Education Dept Offers $4M Grants for Smarter State Tests
Published Date: 5/5/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education and Labor are offering up to $4 million in grants to states for improving school tests that measure student learning and growth. State education agencies have until June 16, 2026, to apply for this funding to create smarter, fairer, and more useful assessments. This is a big chance to boost how schools check what students know and help them learn better.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Up to $4M Grants for State Assessments
If you are a State educational agency, you can apply for a Competitive Grants for State Assessments award with a maximum of $4,000,000 for a project period up to 48 months. The minimum award is proportional to the State's share of school-age children, eligible applicants include SEAs of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and consortia of such SEAs, and complete proposals are due through Grants.gov by 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 16, 2026.
Accessible Materials Available on Request
Individuals with disabilities can request this document in an accessible format by contacting the program contact, Donald Peasley, at (202) 453-7518 or by email at [email protected].
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-15665 — William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program
The government wants to change the rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to stop people working for shady employers from getting loan forgiveness. This means if your job is with an organization involved in serious illegal activities, you won’t qualify for loan help anymore. These changes protect taxpayers and make sure the program is fair, coming soon to keep things on the up and up.
2026-10058 — Notice Announcing National Professional Development Program Competition
The Department of Labor and Education are teaming up to offer up to $1 million a year in grants for colleges and education groups to help teachers get better at teaching English learners. If you’re part of a school or group that trains teachers, you can apply by July 14, 2026. This program focuses on improving teaching skills, using proven literacy methods, and boosting student success.
2026-10115 — Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
The Department of Education is renewing a program that shares info with the Department of Veterans Affairs to double-check if financial aid applicants really are veterans. This helps make sure only eligible students get aid, starting around late June 2026 and lasting 18 months. If all goes well, the program might extend for another year, with public comments open until June 22, 2026.
2026-10100 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; ED-524 Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form and Instructions
The Department of Education wants to keep using its ED-524 Budget Information form for non-construction programs without any changes. Schools and organizations that fill out this form should know they can comment on this plan until July 20, 2026. This extension won’t cost extra or change how the form works, but your feedback can help keep things smooth and simple!
2026-09983 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Federal Perkins Loan Program Regulations and General Provisions Regulations
The Department of Education is asking to keep collecting info for the Federal Perkins Loan Program without changing the current forms or rules. This affects students, schools, and government groups who deal with these loans. You’ve got until June 18, 2026, to share your thoughts, but no new costs or big changes are coming—just a smooth continuation!
2026-10013 — Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants
Starting July 20, 2026, students and schools will see new rules for Pell Grants thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Now, some other grants won’t count against Pell Grant eligibility, and a new Workforce Pell Grant will help students in short, job-focused programs get financial aid. This means more chances for students to get money for education that leads straight to good jobs!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-08694 — Agency Information Collection Extension
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is asking to keep collecting feedback from the public for three more years without changing anything. This helps EIA understand how well they’re serving customers and find ways to improve. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to send comments by June 4, 2026—no cost or hassle involved!
Next: 2026-08696 — 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Post-Award Reporting
HUD wants to update how it collects reports from groups getting help through the Community Compass program. This affects organizations receiving HUD support, who will need to provide updated info after their awards. Comments on these changes are open until July 6, 2026, and the updates aim to make reporting clearer without adding extra costs.