Military-Connected Schools Construction, Modernization and Facilities Maintenance Program
🏛 DoD Education Activity
Can you apply?
This grant is for local education agencies (LEAs) serving military-connected students. Your LEA must be eligible for Department of Education Impact Aid Basic Support Payments, meaning you educate at least 400 federally connected children in average daily attendance, or they make up at least 3% of total attendance.
Target schools must have 15% or more military-connected student enrollment at application time. Military-connected includes children of uniformed service members and children whose parents work on Federal property. Enrollment must be verifiable through school records or military student identifier sources.
Funds support construction, modernization, renovation, or expansion of school facilities. Projects must address health, safety, accessibility, environmental quality, emergency preparedness, or academic learning conditions. Debt service for these activities is also allowable.
Program description
The opportunity is authorized under 10 U.S.C. § 2008, which permits the Department of War (DoW) to use appropriated funds to support the construction, renovation, repair, or expansion of school facilities serving federally connected students. The goal of this opportunity is to strengthen learning conditions for military‑connected students by addressing critical infrastructure needs. Funded projects should support one or more of the following objectives:
· Modernizing or renovating school facilities to improve health, safety, accessibility, environmental quality, and emergency preparedness. Projects may include upgrades to building systems, structural improvements, or the creation of safe and secure learning spaces that contribute to student success.
· Enhancing academic learning conditions through facility‑based improvements, such as upgraded classrooms, modernized instructional areas, specialized learning spaces, and technology‑ready environments.
The amount available through this announcement is $100M. Publication of this notice does not oblige DoWEA to award a grant to any specific project or to obligate any available funding. Applications submitted under this announcement may be considered for funding in subsequent fiscal years subject to the availability of funds. Funds must be used for educational facilities only. Any LEA that receives funds under this subsection shall use such funds for construction, as defined in section 7013(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (codified at 20 U.S.C. § 7713(3)). The term ‘‘construction’’ means the following:
· The preparation of drawings and specifications for school facilities;
· Erecting, building, acquiring, altering, remodeling, repairing, or extending school facilities;
· Inspecting and supervising the construction of school facilities; and
· Debt service for such activities.
There are two funding priorities. Those priorities are as follows:
· Priority 1 will be given to applicants whose projects demonstrate an emergency need. Emergency needs may include addressing facility conditions that pose immediate health or safety risks, such as structural failure, significant roof leaks that threaten building integrity, inoperable HVAC systems that create unsafe temperatures, or environmental hazards such as mold, water intrusion, or failing electrical systems that jeopardize student safety. The following conditions may pose an immediate threat to life safety and would be considered emergency need(s):
a. Compromise structural integrity;
b. Violate applicable building or fire codes in a manner that risks occupancy; or
c. Render the facility unusable for instructional purposes.
· Priority 2 will be given to applicants whose project shows clear alignment between physical modernization and academic needs, including construction or renovation activities that directly support instructional delivery.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative describing facility condition and scope
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Proof of military-connected student enrollment (school records, military identifiers)
- Evidence of Impact Aid eligibility documentation
- Construction specifications and/or plans
- Architect or engineer assessment of facility condition
Program contact
- 👤 Jennifer E Dailey-Perkins Grantor
- 📧 dodea.grants@dodea.edu
- 📞 571-372-5861
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.556 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$2,000,000
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$2,000,000
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$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
-
$2,000,000
Top States by Funding
- VA 10 awards $18.5M
- CA 10 awards $18.3M
- WA 9 awards $13.5M
- TX 8 awards $10.9M
- HI 6 awards $10.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.556). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2018 | $36,122,355 | |
| 2019 | $22,645,772 | |
| 2020 | $22,378,125 | |
| 2021 | $47,262,800 | |
| 2022 | $63,000,000 | |
| 2023 | $73,249,999 | |
| 2024 est. | $29,999,999 | |
| 2025 est. | $1,999,998 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
LEAs eligible for Department of Education Impact Aid Basic Support Payments can apply. Your LEA must serve at least 400 federally connected children in average daily attendance, or they must represent at least 3% of total attendance.
What schools qualify as target schools?
Target schools must have 15% or more military-connected student enrollment. Military-connected students are children of uniformed service members or children whose parents work on Federal property.
What types of construction projects are eligible?
Eligible activities include drawings and specifications, erecting or acquiring facilities, altering or renovating buildings, repairing or extending facilities, inspecting/supervising construction, and debt service for these activities.
Are there funding priorities?
Yes. Priority 1 goes to projects with emergency needs like structural failure, roof leaks, inoperable HVAC, or environmental hazards. Priority 2 supports projects clearly aligned with academic modernization needs.
What is the funding range for this grant?
Awards typically range from $250,000 to $25,000,000, with $100M available total. No cost-sharing is required from your organization.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Document military-connected enrollment thoroughly using school records and military student identifiers. Verification is required at application time.
- Demonstrate clear alignment between facility improvements and either emergency safety needs or academic instructional delivery. Prioritize emergency conditions if applicable.
- Include detailed project scope, timelines, and budget. Construction projects require clear specifications and cost documentation.
- Leverage Impact Aid documentation you already have. Ensure your LEA's Impact Aid eligibility is current before submitting.
- Plan for inspection and supervision costs. Remember that debt service and professional services for construction are allowable expenses.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when military-connected enrollment cannot be verified through official records. Lack of clear documentation of the 15% threshold is a major issue. Projects that lack demonstrated emergency or academic alignment typically score poorly. Weak or incomplete construction scope definitions hurt competitiveness.
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