Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is designed to strengthen agriscience and agribusiness education across the pipeline, from K-12 exposure through two-year postsecondary programs and into broader higher education pathways. The central idea is to improve what students learn about food and agricultural sciences, how instructors teach it, and how schools and partners share resources so agricultural education is more modern, more integrated, and more accessible.
At its core, SPECA funds projects that upgrade and enhance agricultural education curricula and instruction. That can include developing new course content, refreshing existing programs to reflect current science and industry practices, and building stronger instructional approaches in agriscience and agribusiness. A major emphasis is also placed on improving faculty teaching competencies, meaning projects can focus on professional development, training, and other supports that help educators teach agriculture-related content more effectively. Another key goal is to spark and sustain student interest in pursuing higher education so more young people are prepared for scientific and professional careers tied to the food and agricultural sciences.
The program also prioritizes bringing agriculture into classrooms and subject areas where it may not traditionally appear. It explicitly encourages incorporating agriscience and agribusiness content into other instructional programs, especially in science, business, and consumer education courses. In practice, that could look like integrating agricultural data and systems thinking into biology, embedding agribusiness and entrepreneurship concepts into business classes, or using food systems as real-world contexts in consumer education. Alongside this integration focus, SPECA supports Agriculture in the Classroom efforts for grades K-12, reinforcing hands-on, age-appropriate learning that helps students connect agriculture to everyday life, the environment, and careers.
Collaboration is another central feature. SPECA promotes joint initiatives among eligible institutions to maximize and share resources such as faculty expertise, facilities, and equipment. The opportunity specifically highlights partnerships that connect secondary schools with two-year colleges and with four-year institutions, aiming to create smoother pathways, avoid duplication, and make better use of specialized assets. Projects can also support other locally, state, regionally, or nationally relevant initiatives that advance excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education, so applicants have room to tailor proposals to the needs and opportunities in their communities.
Eligibility is limited to specific applicant types. Applications may be submitted only by: (1) public secondary schools as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(45); (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges; (3) institutions of higher education as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001; or (4) nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations must provide documentation of IRS 501(c)(3) status as part of the application package (noted as an attachment in the R and R Other Project Information section, Field 12, Other Attachments).
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938, with assistance listing CFDA/Assistance Listing Number 10.226. The award ceiling is $150,000 per award, and USDA NIFA expects to make about 10 awards under this competition. The application closing date is July 27, 2026. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture, reflecting its focus on education and workforce development tied directly to the food and agricultural sciences.Apply for USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SPECA Challenge Grants Program?
The Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It supports projects that strengthen agriscience and agribusiness education from K-12 exposure through two-year postsecondary programs and into broader higher education pathways.
What is the main purpose of SPECA?
SPECA is designed to modernize and strengthen agricultural education by improving what students learn about food and agricultural sciences, how educators teach it, and how schools and partners share resources. The goal is to make agricultural education more modern, more integrated across subjects, and more accessible.
What kinds of projects does SPECA fund?
SPECA funds projects that upgrade and enhance agricultural education curricula and instruction. Examples described in the opportunity include developing new course content, refreshing existing programs to reflect current science and industry practices, and improving instructional approaches in agriscience and agribusiness.
Does SPECA support educator training and professional development?
Yes. A major emphasis is improving faculty teaching competencies. Projects can include professional development, training, and other supports that help educators teach agriculture-related content more effectively.
Is increasing student interest in agriculture-related higher education part of the program goals?
Yes. One of the program goals is to spark and sustain student interest in pursuing higher education so more young people are prepared for scientific and professional careers connected to the food and agricultural sciences.
Does SPECA encourage integrating agriculture into non-agriculture courses?
Yes. The program explicitly encourages incorporating agriscience and agribusiness content into other instructional programs, especially science, business, and consumer education courses.
What are examples of agriculture integration mentioned in the opportunity description?
Examples included in the description are integrating agricultural data and systems thinking into biology, embedding agribusiness and entrepreneurship concepts into business classes, and using food systems as real-world contexts in consumer education.
Does SPECA support Agriculture in the Classroom activities for K-12?
Yes. SPECA supports Agriculture in the Classroom efforts for grades K-12, emphasizing hands-on, age-appropriate learning that helps students connect agriculture to everyday life, the environment, and careers.
Are partnerships and collaboration encouraged?
Yes. Collaboration is a central feature of SPECA. The program promotes joint initiatives among eligible institutions to maximize and share resources such as faculty expertise, facilities, and equipment.
What types of partnerships are specifically highlighted?
The opportunity highlights partnerships that connect secondary schools with two-year colleges and with four-year institutions. The intent is to create smoother education pathways, avoid duplication, and make better use of specialized assets.
Can projects address local, state, regional, or national needs?
Yes. SPECA allows projects to support other locally, state, regionally, or nationally relevant initiatives that advance excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education, giving applicants flexibility to tailor proposals to community needs and opportunities.
Who is eligible to apply for SPECA?
Only the following applicant types may submit applications: (1) public secondary schools (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(45)); (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges; (3) institutions of higher education (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001); and (4) nonprofit organizations.
Do nonprofit applicants need to provide proof of nonprofit status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations must provide documentation of IRS 501(c)(3) status as part of the application package. The opportunity notes this documentation should be included as an attachment in the R and R Other Project Information section, Field 12 (Other Attachments).
Which federal agency administers this grant?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for SPECA?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing Number is 10.226.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $150,000 per award.
How many awards does USDA NIFA expect to make?
USDA NIFA expects to make about 10 awards under this competition.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is July 27, 2026.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture, reflecting the program focus on education and workforce development tied to the food and agricultural sciences.
Does SPECA focus only on K-12, or does it include postsecondary education too?
It includes both. SPECA is designed to strengthen education across the pipeline, from K-12 exposure through two-year postsecondary programs and into broader higher education pathways.
Is the program focused on agriscience, agribusiness, or both?
Both. The opportunity repeatedly emphasizes strengthening agriscience and agribusiness education, including curriculum and instruction improvements and integration into other subject areas.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Previous opportunity: Fiscal Year 2026 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011940 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 011940 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Laying Hen and Turkey Research Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 012080 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 012080 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $440,115 |
| Enhancing Biotechnology Market Opportunities for U.S. Exporters and American Farmers Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 109 26 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 109 26 0001 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Apply for USDA NIFA OP 012079 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 012079 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,145,845 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA CSPECA 32938", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.