Comprehensive Centers Program: National, Regional, and Content Centers

The Comprehensive Centers Program National Center grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Education through the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. This federal discretionary grant is authorized under the Education Technical Assistance Act of 2002 and is designed to strengthen education systems across the United States by funding a single National Comprehensive Center. The program is part of a broader Comprehensive Center Network that includes regional and content centers working collaboratively to improve educational outcomes, close achievement gaps, and enhance instructional quality, particularly for underserved student populations. The primary purpose of the National Center is to provide high-quality, high-impact technical assistance and capacity-building services to state educational agencies, regional educational agencies, tribal education agencies, local educational agencies, and schools. The Center is expected to coordinate across the entire Comprehensive Center Network and serve as a national hub for evidence-based practices, helping education systems implement and scale programs that improve academic outcomes, especially in core subjects such as mathematics and literacy. The Center must also address national priorities such as educator workforce shortages, multilingual education pathways, and equitable school funding. Funding for this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement with an estimated total of $6,500,000 available annually and a project period of up to 60 months. The Department will not make an award exceeding $6,750,000 for a single 12-month budget period. The funded entity is required to develop and execute annual service plans that respond to state-identified needs, prioritize high-need student populations, and include measurable outcomes across short-, medium-, and long-term timelines. Funds may be used for personnel, technical assistance delivery, research synthesis, coordination activities, and development of tools and resources. There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements associated with this grant. Eligible applicants include research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education, individuals, and partnerships or consortia among such entities that demonstrate the capacity to carry out the program’s activities. Applicants must show expertise in providing technical assistance, capacity building, and implementation of evidence-based educational strategies. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative, budget justification, performance measures, and supporting documentation such as resumes and letters of endorsement if applicable. Applications are evaluated using federally established selection criteria totaling up to 110 points. These criteria assess the significance of the proposed project, the quality of the project design, and the strength of the management plan. Reviewers consider factors such as the project’s ability to build capacity for underserved populations, the clarity and feasibility of goals and outcomes, the use of data for continuous improvement, and the qualifications of key personnel. Competitive preference points may be awarded for proposals endorsed by state officials, particularly those aligned with state education priorities. The application cycle for this funding opportunity opened on May 8, 2026, with a submission deadline of June 30, 2026. Intergovernmental review deadlines extend to September 8, 2026. Applicants must complete registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission and adhere to all federal application requirements. The Department of Education emphasizes early submission to avoid technical issues. Contact for this program is Dr. Michelle Daley, reachable via OESE.ComprehensiveCenters@ed.gov or by phone at (202) 987-1057.

Align proposal strongly with selection criteria especially measurable outcomes and capacity building; demonstrate prior technical assistance expertise; include clear logic model and data strategy