Description
The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) is a discretionary grant program that aims to assist migratory or seasonal farmworkers (or immediate family members of such workers) to obtain the equivalent of a secondary school diploma and subsequently to gain improved employment, enter military service, or be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training. The program is administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. The grant program will provide funding for a period of 60 months, with an estimated average size of awards of $500,000 per year. Applicants must submit a grant application that covers a period of five years, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant a shorter period, and includes an annual budget of not less than $180,000. The application requirements include a management plan, assurances, and a project narrative. The selection criteria include the quality of the project design, the quality of the project evaluation, the quality of the management plan, and the adequacy of resources. Some key points to consider are:
• The program's purpose and goals
• The target population and their needs
• The services to be provided and how they will be delivered
• The expected outcomes and how they will be measured
• The budget and resources required to implement the project
• The management plan and organizational structure
• The evaluation plan and performance measures