Grant Administration

Tab/Accordion Items

DPI administers state and federal grants that support a variety of public education programs. Depending on their funding source and purpose, these grants may be formula or discretionary.

Federal Grants Administered through the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

The following entities are eligible to apply for formula and discretionary funds:

  • Formula grants are available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs), regional, residential, and charter schools.
  • Discretionary grants may be available to LEAs, charter schools, regional and residential schools, and public and private nonprofit organizations, depending on the eligibility criteria defined in the legislation authorizing the grant program or by DPI.

Formula Grants

Formula, or Entitlement, grants provide funds to specific grantees on the basis of a formula, prescribed in legislation or regulation, rather than on the basis of an individual project review. The legislation authorizing this type of grant includes a mathematical formula for calculating the amount of grant funds, or the entitlement, that each applicant may receive. The formula is usually based on such factors as population, enrollment, per capita income, or a specific need. Applicants do not compete for these funds.

The three major formula grant programs that DPI administers are authorized by the following federal legislation:

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA)
  • Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 2006

Discretionary Grants

Discretionary subgrants are made to eligible recipients for individual projects in accordance with legislation that permits DPI to exercise judgment in selecting the project, subrecipient and amount of the award. Discretionary grants are usually issued through a competitive process and guidelines are published in the form of a request for proposal (RFP). Specific projects are selected and awarded in accordance with published criteria. All applicants must be eligible according to requirements of law, regulations, policy and other directions provided by the funding source.

Federal Program Monitoring

Federal Program Monitoring provides grant administration, program monitoring, data collection and reporting, and technical assistance for ESSA/NCLB/ESEA grant programs. The division's Comprehensive, Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) is a web-based planning and grants management tool used by local education agencies (LEAs), charter schools, and non-LEAs to apply for federal and state funds. The division supports the following grants:

Entitlement / Formula

  • Title I, Part A
  • Title I, Part C (Migrant Education)
  • Title I, Part D, Subpart1
  • Title II, Part A
  • Title III, Part A
  • Title IV, Part A
  • Rural Education Achievement Program (RLIS and SRSA)
  • School Improvement Grant

Competitive

  • McKinney-Vento
  • 21st Century Community Learning Centers
  • After-School Quality Improvement

Division of Exceptional Children

The Division of Exceptional Children (EC) provides grants administration and monitoring for multiple sources of funding to support students identified as having a disability through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Please see the Exceptional Children Finance and Grants Applications webpage for instructions regarding submission of federal grant applications.

Career and Technical Education Division

The mission of the Career and Technical Education Division (CTE) is to empower all students to be successful citizens, workers and leaders in a global economy through the provision of eight program areas. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) use the Local Planning System (LPS) for grant application, strategic planning, managing performance, and being accountable for CTE at local, state, and federal levels.

BAAS is the Budget and Amendment Approval System (BAAS) at NCDPI. All LEAs and public charter schools must submit budgets and amendments for federal funds through BAAS for approval by appropriate NCDPI program staff. Please follow the instructions on How to Subscribe to BAAS.

Regulations from the Office of Budget and Management (OMB), codified as Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2CFR) Part 200, govern all federal grants awarded by the US Department of Education (USDE) to the state or to LEAs and other subrecipients awarded on or after December 26, 2014. Refer to the Uniform Grant Guidance page (COMING SOON) for details on Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) and the revised Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).

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