The U.S. Department of Education has announced the allocation of over $67 million in new grants aimed at promoting school diversity and educational equity. This includes $65.4 million for 12 new Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) awards and $1.7 million for two new Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grant Program (FDS) awards.

"Diversity is America’s superpower. When students learn alongside those from different backgrounds, their horizons broaden, and more equitable access to enriching, well-rounded education can be achieved," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "These new awards will help us raise the bar for academic achievement and educational equity—supporting schools and districts in building enriching, diverse, and inclusive school communities."

The MSAP awards will support 37 magnet schools that aim to bring together students from varied social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds through academically challenging and innovative instructional approaches. The funds will be used to promote desegregation, increase academic achievement, build educator capacity, increase family engagement, and foster community collaboration.

The Fostering Diverse Schools awards will support voluntary local and state efforts to enrich student educational experiences by creating more diverse and inclusive school communities.

The Department plans to highlight these 14 new awards at the 2024 Magnet Schools of America Fall Policy Training Conference in Arlington, Virginia.

President Biden has emphasized that diversity is America's greatest strength. Research shows that students benefit academically and socially from learning in diverse environments. The Department of Education aims to ensure equitable access to high-quality education through investments like MSAP and FDS.

Full lists of awards are provided below:

Magnet Schools Assistance Program

- Arkansas: Little Rock School Board - $5,804,522

- Connecticut: New Haven Public Schools System - $5,972,554

- Connecticut: LEARN Regional Educational Service Center (in collaboration with New London Public Schools) - $3,574,614

- Florida: School Board of Seminole County Florida - $3,170,772

- Iowa: Cedar Rapids Community School District - $6,513,812

- Illinois: Board of Education City of Chicago - $6,776,615

- Kentucky: Fayette County Public Schools - $6,118 ,827

- Louisiana: Tangipahoa Parish School System (in collaboration with East Baton Rouge Parish and Rapides Parish School Systems) - $7 ,091 ,733

- North Carolina: Durham Public Schools - $5 ,205 ,080

- South Carolina: Beaufort County School District - $5 ,684 ,536

- Tennessee: Metro Nashville Public Schools - $5 ,497 ,411

- Virginia: Fairfax County Public Schools - $4 ,030 ,370

Total funding for MSAP is approximately $65 .44 million.

Fostering Diverse Schools Grants

- California : Citizens of the World Charter School –$831 ,811

–Florida :School Boardof Miami-Dade –$846410

Total fundingfor FDSis approximately$1 .68million.