Comprehensive Centers (84.283)
Comprehensive Centers (Assistance Listing 84.283) is run by the Department of Education. It awarded $260 million in 40 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $6.5 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $4.8 million. Half of the 40 awards fell between $3.1 million and $9.0 million, and they ranged from $2.0 million to $19.5 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$260 million
- Grant awards40
- Typical award$4.8 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$50.0 million
- Size rank547 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding was roughly flat, $51.6 million in fiscal 2021 and $50.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 547th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 19 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 14 states and territories.
What the program funds
This program supports no fewer than 20 comprehensive centers that provide training, professional development, and technical assistance to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, regional educational agencies, and schools to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of instruction. By statute, the Department is required to establish at least 1 center in each of the 10 geographic regions served by the Department's regional educational laboratories (RELs). Information on the REL regions is available at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/.)
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutions of higher education (IHEs), or partnerships among such entities, or individuals with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities required in the notice inviting applications, including regional entities that carried out activities under the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such Act existed on the day before November 5, 2002) and title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) (as such title existed on the day before January 8, 2002).
What the money can and cannot pay for
The FY 2024 competition resulted in the Department making grant awards to 20 centers, including 4 content centers, 14 regional centers and 1 national center. In addition, the Department supports one center funded in FY 2016 in response to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) that focuses on students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability; this Center was re-competed in FY 2021. Grantees are required to develop 5-year plans for carrying out authorized activities that address State and regional needs. Information on allowable activities can be found in the statute, which is available at https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/comprehensive-centers-program#Legislation-and-Regulations.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
The Department held a competition for new awards in FY 2024 and made 5-year awards for 4 content centers, 14 regional centers, and one national center; awards ranged from $1.0 to $6.5 million. In addition, the Department supports a 5-year award for a center that focuses on students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability; this center receives $1.5 million per year and was re-competed in FY 2021. For additional information, see https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/comprehensive-centers-program. Funds also may be used to support contracts to study program implementation and effectiveness.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Comprehensive Centers (84.283) awarded $260 million across 40 grant awards, an average of $6.5 million per award.
Who usually wins
Businesses received 52% of the money, nonprofits 33% and colleges and universities 12%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Businesses | 14 | $134 million | 52% |
| Nonprofits | 19 | $85.1 million | 33% |
| Colleges and universities | 6 | $30.5 million | 12% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $9.9 million | 3.8% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 7 | $74.0 million |
| Virginia | 8 | $47.2 million |
| California | 5 | $36.5 million |
| North Carolina | 4 | $20.1 million |
| Colorado | 4 | $16.9 million |
| New Hampshire | 2 | $15.1 million |
| Alaska | 1 | $10.0 million |
| Oregon | 2 | $9.2 million |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $7.7 million |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $7.5 million |
| Hawaii | 2 | $6.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $4.0 million |
| New Jersey | 1 | $3.3 million |
| Arizona | 1 | $2.3 million |