Looking for a grant for 2009?  Several new grant competitions are now underway.  For example:
 

Partnerships in Character Education Program (closes 2/24).  This program supports the design and implementation of character education programs that can be integrated into classroom instruction and that are consistent with state academic content standards.  Such programs may be carried out in conjunction with other educational reform efforts and must take into consideration the views of the parents of the students to be taught under the program and the views of the students.  Estimated awards: 2.  Eligible: states, school districts, and non-profit organizations (in partnership with districts).  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO

http://www.ed.gov/programs/charactered/.

Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program (closes 3/4).  This unique initiative (supported by three agencies: Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice) supports the implementation and enhancement of comprehensive, community-wide plans that focus on multiple elements, including safe school environments, mental health treatment services, and early childhood learning programs. Successful applicants propose plans that address these issues with a well-coordinated strategy that links services in a systematic and effective manner.  Estimated awards: 28.  Eligible: school districts.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO

http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpsafeschools/

 Recent grant opportunities from the U.S. Department of
     Education (ED) include...
 
       *  Partnerships in Character Education Program -- CFDA#
          84.215S
 
       *  FIPSE: Special Focus Competition: European Union-United
          States Atlantis Program -- CFDA# 84.116J
 
       *  Teaching American History Grant Program -- CFDA# 84.215X
 
       *  Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational
          Agencies -- CFDA# 84.060A
 
       *  High School Equivalency Program (HEP) -- CFDA# 84.141A
 
       *  Foundations for Learning -- CFDA# 84.215H
 
       *  Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program -- CFDA# 84.184L
 
       *  College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) -- CFDA#
          84.149A
 
       *  Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Competition -
          - CFDA# 84.364A
 
       *  Homeless Education Disaster Assistance Program -- CFDA#
          84.383A
 
       *  National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
          Research (NIDRR) and Disability Rehabilitation Research
          Projects (DRRPs) -- CFDA#s 84.133A-3 and 84.133A-4
 
     Below are excerpts from the "notice inviting applications" for
     each grant opportunity.  For more complete information, please
     see the full notice inviting applications in the Federal
     Register.  We try to ensure that the web version and the
     Federal Register notice are the same; however, the Federal
     Register notice should be consulted for complete and
     authoritative information.
 
     For application packages and other information related to ED
     funding opportunities, please see:
 
               http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml.
               http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/announce/
 
