DoDEA Awards Grants in Support of Military-Connected Student Achievement

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is excited to announce recent grant awards to 45 military-connected local education agencies (LEAs) across the United States. This investment represents over $63 million dollars in fiscal year (FY) 22 funding to support military-connected student achievement.

Congress provided $15 million dollars in funding to promote foreign language study programs targeting elementary and secondary students through the World Language Advancement and Readiness Program (WLARP). These funds allowed for establishment, improvement, or expansion of world language study for military-connected students in eligible school districts, and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.

The DoDEA grant program has proven to be a powerful tool over the past decade, providing resources to school districts educating approximately one million military-connected students in 36 states. Since 2009, DoDEA has awarded over 600 grants, totaling more than $716 million. These grants have impacted more than 3 million students in 140-plus LEAs across the United States.

DoDEA grants are focused on improving educational outcomes, narrowing achievement gaps, and providing access to academic programs that promote continuity in districts with a high population of military-connected students. Of the 45 grants awarded for FY22, 34 grants focus on Military Connected Academic, and Support Programs (MCASP) and 11 grants target World Language Advancement and Readiness (WLARP).

While the MCASP grants have been awarded in the past, this year’s cohort reflected 12 grants with a specific focus on literacy to ensure students are better supported to improve achievement across all content areas. Other focal topics for MCASP grants include social-emotional supports for students and science, technology, engineering, and math efforts.

This is the second year that DoDEA has awarded grants to establish, improve, or expand world language programs targeting elementary and secondary students. Experts indicate that students learning languages starting at the K-12 levels develop higher language proficiency than those starting in college – therefore, exposing elementary and secondary students to world languages is critical to developing and sustaining the pipeline of individuals with skills needed to address national security and economic competitiveness needs.

The DoDEA Education Partnership and Resources division’s work extends to military-connected students in U.S. and foreign locations that are not directly served by a DoDEA school. Through collaboration with multiple internal and external partners, technical assistance, resources and support are provided to facilitate continuity of education and equitable learning experiences for military-connected transitioning students PreK-grade 12. Learn more about DoDEA Grants.