Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs and the World Language Advancement and Readiness Program | HE125422R0008

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

This discretionary grant opportunity is offered by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

2) Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is for independent school districts, also described as local educational agencies (LEAs).

3) What is the main purpose of the grant?

The core purpose is to fund practical, research-backed district programs that address one of two related priorities: (1) support for military-connected students (including challenges tied to frequent moves and school transitions), or (2) strengthening K-12 world language learning.

4) What are the two program tracks under this announcement?

Applicants must apply under one of these two program areas:

• Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP)
• World Language Advancement and Readiness Program (WLARP)

5) Do applicants have to choose between MCASP and WLARP, or can they apply to both?

Applicants must be explicit about which of the two program areas they are pursuing under this announcement. The project narrative and budget must clearly indicate whether the proposed work aligns to MCASP or to WLARP.

6) What is the expected focus of MCASP proposals?

MCASP-aligned proposals are expected to focus on supporting military-connected students and responding to challenges associated with frequent moves and school transitions, using practical, research-backed approaches designed around identified student needs.

7) What is the expected focus of WLARP proposals?

WLARP-aligned proposals are expected to focus on strengthening K-12 language learning by building or expanding strong world language programs for elementary and secondary students, using evidence-based practices and a clear implementation design.

8) Does DoDEA want innovative projects, and what does "innovative" mean here?

DoDEA signals interest in innovative applications, but proposals are expected to be grounded in evidence-based practices. In this context, "innovative" does not mean vague experimentation; the proposal should clearly show how the approach is research-backed and designed to meet identified student needs.

9) What must be included in the application package?

Funded districts are required to submit a written project narrative and a detailed budget table. Both must clearly show whether the project aligns to MCASP or WLARP.

10) How detailed should the project narrative be?

The narrative is expected to read like an implementation plan rather than a general description. It should clearly describe what will be done, who will do it, how progress will be measured, and how funds will be allocated across activities and years.

11) Is professional development required?

Yes. Professional development is described as a non-negotiable element. Every awarded project must include a professional development component, reflecting DoDEA's expectation that improvements are embedded in staff capacity rather than relying only on purchased materials or short-term services.

12) What does DoDEA mean by sustainability in this grant?

DoDEA emphasizes that grant-funded programs should be able to continue beyond the grant period. This typically implies planning for long-term staffing, integration into standard operating budgets, or durable partnerships and systems that do not disappear when grant dollars end.

13) What does DoDEA mean by replicability?

Districts are expected to demonstrate approaches that could be shared with and duplicated by other LEAs. This expectation pushes applicants to plan for dissemination, such as documentation, toolkits, training models, data reporting, or other ways to package lessons learned so they can be used beyond one district.

14) Are districts expected to share results or materials with other LEAs?

Yes. The opportunity includes an explicit dissemination expectation tied to replicability. Applicants are expected to think about how they will document and share what they learn so the approach can travel beyond a single district.

15) What is the award size for this opportunity?

Individual grants will be no less than $500,000 and may be as large as $2,000,000, depending on available funds.

16) How many awards does DoDEA plan to make?

DoDEA intends to make multiple awards, depending on available funds.

17) What is the performance period (project length)?

The performance period is up to five years.

18) Why is the grant structured as a multi-year award?

The multi-year structure is intended to support meaningful implementation rather than a one-time pilot, giving districts time to build programs, train staff, refine practices, and track outcomes over several school cycles.

19) What type of funding instrument is used?

This opportunity uses the grant instrument type.

20) What funding category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity falls under the education funding activity category.

21) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 12.556.

22) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is HE125422R0008.

23) What were the original posting and application dates listed?

The creation date listed for this posting was January 31, 2022, and the original application closing date listed was April 8, 2022.

24) What is the most important compliance takeaway for applicants?

Applicants must clearly designate whether the proposed work is aligned to MCASP or WLARP, and they must include a professional development component. The project narrative and budget should function as a clear, measurable implementation plan with multi-year allocations.