*******************************************************************
  Partnerships in Character Education Program (Federal Register:
  December 22, 2008 [CFDA# 84.215S])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: Under this program we support Federal grants to
design and implement character education programs that can be
integrated into classroom instruction and that are consistent with
State academic content standards.  Such programs may be carried out
in conjunction with other educational reform efforts, and must take
into consideration the views of the parents of the students to be
taught under the program and the views of the students.  Each
application must describe how parents, students, students with
disabilities (including those with mental or physical
disabilities), and other members of the community, including
members of private and nonprofit organizations and faith-based and
community organizations, will be involved in the design and
implementation of the program and how the eligible entity will work
with the larger community to increase the reach and promise of the
program.
    Applications Available: December 22, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 24, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) An SEA in partnership with, (1) One or
more LEAs; or (2) One or more, (i) LEAs; and (ii) Nonprofit
organizations or entities, including faith-based and community
organizations, and an institution of higher education (IHE); (b) An
LEA or consortium of LEAs; or (c) An LEA in partnership with one or
more nonprofit organizations
or entities, including faith-based and community organizations, and
an IHE.  Charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law
are also eligible to apply.
    Estimated Range of Awards: For State educational agencies
(SEAs), $500,000-$750,000.  For local educational agencies (LEAs),
$250,000-$500,000.  We anticipate that applicants who request
funding at the higher end of these ranges would respond to the
competitive preference priority to implement experimental or quasi-
experimental designs.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: For SEAs, $600,000 for each
12- month budget period.  For LEAs, $350,000 for each 12-month
budget period.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/122208b.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) --
  Special Focus Competition: European Union-United States Atlantis
  Program (Federal Register: December 22, 2008 [CFDA# 84.116J])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the program is to provide grants
to or enter into cooperative agreements with eligible applicants to
improve postsecondary education.
    Applications Available: December 22, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 23, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs) or
combinations of IHEs and other public and private nonprofit
institutions and agencies.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $35,000-$116,000 for the first year
only.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $35,000 for a Policy Oriented
Measures grant, $45,000 for a Mobility grant, and $116,000 for a
Transatlantic Degree grant.  These figures are for the first year
of funding in a multi-year grant.  You can find a detailed
description of each of these three types of grants in the program
guidelines in the application package for this competition.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 45.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/122208a.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Teaching American History Grant Program (Federal Register:
  December 23, 2008 [CFDA# 84.215X])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The Teaching American History Grant Program
supports projects that aim to raise student achievement by
improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of
traditional American history.  Grant awards assist local
educational agencies (LEAs), in partnership with entities that have
extensive content expertise, to develop, implement, document,
evaluate, and disseminate innovative, cohesive models of
professional development.  By helping teachers to develop a deeper
understanding and appreciation of traditional American history as a
separate subject within the core curriculum, these programs are
intended to improve instruction and raise student achievement.
    Applications Available: December 23, 2008.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: January 22, 2009.
    Dates of Pre-Application Meetings: January 8, 2009 and January
12, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 9, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools that are
considered LEAs under State law and regulations, that must work in
partnership with one or more of the following entities: An
institution of higher education; a non-profit history or humanities
organization; a library or museum.  An LEA may form a consortium
with one or more other LEAs and submit a joint application for
funds.  The consortium must follow the procedures for joint
applications described in 34 CFR 75.127-129 of EDGAR.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$50,000,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2009.  The
actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional
action.  However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time
to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for
this program.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 52-65.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/122308h.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Educational Agencies
  (Federal Register: December 23, 2008 [CFDA# 84.060A])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The Indian Education Formula Grants to Local
Educational Agencies program provides grants to support local
educational agencies (LEAs) and other eligible entities described
in this notice in their efforts to reform and improve elementary
and secondary school programs that serve Indian students.  The
Department funds programs designed to help Indian students meet the
same challenging State academic content and student academic
achievement standards used for all students.  In addition, under
section 7116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
as amended (ESEA), the Secretary will, upon receipt of an
acceptable plan for the integration of education and related
services, authorize the entity receiving the funds under this
program to consolidate, in accordance with the entity's plan, the
funds for any Federal program exclusively serving Indian children,
or the funds reserved under any Federal program to exclusively
serve Indian children, that are awarded under a statutory or
administrative formula to the entity, for the purpose of providing
education and related services to Indian students.  Instructions
for submitting an integration of education and related services
plan are included in the EASIE described elsewhere in this notice
under Application Process and Submission Information.
    Part I of the Formula Grant Electronic Application System for
Indian Education (EASIE) Applications Available: December 23, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part I Applications: January 30,
2009.
    Part II of the Formula Grant (EASIE) Applications Available:
March 16, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Part II Applications: April 22,
2009.
    Applications not meeting the deadline for Part I applications
will not be considered for funding in the initial allocation of
awards.  Part II applications or data submissions will be accepted
only from those eligible applicants that meet the Part I
application deadline.
    Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools authorized
as LEAs under State law, certain schools funded by the Bureau of
Indian Education of the Department of the Interior, and Indian
tribes under certain conditions, as prescribed by section 7112(c)
of the ESEA.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $4,000-$2,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,775.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1,275.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/122308d.html
 
*******************************************************************
  High School Equivalency Program (HEP) (Federal Register: December
  23, 2008 [CFDA# 84.141A])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The purpose of HEP is to help migrant and
seasonal farmworkers and their children obtain a general education
diploma (GED) that meets the guidelines for high school equivalency
established by the State in which the HEP project is conducted, and
to gain employment or be placed in an institution of higher
education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training.
    Applications Available: December 23, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 24, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: IHEs or private non-profit organizations
(including faith-based organizations) that plan their projects in
cooperation with an IHE and propose to operate some aspects of the
project with the facilities of the IHE.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $180,000-$475,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $446,438.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 16.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/122308b.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Foundations for Learning (Federal Register: December 24, 2008
  [CFDA# 84.215H])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: This program supports projects to help eligible
children become ready for school.
    Applications Available: December 24, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 24, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: (1) LEAs, including charter schools that
are considered LEAs under State law; (2) local councils; (3) CBOs,
including faith-based organizations; (4) other public or nonprofit
private entities; or (5) a combination of such entities.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $245,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/122408a.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program (Federal Register: December
  30, 2008 [CFDA# 84.184L])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS)
program supports the implementation and enhancement of integrated,
comprehensive community-wide plans that create safe and drug-free
schools and promote healthy childhood development.
    Applications Available: January 5, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 4, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools that are
considered LEAs under State law, and consortia of LEAs.
    Estimated Range of Awards: Up to $750,000 for an LEA with fewer
than 5,000 students; up to $1,500,000 for an LEA with at least
5,000 students but fewer than 35,000 students; and up to $2,250,000
for an LEA with at least 35,000 students.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $750,000 for an LEA with
fewer than 5,000 students; $1,500,000 for an LEA with at least
5,000 students but fewer than 35,000 students; and $2,250,000 for
an LEA with at least 35,000 students.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 28.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/123008c.html
 
