DeVos Announces $24 Million In Grants to Expand Education Choice for Native American Students

The U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that 40 new grant awards totaling $24 million will be used to help expand education options for American Indian and Alaska Native students over the next 3-5 years.

Betsy DeVos

The Accessing Choices in Education (ACE) grants are designed to help Native American communities learn new skills through different mediums such as traditional courses, apprenticeships, tutoring and programs.

The ACE grants are important for both rural and urban tribal communities, who, according to DeVos, will now have more options on how they’d like to learn. Projects and activities include culturally relevant career exploration, skills development, on-the-job training, STEAM hands-on learning, counseling, mentorships, family engagement, and test preparation.

“All too often, Native American students do not have access to high quality education options tailored to meet their needs, culture, heritage and ambitions,” said DeVos. “We developed the ACE grants to empower tribes to expand options for students, so they can then select the courses, services and on-the-job learning experiences that are the right fit for them. I am hopeful that by empowering tribes and the students they serve with more options for their education, we will see improved outcomes.”