College Access Challenge Grants

While there's been great anticipation leading up to Race to the Top, I3, and Real Housewives of DC -- we’ve heard from a handful of states in the past few days that have received word from the Department of Education that College Access Challenge Grant funds have been approved and should begin hitting the street any day now.  We’d been expecting an early September announcement (apps were due in July), and should hear something more formal from states and/or the Department in the coming days.

Check out our CACG summary here. 

Although they’re not anywhere near as big as some other funding buckets, CACG funds serve an important purpose: supporting outreach to populations of students traditionally underrepresented in higher education -– to help build awareness of opportunities and financing options, put boots on the ground to help mentor students, coach parents, and deliver some innovative solutions that tie it all together. 

While some states have taken more traditional approaches of printing leaflets or putting up websites to build awareness,’ states like Minnesota have taken bold steps and are doing things differently.  Bill Tucker at Ed Sector has written fair bit about this approach, and how data can be used to bolster students and the institutions that serve them. 

It's also of note that Greg Darnieder -- who knows more than just about anyone about what can help motivate kids and get them on the path to college from his time in Chicago Public Schools  -- was brought in by Secretary Duncan as Advisor on the Secretary's Initiative on College Access, to help oversee this expanded CACG funding as part of his portfolio.