Home > Outreach > Grant Programs For Educators >
Federal College Access Challenge Grant
With additional funding from the federal College Access Challenge Grant Program, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education is expanding provision of services to increase the number of low-income and underrepresented students who enter and remain in postsecondary education. The formula grant program provided approximately $750,000 each year for project activities during federal fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Program funding was increased under the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and the Office of Higher Education received $1.5 million for authorized activities during 2011.
This funding allows for focused State CACG program activities in the following areas:
- Enhancing the college planning and advising capacity in middle and high schools by school counselors so that more students receive clear and consistent counseling regarding college planning and career preparation. This includes:
- Funding continued training and licensure at selected schools of Naviance, a web-based counseling software that supports management of academic and postsecondary planning and advising.
- Providing professional development for school counselors to increase their understanding of comprehensive counseling programs to support increased student ability to prepare for college:
- User groups and a mentor/mentee network for current Naviance users
- Data retreats to help school counselors use ACT's EPAS data effectively
- User groups and a mentor/mentee network for current Naviance users
- Funding continued training and licensure at selected schools of Naviance, a web-based counseling software that supports management of academic and postsecondary planning and advising.
- Increasing the number of low-income students and families who have a working knowledge of postsecondary education opportunities, planning for postsecondary education, and financial aid by:
- Supporting and coordinating outreach activities for delivering workshops on college preparation, access, financial literacy, and financial aid to target communities, including the Latino and African American communities.
- Supporting and coordinating outreach activities for delivering workshops on college preparation, access, financial literacy, and financial aid to target communities, including the Latino and African American communities.
- Increasing the number of low-income third- through 11th-grade students who have the opportunity to participate in academic enrichment activities to prepare for college admission and success by:
- Supporting attendance at summer academic enrichment programs for third- through 11th-grade students from low-income families.
- Funding financial literacy projects to provide low-income junior high and senior high school students with knowledge and skills to make sound financial aid and other personal finance decisions, particularly in relation to obtaining access to, persisting in, and completing postsecondary education.
- Supporting attendance at summer academic enrichment programs for third- through 11th-grade students from low-income families.
Governor Mark Dayton continued the designation of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education as the agency to apply for CACG funds on behalf of the State. The application for a fourth year of funding has been approved to the U.S. Department of Education, and program activities will continue through 2012.
