USDA-NIFA-CSPECA-32938: Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA notices from 2026.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA offered grants of up to $150,000 (at least $10,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 10 awards worth $750,000 in total. Applications closed on July 27, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed July 8, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$150,000
- Award floor$10,000
- Total funding$750,000
- Expected awards10
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | July 8, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | July 27, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | August 31, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Applications may only be submitted by: (1) public secondary schools 20 U.S.C. 7801(45), (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, (3) institutions of higher education (20 U.S.C. 1001), or (4) nonprofit organizations (Attach IRS 501(c)(3) status under R&R 'Other Project Information' Field 12 Other Attachments).
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom awards averaged $163,148; this notice allows up to $150,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (64% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The purpose of the 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 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.
Who has won Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom (10.226) awarded $6.7 million across 41 grant awards, an average of $163,148 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization Inc | Arkansas | 2 | $3.4 million |
| University of Arkansas | Arkansas | 2 | $299,932 |
| Regents of the University of Idaho | Idaho | 1 | $240,721 |
| Oregon State University | Oregon | 2 | $189,872 |
| University of Missouri System | Missouri | 1 | $150,000 |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is USDA-NIFA-CSPECA-32938 still open?
No. It closed on July 27, 2026.
Who can apply for Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program?
National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program?
Closed July 27, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $150,000 each. About $750,000 in total across about 10 awards.
Who has won Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization Inc, University of Arkansas, Regents of the University of Idaho. The program made 41 awards worth $6.7 million in that time.
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