To meet the growing need for improved math and science instruction, on Feb. 8, 2006 President Bush signed into law two new student grant programs--the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART Grant) Programs. These grants will encourage students to take more challenging courses in high school--making success in college more likely, according to research--and to pursue college majors in high demand in the global economy, such as science, mathematics, technology, engineering and critical foreign languages.
Academic Competitiveness Grants will be available to students for their first and second academic years of college. National SMART Grants will be available to students for their third and fourth academic years of college.
Academic Competitiveness Grant Program and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant Program - Final Regulations (October 29, 2007)
Academic Competitiveness and National SMART Grants - Information for Students and Parents
Results are in! The year-one data for AC and National SMART Grants have been compiled. The resulting national and state profiles include suggestions for reaching the Department of Education’s goal of doubling the number of AC and National SMART Grant recipients nationwide by 2011.
Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) - Recognized State Rigorous Secondary School Programs of Study:
Academic Competitiveness Grant Program and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant Program - Final regulations (November 1, 2006)
Dear Colleague Letter from Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, James F. Manning, providing guidance to institutions concerning implementation of the "academic year" definition within the ACG and National SMART Grant programs for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 award years (October 20, 2006)
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART Grant) Programs - Program Web Site
Academic Competitiveness Grant Program and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant Program - Interim final regulations; request for comments (July 3, 2006)
Information for Students on ACG and National SMART Grants (June 29, 2006)
Press Release - Secretary Spellings Announces July 1 Availability of $790 Million in New Grants for Higher Education (June 21, 2006)
Press Release - U.S. Department of Education Announces Student Eligibility Options for New Academic Grants (May 2, 2006)
Dear Colleague Letter from Secretary Spellings describing plans for implementation (May 2, 2006)
Fact Sheet on Student Eligibility Options (May 2006)
Dear Colleague Letter from the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education and the Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid on ACG and National SMART Grant Programs (April 5, 2006)
- Attachment (PDF)Dear Colleague Letter from the Office of Postsecondary Education and the Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid providing the list of academic majors eligible for the National SMART Grants for the 2006-07 award year (May 2, 2006)
- Attachment (PDF)American Competitiveness Initiative - President Bush's 2006 education agenda, the American Competitiveness Initiative, aims to strengthen innovation and education in the U.S. by improving math and science education, foreign language studies, and high schools
