Biden-Harris administration awards funds to diversify educator workforce

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that it is awarding grants to eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program (Hawkins) and the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP). Additionally, an award will be made to establish a National Technical Assistance Center to Diversify the Workforce Serving Children with Disabilities.

The Biden-Harris Administration was the first to secure funding for the Hawkins program, which awards grants to HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to increase the number of well-prepared teachers from diverse backgrounds in underserved elementary and secondary schools. These institutions have historically prepared a significant share of the nation’s teachers of color, producing 50% of all Black teachers, thus playing a key role in addressing educator shortages and increasing educator diversity. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, four HBCUs are receiving grants.

Tomorrow, $1.5 million will be awarded to establish a National Technical Assistance Center to Diversify the Workforce Serving Children with Disabilities. This Center will support HBCUs, TCCUs, and other MSIs offering high-quality degree or certification programs in early intervention, early childhood special education, special education, or related services. The Center aims to help these institutions develop high-quality programs and increase successful federal grant applications.

These announcements form part of the Department’s broader efforts since Day One of the Administration to enhance educator diversity. The Biden-Harris Administration has emphasized educator diversity as crucial for strengthening and supporting the teaching profession through various grant programs while encouraging state efforts towards this goal.

In efforts to diversify Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) professions—including creating a pipeline for STEM educators—the Department is announcing new MSEIP grant awards aimed at long-term improvements in science and engineering education for underrepresented minorities. In FY24, four HBCUs are receiving grants designed to reduce barriers for minority students entering STEM fields.

“Our nation’s beautiful diversity is one of our greatest cultural and economic strengths. The grants announced today build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in HBCUs and will help put more teachers of color in classrooms and in STEM careers—two key professions of today and tomorrow’s workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The four HBCUs receiving funding under the Augustus F. Hawkins program and the four receiving Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program awards will use the grants to further address longstanding barriers for underserved and underrepresented students.”

The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity established an Executive HBCU Space Lab—a collaboration between HBCUs, Federal government agencies, and industry partners—to boost HBCU engagement in space-related federal contracting. This initiative includes SpaceTechConnect, a free platform highlighting space-related capabilities at HBCUs.

A list of Hawkins grants awarded:

| State | Grantee | FY24 Funds |

|-------------|---------------------------------|------------|

| Georgia | Morehouse College | $621,492 |

| Louisiana | Grambling State University | $378,939 |

| North Carolina | North Carolina Central University | $122,325 |

| Texas | Prairie View A&M University | $495,012 |

| TOTAL | | $1,617,768 |

A list of MSEIP grants awarded:

| State | Grantee | FY24 Funding |

|-------------|---------------------------------|--------------|

| Georgia | Savannah State University | $299,480 |