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New U.S. Department of
Education Academic Grants for 2006-07
The U.S. Secretary of Education has announced two new
federal grant programs for recent high school graduates
with demonstrated financial need. The Academic
Competitiveness and National Science & Mathematics
Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grants will become
available in the 2006-07 school year. The new grant
programs are part of the Higher Education Reconciliation
Act of 2005, passed by Congress and signed by President
Bush on Feb. 8 of this year. They will provide $790
million in grants for the 2006-07 academic year and $4.5
billion over the next five years.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Eligibility for these grants is limited to first-year
college students who graduated high school after Jan. 1,
2006 and second-year students who graduated high school
after Jan. 1, 2005. Additionally, a student must
qualify for a Pell Grant to participate in these grant
programs.
ACADEMIC COMPETITIVENESS GRANTS
Academic Competitiveness Grants will provide up to $750
for the first year of undergraduate study and up to
$1,300 for a student’s second year of undergraduate
study. These grants will be awarded in addition to
students’ Pell Grants.
To qualify, a student must attend college full-time, be
eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and have successfully
completed a rigorous high school program, as determined
by their state or local education agency and recognized
by the Secretary of Education. Second-year students
must also have maintained at least a 3.0 cumulative
grade point average (GPA).
NATIONAL SMART GRANTS
National SMART Grants will provide up to $4,000 per year
for a student’s third and fourth years of undergraduate
study. They will be awarded in addition to students’
Pell Grants.
To qualify, a student must attend college full-time, be
eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and be majoring in
physical, life, or computer sciences; mathematics;
technology; engineering; or a foreign language
determined to be critical to national security.
Students must also have maintained at least a 3.0
cumulative GPA in coursework required for their major.
A full list of eligible majors is posted at:
http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN0606.html.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the new Academic Competitiveness
and National SMART grants, go to:
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2006/05/05022006.html.
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