The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) have issued the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 competitions for the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program, which supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational agencies and schools.
The Teacher and School Leader Incentive supports entities in implementing, improving, or expanding their Human Capital Management System, which must include a Performance-Based Compensation System.
This is the first of ED’s FY 2026 K-12 education grant competitions, with additional competitions to follow later this spring and summer. Awards for these competitions will be issued through DOL’s GrantSolutions, a grants management platform.
“These grant competitions mark an important milestone in our efforts to support our nation’s teachers and empower families with education choice,” said assistant secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler. “By investing in effective educator development programs and proven literacy models, we are elevating innovative solutions that directly shape student outcomes. Together with the Department of Labor, we are prioritizing investment in the support systems closest to students – families and educators.”
“Education reaches its fullest potential when learning is fused with vocation and industry,” said assistant secretary for Employment and Training Dr. Henry Mack.“Today’s announcement is indeed an important one. By integrating education with employment and occupational needs, we avoid aimless drift and empower individuals to live with purpose, adaptability, productivity, dignity, and contribution to the Golden Age of America’s economy.”
According to a press release issued by the ED, Secretary McMahon’s Supplemental Priorities will prioritize grantees who will “focus on meaningful learning opportunities for students, including supporting families to provide at-home learning, pilot and/or scale innovative education workforce and employment models that emphasize merit, meet industry’s needs, and return education to the states.”
ED and DOL will continue to provide grantees with additional guidance as these efforts are implemented.
For more information on these grant competitions, visit the specific grant notice on grants.gov