Division: Academics and Performance

Office: Career Readiness

View Published NGO Document (Microsoft Word)

Middle Grades Awardee List (Microsoft Word)

Purpose:

It is the intent of the Middle Grades Career Awareness and Exploration Grant to cultivate the development of innovative career awareness and exploration programs focused on engaging career-focused instruction and unique experiences for students in the middle grades (defined as grades 5 – 8). Middle grades schools are well positioned to implement this initiative because of the organizational structures, programs and practices that support students’ unique academic, developmental, and social needs such as smaller learning communities, looping, advisory programs, and interdisciplinary teams.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has established a three year grant program. The Middle Grades Career Awareness and Exploration NGO is a limited competitive grant that is open to public school districts in New Jersey that contain grades 5, 6, 7, or 8. Applicants are required to implement the program in at least one grade level during the first year, and at least one additional adjacent grade in each subsequent year of the grant. Schools are required to participate in the project for at least two grant years. 21 awards will be made on a regional basis (7 in each region). Applicants may apply for up to $52,190.

Based on the availability of FY21 Federal Perkins Reserve – Innovation funds, this first year of this three year grant program will begin September 1, 2021 and will end on June 30, 2022.

Eligible Agencies:

Public School Districts containing Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8.