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

Overview

The aim of the SPECA program is to develop and increase the quality of K-14 food and agricultural academic programs at eligible institutions. SPECA-funded projects must engage more than a single course or individual instructor. This program encourages applicants to collaborate between institutions and agencies to achieve the program’s overall goals and objectives which are listed below.  

The purpose of the SPECA program is to award grants which: 

1. Enhance curricula in agricultural education
2. Increase faculty teaching competencies
3. Interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences
4. Promote the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into other instructional programs, particularly classes in science, business, and consumer education
5. 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
6. Support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education
7. Support current agriculture in the classroom programs for grades K–12. 

Current Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs)

There are currently no open NOFOs. Please check back for updates or subscribe to NIFA Update.

Eligibility

The following groups are eligible to receive funding:

1. Public secondary schools
2. Public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges
3. Institutions of higher education
4. Nonprofit organizations

Previously Funded Projects

Explore SPECA Projects