The *Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program Grants* (Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-YT-R11-0156) provides $6 million in competitive funding to Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to increase the number of qualified education staff in American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This program, under the statutory authority of Section 648 of the Head Start Act, focuses on strengthening partnerships between TCUs and AIAN Head Start recipients. The goal is to develop accessible and flexible degree and credentialing programs that address the unique needs of AIAN communities, supporting career pathways for current or prospective Head Start education staff.

The program emphasizes collaborative partnerships between TCUs and AIAN Head Start recipients to enroll, retain, and graduate students who will meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). These partnerships must outline clear goals, obligations, and timelines, as well as innovative methods for supporting adult learners. Examples of effective strategies include flexible course delivery (on-site, remote, or hybrid), strong student support systems, financial assistance for tuition and materials, matriculation agreements for credit transfers, credit for professional experience, and remedial instruction when needed. Recipients are also encouraged to incorporate tribal culture and language coursework into their programs to ensure culturally responsive education.

The expected total funding is $6 million, with up to 12 awards anticipated. The award ceiling is $6 million per budget period, and the award floor is $500,000 per budget period. Individual awards are expected to average $500,000 annually. The project will operate over a 60-month period, divided into five 12-month budget periods. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2025. Funding will depend on availability, satisfactory progress, and approval of continuation applications. The recipient must ensure the program is operational within 60 days of the award date.

Eligible applicants are limited to TCUs as defined under Section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which must also be fully accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Applications from individuals, foreign entities, or non-TCU organizations will not be considered. Applicants must demonstrate strong partnerships with one or more AIAN Head Start programs and include proof of eligibility, legal status, and accreditation in their application package. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this program, but recipients will be held accountable for any voluntary cost-sharing included in their applications.

Applicants must submit their proposals electronically through Grants.gov by the deadline of January 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications must adhere to strict formatting guidelines, including page limits (75 pages total), font style (Times New Roman, 12-point), double-spacing for most sections, and specific file submission requirements. Applications that fail to comply with these requirements, exceed the award ceiling, or miss the submission deadline will be disqualified.

The program will evaluate recipients based on their success in enrolling and graduating the target number of AIAN Head Start staff and meeting project milestones. TCU-HS recipients must have dedicated full-time staff to coordinate the project, monitor performance, and meet all reporting requirements. They are also required to participate in up to two annual meetings with the Office of Head Start (OHS) in Washington, DC, or another designated location to share progress and innovations. Recipients will submit quarterly data to OHS to assess enrollment, progress, and ongoing program improvements.