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Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants (SPECA) Program

The future of research in the food, forestry and consumer sciences depends on engaging children and teens in science. Community colleges also build an agricultural workforce. This grant supports the teachers and schools that make learning and engagement their passion. 

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, agriculture, natural resources and human (FANH) sciences in order to help ensure the existence in the United States of a qualified workforce to serve the FANH sciences system; and (b) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, two-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the FANH sciences in order to advance excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the FANH sciences.

Who Is Eligible to Apply

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

More Information on Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by eligible public secondary schools, public or private, nonprofit junior or community colleges, and nonprofit organizations. Important: see RFA for specific eligibility requirements.

Program type
Grant Program
Program Specific Resources
SPECA FAQs (pdf - 162.01 KB)

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