Secondary & Postsecondary Education & Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom (SPECA)

 
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    CFDA#

    10.226
     

    Funder Type

    Federal Government

    IT Classification

    B - Readily funds technology as part of an award

    Authority

    National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

    Summary

    The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) program seeks to: (a) promote and strengthen secondary education and two-year postsecondary education in the food and agriculture sciences in order to help ensure the existence of a workforce in the United States that's qualified to serve the food and agriculture sciences system; and (b) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, two-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agriculture sciences in order to advance excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agriculture sciences


    The purpose of the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) program is to award grants to: 

    • Enhance curricula in agricultural education;
    • Increase faculty teaching competencies;
    • Interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences;
    • Promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education;
    • Facilitate joint initiatives by the grant recipient with other secondary schools, Institutions of higher education that award an associate's degree, and institutions of higher education that award a bachelor's degree to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education;
    • Support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and
    • Support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades K–12.

    The development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. SPECA education applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to equip students with technical and leadership abilities upon graduation. Specific activities may include:

    • Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; and working in teams;
    • Connecting the academic classroom experience with daily leadership roles and organizational activities;
    • Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and
    • Organizing leadership academies, workshops, training, etc. 

    Projects must support for-credit, academic instruction with a primary focus in at least one of the following three K-14 Grade Levels:

    • K-8 grade levels: Projects with a specific focus on any of the academic grades Kindergarten through eight.
    • Secondary School: Projects with a specific focus on any of the academic grades 9 through 12.
    • Junior or Community College: Projects with a specific focus on associate degree level (2-year postsecondary) activities. 
     

    History of Funding

    A total of $900,000 was the estimated funding for FY23.


    Since 2006, NIFA has awarded more than $7 million through the SPECA program to support K-14 educational and vocational training in the agricultural sciences, which contribute to a skilled, diverse scientific workforce in agriculture. Previously-funded projects include Dig It STL!(http://www.gatewaygreening.org/digitstl/), an internship program training St. Louis, Missouri, teens in urban agriculture and community leadership. Ellsworth Community College(https://ecc.iavalley.edu/academic/agriculture-animal-science/precision-agriculture/) in Iowa Falls, Iowa, expanded its Mobile Precision Ag Lab, a traveling high school agriculture curriculum with more onsite, hands-on activities and demonstrations, including unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced planter technologies. The project also established a Center for Knowledge and Skills to help students establish relationships with potential employers.

    Previously funded projects and their abstracts can be viewed at https://cris.nifa.usda.gov/cgi-bin/starfinder/0?path=fastlink1.txt&id=anon&pass=&search=%28GC%3DSPECA%29&format=WEBTITLESGIY

    Additional Information

    Educational Need Areas:

    1. Curriculum development, instructional delivery systems, and expanding student career opportunities- To promote new and improved curricula and materials to increase the quality of, and continuously renew, the Nation's K-14 academic programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Projects should stimulate the development and facilitate the use of exemplary education models and materials that incorporate the most recent advances in subject matter research, research on teaching and learning theory, and instructional technology. Projects must include strategies for the adoption and integration of curricula, materials and other products generated. 
    2. Facilitation interaction with other academic institutions- To promote K-14 focused activities that form linkages between secondary, 2-year postsecondary, and baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to maximize the use of resources supporting outstanding education in the food and agricultural sciences. Activities should focus on ensuring completion of secondary degrees, enrollment into postsecondary programs and/or transfer to a 4-year institution. Partnerships, collaborative arrangements, and shared resources between institutions (including course credit sharing arrangements) are encouraged. 

    The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recognizes research, education, and extension efforts will have the greatest impacts when programs are grounded in DEIA. NIFA is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply to funding opportunities as lead, co-lead, or subaward recipient(s), and to engage as leaders in the peer panel review process to support the development of strong networks and collaborations. NIFA encourages applications that engage diverse communities and have broad impacts through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future challenges.

    Contacts

    National Institute of Food and Agriculture

    National Institute of Food and Agriculture

    ,

    Carlos Ortiz

    Carlos Ortiz
    Waterfront Centre 800 9th Street, SW
    Washington, DC 20024
    (202) 445-5594

    Christopher Green

    Christopher Green

    ,
    (856) 328-7396
     

  • Eligibility Details

    Eligible applicants are only:

    • Independent School Districts
    • Other or Additional Information (See below)
    • State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed

    Applications may be submitted by eligible public secondary schools, public or private, nonprofit junior or community colleges, and nonprofit organizations. 

    Deadline Details

    Applications are to be submitted by March 8, 2024. A similar deadline is anticipated annually.

    Award Details

    Anticipated funding for FY24 $900,000. Awards range from $50,000- $150,000. Individual awards vary based on program category:

    • Regular Grants Applicants may request up to $50,000 (total, not per year). project periods may range from 24 to 36 months, including time to evaluate the results and report the impacts.
    • Collaborative Grant Type 1 (CG1) (Applicant + One or more Partners) Applicants may request up to $150,000 (total, not per year) The partners must share grant funds. project periods may range from 24 to 36 months, including time to evaluate the results and report the impacts.

    A cost match is not required.

    Related Webcasts Use the links below to view the recorded playback of these webcasts


    • Funding Classroom Technology to Empower Students and Teachers - Sponsored by Panasonic - Playback Available
    • Maximizing Technology-friendly Workforce Development Grants - Sponsored by Panasonic - Playback Available
    • Funding Data-driven Workforce Development Projects - Sponsored by NetApp - Playback Available

 

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