Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program Grants

For programmatic or technical questions:
Amanda Bryans
888.242.0684
OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com

For grants management or budget questions:
Laura Landry
OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com

This program (Short Title: TCU-HS Partnership Programs) provides grants for tribal colleges and universities to establish or enhance partnerships with Head Start programs to increase the number of qualified education staff working in American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Grantees are expected to increase the number of qualified AIAN Head Start staff through programs that:

• Are responsive to the specific needs of the AIAN Head Start partner(s), including identifying needs such as access to technology and corresponding technical support
• Meet the educational needs of adult learners with diverse backgrounds
• Mitigate or eliminate access barriers, such as location or scheduling, through distance learning, on-site or community-based classes, or innovative approaches
• Include both knowledge and competencies required for effective teaching of young children in AIAN Head Start, including tribal culture and language
• Support individual enrollee needs, as necessary, through help accessing tuition reimbursement programs, direct tuition assistance, provision of books and technology, assistance with transportation and other costs related to enrollment, as well as ongoing student support and academic counseling
• Consider and incorporate course design and delivery methods, such as online course work with necessary technical and location-based coaching, that yield the highest completion rates for adults in higher education
• Incorporate learning cohorts or communities, use of on-site tutors or coaches, and other program and peer supports shown to result in higher completion rates

To meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and families, Head Start/Early Head Start grantees provide comprehensive early childhood services, including education, health, mental health, nutrition, and family engagement services to promote improved outcomes.

Eligible applicants include Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)).

Award ceiling: $6,000,000 per year
Award floor: $500,000 per year
Project period: 5 years
Estimated number of awards: 12
Estimated total program funding: $6,000,000

Links to the full announcement and the online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions will be found on the related documents tab.