Notice2026-06456
Notice Announcing Educational Opportunity Centers Program Competition
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 3, 2026
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Educational Opportunity Centers Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 64 (Friday, April 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16930-16931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06456]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice Announcing Educational Opportunity Centers Program
Competition
AGENCY: Department of Education (ED), Department of Labor (DOL).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S.
Department of Labor (DOL), is soliciting applications in support of the
administration of the Educational
[[Page 16931]]
Opportunity Centers Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of
Education (ED).
DATES: Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> ``APPLY'' function by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 14,
2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Wiley, Ed.D.: Telephone: (202)
987-0396, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#613300020900040d4f36080d04182104054f060e17"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d6f5c5e555c5851136a545158447d5859135a524b">[email protected]</span></a> or Sharon Easterling: Telephone:
(202) 453-7425, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dc8fb4bdaeb3b2f299bdafa8b9aeb0b5b2bb9cb9b8f2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="792a11180b1617573c180a0d1c0b1510171e391c1d571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC)
program (84.066A) is designed to provide information regarding
financial and academic assistance available for qualified individuals
who want to enter or continue to pursue a program of postsecondary
education; provide assistance to those individuals in applying for
admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary
education, including assistance in preparing necessary applications for
use by admissions and financial aid officers; and improve the financial
and economic literacy of program participants. The FY 2026 competition
includes priorities, selection criteria, and requirements. The
priorities are: Expanding Education Choice, Returning Education to the
States, and Expanding Access to Talent Marketplaces.
The program regulations for EOC require that ED publish the
following elements of the grant competition in the Federal Register:
(1) Number of Applications
<bullet> An applicant may submit multiple applications if each
separate application describes a project that will serve a different
target area (34 CFR 644.10(a)). The term ``target area'' is defined as
a geographic area served by a project (34 CFR 644.7(b)).
(2) Prior Experience
<bullet> As required by statute and program regulations, the
Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that have
conducted an EOC project. Such points will be awarded based on the
applicant's performance during second, third, and fourth years of the
performance period.
(3) Maximum Annual Award
<bullet> For an applicant that has not been designated by their
Governor as the state-level applicant, the annual maximum award is
$1,300,000.
<bullet> For one state-level applicant that has been designated by
their Governor as the state-level applicant, or for any Indian tribe
receiving points under the competitive preference priority, the maximum
annual award amount is $3,000,000.
(4) Number of Participants
<bullet> All projects must serve a minimum of 850 participants
annually and have a per participant cost of no more than $280.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 20 U.S.C. 1070a-16.
To Apply: The complete funding opportunity announcement and all
information needed to apply, including all priorities and program
requirements, are available on ED's website at <a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/federal-trio-programs/educational-opportunity-centers">https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-higher-education/federal-trio-programs/educational-opportunity-centers</a>, on DOL's website at <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities">https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/grants/apply/find-opportunities</a>, and on
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> at <a href="https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00292292-instructions.pdf">https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00292292-instructions.pdf</a>. The full application package
is available at <a href="https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361715">https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361715</a>.
The application notice and instructions on <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> is the official
document governing the grant competition.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format.
Note: Henry Maklakiewicz signs this notice in furtherance of
DOL's role in providing support to ED.
David Barker,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of
Education.
In concurrence
Henry Maklakiewicz,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2026-06456 Filed 4-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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