Byrd Honors Scholarships (84.185)

 

Program

84.185 Byrd Honors Scholarships

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

Authorization

Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 6, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1070d-31-1070d-41.

 

Program Number

84.185

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To provide scholarships to support postsecondary education to outstanding high school seniors who show promise of continued academic achievement in an effort to recognize and promote student excellence and achievement.

 

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Scholarships of $1,500 are awarded to support a maximum of 4 years of study at any eligible institution of higher education.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The State educational agencies (SEA), which supervise public elementary and secondary schools in the States, are responsible for administering the program. For the purposes of this program, the States include the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau, The Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Beneficiary Eligibility

A student must meet residency and citizenship requirements, be a graduate of a public or private secondary school or have been accepted for enrollment at an institution of higher education, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, and show promise of continued academic achievement to be eligible to receive a scholarship.

Credentials/Documentation

To receive allotments for scholarships, a State must submit a participation agreement to the Department of Education as required by Section 419E of the program statute. A State is not required to provide further application information for funding unless the State wants to modify an approved agreement. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure

Annual allotments are provided through grant awards to the State educational agencies for making scholarships to qualifying students. Students apply to their State of legal residence for a scholarship under this program. Student applicants must follow the application procedures as directed by each State. Each participating State awards scholarships to eligible students in accordance with selection procedures approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Deadlines

Grant awards to States for scholarships are made in time for the States to make scholarship payments before the end of the secondary school academic year. Students must submit an application according to the deadlines established by each participating State.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

To be eligible for allotments for any year, States must enter into an agreement with the Department of Education in accordance with Section 419E of the program statute and the program requirements for the year as published in the Federal Register by the Secretary. To be eligible for renewal of scholarships, students must continue to meet residency and citizenship requirements, be enrolled as a full-time student, and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Each participating State is allotted scholarships (amounting to $1,500 each) based on the ratio of the State's population ages five through seventeen years to the population ages five through seventeen in all participating States, except that no State shall receive less than 10 scholarships.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards may be made for up to 4 years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

An annual performance report of the expenditure of Scholarship funds and other reports as required by the Secretary.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records must be maintained for 5 years after the activity for which the funds were awarded or until completion of the Department Audit, whichever is later.

 

Program Accomplishments

All 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are eligible to participate in this program. In fiscal year 2002, 27,334 students received $1,500 in Scholarships.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $41,001,000; FY 03 est $40,734,000; and FY 04 est $41,001,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Scholarships to individuals were $1,500.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR 654 (Program Regulations) published in the Federal Register on August 11, 1993, fact sheet, program description, and Directory of State Agency Official Contacts (current). Contact the program office for more information.

 

Related Programs

None.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Higher Education Programs, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20024-5251. Contact: Argelia Velez-Rodriguez. Email. argelia.velez-rodriguez@ed.gov. Phone: (202) 502-7582.

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/iduesbyrd/index.html

 

Examples of Funded Projects

None.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.