to-career pathways. Competitive projects under a program with these stated goals commonly involve curriculum development and modernization, teacher and faculty professional development, hands-on learning models (labs, greenhouses, school farms, food science modules), career and technical education enhancements, articulation or dual-credit agreements, coordinated recruitment and advising strategies, partnerships with industry and extension, and clear transfer pathways that help students progress from secondary programs into two-year degrees and then into four-year agricultural science majors. The explicit emphasis on linkages among secondary, two-year, and higher education signals that proposals are expected to show collaboration across institutions rather than isolated efforts within a single classroom or campus.
For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the contact listed is the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048, available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays. The announcement also notes that there is support available for questions related to preparing application content, with details typically provided in the full notice linked in the "Additional Information" section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SPECA grant program?
The Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It supports projects that improve agriscience and agribusiness instruction at the secondary (high school) level and at two-year postsecondary institutions, while encouraging stronger coordination with four-year colleges and universities.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to strengthen the pipeline of students moving through agricultural education by improving the quality and relevance of instruction before students reach a four-year institution, and by building clearer connections among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education programs. The broader goal is to help build and sustain a well-prepared U.S. workforce for the food and agricultural sciences system.
What outcomes does the program emphasize?
The opportunity highlights two linked outcomes: (1) strengthening education programs that teach agriculture-related knowledge and skills at the secondary and two-year levels to improve instructional quality, industry relevance, and student readiness; and (2) creating complementary, synergistic linkages among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and four-year institutions to support smoother student transitions and encourage completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher in food and agricultural sciences.
What types of topics or career areas can projects relate to?
The program is oriented toward the broader food and agricultural sciences system, including production agriculture, natural resources, food systems, agricultural technology, and related agribusiness fields.
What kinds of projects are commonly aligned with SPECA's goals?
Based on the goals described, competitive projects commonly involve curriculum development and modernization, teacher and faculty professional development, hands-on learning models (such as labs, greenhouses, school farms, and food science modules), career and technical education enhancements, articulation or dual-credit agreements, coordinated recruitment and advising strategies, partnerships with industry and extension, and clear transfer pathways from secondary programs to two-year degrees and into four-year agricultural science majors.
Is collaboration across institutions expected?
Yes. The explicit emphasis on linkages among secondary, two-year, and higher education signals that proposals are expected to demonstrate collaboration across institutions rather than isolated efforts within a single classroom or campus.
Who administers this program?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SAECP 004424.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.226 (Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants).
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The announcement lists the funding activity category as Agriculture Education.
When was this notice posted and when did it close?
The notice was posted on January 24, 2014. The application closing date was April 3, 2014, and the archive date was May 3, 2014.
Is this a current or historical funding notice?
The dates provided indicate this specific notice is historical. However, the summary information describes the structure and intent of the program as presented in the announcement.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $900,000.
What is the maximum award size?
The award ceiling is listed as $300,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
The award floor is listed as $0, which generally indicates the notice did not specify a minimum award amount.
Does SPECA require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. The program includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the project and plan to document matching support in the proposal.
Does the announcement specify the exact match percentage?
The information provided notes that the exact percentage or form of match is typically defined in the full program announcement. The key takeaway in the summary is that some level of match is required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to the following applicant types: public secondary schools; public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges; institutions of higher education (including public/state-controlled and private institutions); and nonprofit organizations.
Are nonprofit organizations required to submit proof of nonprofit status?
Yes. For nonprofit applicants, the notice specifically states that documentation of IRS 501(c)(3) status must be attached as part of the application package.
The notice mentions "Others" under eligible applicants. Does that expand eligibility?
The eligible applicants field references "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the eligibility language provided in the summary limits submission to the four categories listed: public secondary schools, nonprofit junior/community colleges, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations.
What is the program trying to improve for students?
The program is designed to improve instructional quality and relevance to industry needs, strengthen student readiness for agricultural careers, and reduce fragmentation across education levels so students can transition more smoothly from high school to two-year programs and into four-year degrees.
What is the longer-term education goal related to degrees?
A stated priority is encouraging more students to pursue and complete a baccalaureate degree or higher in food and agricultural sciences, supported by stronger pathways from secondary and two-year programs.
Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement can contact the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The NIFA Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Is there support for questions about preparing application content?
Yes. The announcement notes that support is available for questions related to preparing application content, with details typically provided in the full notice linked in the "Additional Information" section.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SAECP 004424) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Funding Number: USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $745,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Apply for USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 002819 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 002819 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) and Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 002820 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 002820 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 003378 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 003378 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003393 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003393 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $860,000 |
| Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003396 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003396 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $720,000 |
| Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 003407 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 003407 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Food And Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003435 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 003435 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $262,500 |
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