The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 "Grants to the Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs" (MCASP) and the "World Language Advancement and Readiness Program" (WLARP). These competitive grants aim to improve academic achievement among military-connected students and enhance world language proficiency in public schools. Award amounts will range from $500,000 to $2,000,000 per project, depending on the number of eligible students, with a period of performance from September 30, 2025, to May 31, 2030. Applications are due by April 18, 2025, through Grants.gov, and recipients will be notified by September 30, 2025.

The MCASP program focuses on supporting academic initiatives for highly mobile, military-connected students. Eligible projects may address curriculum development, educator training, virtual learning capabilities, and strategies to mitigate the impacts of student transitions and deployments. The WLARP program supports the establishment or expansion of world language programs, emphasizing Department of Defense Strategic Languages and American Sign Language (ASL). WLARP applicants must be part of Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) hosting or seeking to host Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) units. Both programs require initiatives to demonstrate meaningful integration of services, robust impact evaluation, and sustainability planning.

Eligibility is limited to LEAs, including charter schools recognized as LEAs, with schools having at least 10% military-connected student enrollment during the 2023-2024 school year. For WLARP, the presence of a JROTC unit within the district is an additional requirement. Military-connected students include dependents of Armed Forces members, civilian Department of Defense employees, and those employed on federal property. For-profit organizations, private schools, and individuals are not eligible. Subawards are not permitted.

Applications must include a detailed project narrative addressing program objectives, a budget narrative and table, and required federal forms such as the SF-424 series. The project narrative, limited to 30 pages, should outline needs assessments, goals, logic models, implementation plans, and evaluation frameworks. Appendices should include qualifications for key personnel, budget details, and any supporting documents. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative, impactful solutions aligned with the program’s goals.

Projects will be evaluated on criteria such as alignment with program objectives, feasibility of the implementation plan, impact potential, and sustainability strategy. Applications must adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, and submission as editable PDFs or Excel files through Grants.gov. Pre-recorded technical assistance will be available on February 28, 2025.

This funding opportunity represents a critical investment in addressing the educational needs of military-connected students and developing essential world language skills to support national security and global engagement. Additional details, including application templates and past funded project examples, can be found on DoDEA's grant website or by contacting the DoDEA Grants Program Office.