To make grants of up to $5,000 for full-time (reduced for less than full-time)
attendance to students with substantial financial need who are enrolled at
postsecondary institutions.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: The agency responsible for
administering each State's need-based scholarship/grant program. U.S.
Territories are also eligible to apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Postsecondary education
students with substantial financial need will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation: A State application
reviewed and approved annually by the Secretary of Education qualifies the
State for student award funds. States pay administrative costs. This program
is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application Coordination: For technical
assistance for States regarding the State application, refer to ED Form 1288.
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This
program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: The designated State
student scholarship or grant assistance agency in each State annually applies
for State allotments/re-allotments of funds; refer to ED Form 1288. Eligible
students annually apply to their State of residence for a grant under this
program, if the State has received an allotment. Student applicants must
follow the application procedures as directed by each State and must
demonstrate substantial financial need to receive a grant. This program is
excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure: The Office of Student Financial
Assistance awards grants to State student scholarship or grant assistance
agencies for making grants or providing work-study financial assistance to
students.
Deadlines: Application forms are mailed annually
to eligible State agencies at least a month before the closing date which is
published annually in the Federal Register. Students must submit an
application according to deadlines established by the participating States.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 30 to 45
days.
Appeals: Appeals of final disapprovals can be
made to the Secretary and may be subject to judicial review.
Renewals: New State applications are required
annually.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: Each State
receives an allotment and possibly a re-allotment of funds based upon the
number of students it deems eligible to participate in the program relative to
the total number of such students in all States; no State receives less than
its fiscal year 1979 allotment (Section 415B(a)(1), HEA). Maintenance of
effort (MOE) requirements provide that annual State-appropriated expenditures
in the program must not be less than the average for the previous three fiscal
years (Section 415C(b)(8), HEA). States match Federal funds on at least their
MOE level, but not less than a one-to-one basis, out of resources appropriated
by the State which represent additional State grant expenditures over an
established base year, defined as the second year before the State entered the
LEAP Program (Section 415C(b)(6), HEA).
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Funds are
awarded for use by participating States for one award year at a time following
the year of application.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Annual fiscal performance report (ED Form
1288-1) and other reports as required by the Secretary.
Audits: Records are examined by State or Federal
auditors.
Records: States must maintain records sufficient
to identify student grants awarded in compliance with the program statute and
requirements concerning the expenditure of Federal funds and matching State
appropriated funds. Records must be retained for three years or until
completion of Department audit, whichever is later.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 91-0200-0-1-502.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $55,000,000; FY 02
est $67,000,000; and FY 03 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Maximum grant is $5,000; average grant is $1,000.
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 2001, approximately 90,000 students received grants to attend
public, private, and proprietary schools.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
34 CFR 692 (Program Regulations) reissued July 14, 1981, amended December 1,
1986, November 27, 1987, and January 28, 1994. Directory of State Agency
Official Contacts (current).
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Program description and a
List of State student scholarship or assistance agencies available in the
Education Department regional offices. Program is administered from the
Department's headquarters.
Headquarters Office: Policy Development Division,
Policy, Training, and Analysis Service, Office of Student Financial
Assistance, Department of Education, Grants Branch, 400 Maryland Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-5447. Telephone: (800) 433-3243.
Web Site Address: http://www.ifap.ed.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Not applicable.