*******************************************************************
  College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) (Federal Register:
  December 30, 2008 [CFDA# 84.149A])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The purpose of CAMP is to provide academic and
financial support to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and
their children complete their first year of college.
    Applications Available: December 30, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 23, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs) or
private non-profit organizations (including faith-based
organizations) that plan their projects in cooperation with an IHE
and propose to operate some aspects of the project with the
facilities of the IHE.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $180,000-$425,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $410,615.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 13.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-4/123008b.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Competition (Federal
  Register: January 6, 2009 [CFDA# 84.364A])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to improve
student reading skills and academic achievement by providing
students with increased access to up-to-date school library
materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library
media centers; and well-trained, professionally certified school
library media specialists.
    Applications Available: January 6, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 6, 2009.
    Eligible Applicants: LEAs, including charter schools and State-
administered schools that are considered LEAs under State law, in
which at least 20 percent of the students served by the LEA are
from families with incomes below the poverty line based on the most
recent satisfactory data available from the U.S. Census Bureau at
the time this notice is published.  These data are Small Area
Income and Poverty Estimates for school districts for income year
2007.  A list of LEAs with their family poverty rates (based on
these Census Bureau data) is posted on our Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/eligibility.html.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $30,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $231,849
    Estimated Number of Awards: 80.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2009-1/010609d.html
 
*******************************************************************
  Homeless Education Disaster Assistance Program (Federal Register:
  January 9, 2009 [CFDA# 84.383A])
*******************************************************************
Summary: The Homeless Education Disaster Assistance program is a
new, one-year program authorized under the Consolidated Security,
Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009.  This
program provides assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) or
consortia of LEAs located within the same State whose enrollment of
homeless students has increased as a result of a natural disaster
that occurred in calendar year 2008 (2008).
    Application Deadline: February 9, 2009, 4:30:00 p.m. Eastern
time.
    Eligible Applicants: Under this program, eligible applicants
are LEAs that have a total of at least fifty students enrolled in
one or more grades, kindergarten through grade twelve, who became
homeless as a result of a natural disaster that occurred during
2008.  Due to the limited amount of funding available under this
program, only LEAs or consortia that meet this minimum threshold
are eligible for a grant.
    Determination of award amount: Congress has appropriated $15
million for this program.  The Department will award these funds,
based on demonstrated need, to eligible LEAs that submit
applications that meet the requirements of this notice and of the
application package.  Each LEA will receive a proportionate share
of funds based on the number of students enrolled in the LEA in
kindergarten through grade twelve who became homeless as a result
of a natural disaster that occurred in 2008.  Specifically, the
Department will calculate each LEA's award amount based on the
quotient obtained by dividing the number of its students enrolled
in kindergarten through grade twelve who became homeless as a
result of a natural disaster that occurred in 2008 by the total
number of such students for all eligible LEAs submitting an
application.
 
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2009-1/010909c.html
 
*******************************************************************
  National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
  (NIDRR) and Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and
  Centers Program--Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects
  (DRRPs) (Federal Register: December 24, 2008 [CFDA#s 84.133A-3
  and 84.133A-4])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the DRRP program is to improve
the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and
rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of
independent living and employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe
disabilities.  DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types
of activities, as specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through
350.19: Research, training, demonstration, development,
dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance.
    Eligible Applicants: States; public or private agencies,
including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations,
including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and
tribal organizations.
 
>  CFDA number and name: 84.133A-3 Research and Technical
Assistance Center on Vocational Rehabilitation Program Management.
    Applications available: 12/24/08
    Deadline for transmittal of applications: 02/23/09
    Date of preapplication meeting: 1/13/09
    Estimated average size of awards: $1,495,000
    Maximum award: $1,500,000
    Estimated number of awards: 1
 
>  CFDA number and name:
    Applications available: 12/24/08
    Deadline for transmittal of applications: 02/23/09
    Date of preapplication meeting: 1/13/09
    Estimated average size of awards: $495,000
    Maximum award: $500,000
    Estimated number of awards: 1