Federal Grants Available: Improve K-12 Student Testing

You might care about this because the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Labor are offering significant funding to help states improve how they test elementary and secondary school students. This notice announces the Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Grants for State Assessments program. The main goal of these grants is to make student tests and assessment systems better. This includes improving how these tests measure what students learn and how much they grow academically. States can apply for funds to develop new and better ways to test students. This also covers creating more meaningful learning experiences through these assessments. The program aims to support improvements in how test scores are given and reported. It also focuses on tracking student growth and developing all-around academic tests. The grants also encourage states to improve how teachers and others understand test data. They want to create complete assessment systems that include different types of tests, such as those that help teachers check progress or diagnose learning issues. This is a chance for states to get up to $4,000,000 over four years to make important changes to their student testing programs. The deadline to apply is June 16, 2026. What makes this grant program particularly interesting is its focus on modernizing and refining the way states evaluate student learning. Instead of just funding existing practices, the Department of Education is actively seeking new approaches. For example, one priority is about developing "innovative assessment item types and design approaches." This means they are looking for fresh ideas beyond traditional multiple-choice questions, which could lead to more accurate and engaging ways to measure student understanding. Another key aspect is the emphasis on "meaningful learning opportunities." This shows a shift towards using assessments not just for scoring, but as tools that can actually help students learn and grow. The program also highlights the importance of "assessment and data literacy," suggesting a recognition that understanding how to interpret test results is just as important as the tests themselves. By offering grants for things like improving score reporting and creating comprehensive assessment systems, this initiative aims to create a more integrated and useful testing environment for students, teachers, and parents alike. It is about making tests work better for everyone involved in education. State educational agencies, which are the main education offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, would be most interested in this document. Groups of these agencies, called consortia, can also apply. This means that people working directly for state education departments will find this notice highly relevant. Specifically, those in charge of creating, implementing, and overseeing student assessment programs will want to pay close attention. Curriculum developers and educational researchers within these state agencies could also benefit from understanding these priorities. The grant offers a direct financial opportunity to fund projects that align with their goals for improving student achievement. Anyone involved in developing or managing large-scale student testing systems at the state level should review this document carefully. This includes assessment directors, program managers, and education policymakers looking for resources to update their state's testing methods. Teachers and school administrators might also find this information interesting, as these grants could lead to changes in the tests their students take.