Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Indian Education (OIE): Indian Education Discretionary Grants Programs: Native American Language (NAL@ED) Program CFDA Number 84.415B | ED GRANTS 050417 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 050417 001

The Native American Language (NAL@ED) Program (CFDA 84.415B) is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), through the Office of Indian Education (OIE). The program is designed to strengthen and expand education models where a Native American or Alaska Native language is used as the primary language of instruction in schools, while also supporting broader community efforts to sustain language and culture. The opportunity is grounded in the principles of the Native American Languages Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.), which affirms the rights of Native peoples to use, practice, maintain, and revitalize their languages.

The core purpose of the grant is threefold. First, it supports schools that teach primarily through Native American or Alaska Native languages, which often includes immersion or other bilingual models where the Indigenous language is central rather than supplemental. Second, it directly advances language preservation and revitalization by protecting and promoting the freedom to use these languages in educational settings and daily life, aligning with federal policy recognizing the importance of Indigenous language rights. Third, it aims to strengthen the efforts of First Peoples to sustain language and cultural continuity while improving educational opportunities and student outcomes in Native communities, emphasizing that language revitalization and academic success are connected goals rather than competing priorities.

From an applicant standpoint, the notice emphasizes that eligibility is not fully spelled out in the synopsis and that applicants need to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for definitive eligibility rules, priorities, required components, and performance measures. In the summary data provided, eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that the detailed eligibility categories and any required partnerships or documentation are contained in the official notice rather than the brief summary.

The application process is strictly electronic through Grants.gov. Applicants must locate the application package by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix, meaning applicants should search for "84.415" rather than "84.415B." The process described is: download the package from Grants.gov, complete it offline, then upload and submit it through the Grants.gov system. The agency specifically notes that applications cannot be submitted by emailing an electronic copy to the Department of Education, so submission method compliance is a key administrative requirement.

For the 2017 competition described, applications became available on May 4, 2017, with a deadline to submit applications by June 19, 2017. The Department strongly encouraged (but did not require) a Notice of Intent to Apply by June 8, 2017. This notice was meant to help the Department plan the review process, and it required prospective applicants to email OESE.NAL.ED2017@ed.gov with the subject line "Intent to Apply" and include the applicant organization name and address plus the Native language the project would focus on. Even without submitting that notice, an applicant could still apply, but providing it was framed as helpful for administrative planning.

The Department also planned to offer pre-application technical assistance via webinars, with details to be posted on the NAL@ED program website hosted on the Department of Education domain. This kind of pre-application support is typically intended to clarify federal requirements, explain submission steps, and reduce common compliance issues that can render an application incomplete or nonresponsive.

In terms of funding scale, the opportunity listed an award ceiling of $300,000 and anticipated making about four awards. While the synopsis does not spell out project length, allowable costs, selection criteria, or competitive priorities, it repeatedly directs applicants to the Federal Register notice for those specifics, along with requirements related to performance measures and other mandatory application elements. The key takeaway is that this grant is aimed at supporting Native language-centered instruction and community language revitalization strategies through competitive federal education funding, with applications submitted through Grants.gov under CFDA 84.415.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Indian Education (OIE): Indian Education Discretionary Grants Programs: Native American Language (NAL@ED) Program CFDA Number 84.415B" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.415.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2017 Applications Available May 4, 2017. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply June 8, 2017. Notice of Intent to Apply We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of the applicants intent to submit an application by emailing OESE.NAL.ED2017@ed.gov with the subject line Intent to Apply and include in the content of the email the following information (1) The applicant organizations name and address, and (2) the Native language on which the project would focus. Applicants that do not provide notice of their intent to apply may still submit an application. Date of Pre-Application Meeting We intend to hold webinars to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Detailed information regarding these meetings will be provided on the NAL@ED program Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oie/index.html. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications June 19, 2017.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for ED GRANTS 050417 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: