Biden-Harris Administration Awards Over $67 Million Through Magnet Schools Program and Fostering Diverse Schools Grants

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today announced $65.4 million in 12 new Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) awards and $1.7 million for two new awards under the Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Grant Program (FDS). These awards build on the $20 million in MSAP grants the Biden-Harris Administration announced in May ahead of the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision and furthers the Administration’s commitment to providing every student with a well-rounded education and improving the opportunities for every student to successfully learn and achieve.

“Diversity is America’s superpower. When students learn alongside those from different backgrounds, their horizons broaden, and more equitable access to enriching, well-rounded education can be achieved,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “These new awards will help us raise the bar for academic achievement and educational equity—supporting schools and districts in building enriching, diverse, and inclusive school communities.”

The MSAP awards will support 37 magnet schools with academically challenging and innovative instructional approaches designed to bring together students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. Grantees will use their MSAP funds to promote desegregation, increase academic achievement, build educator capacity, increase family engagement and foster community collaboration. The Fostering Diverse Schools awards will support voluntary local and state efforts to enrich student educational experiences and create more diverse and inclusive school communities. The Department will lift these 14 new awards and discuss how school districts can sustain and create magnet school opportunities through other federal grants this week at the 2024 Magnet Schools of America Fall Policy Training Conference in Arlington, Virginia.

The Biden-Harris Administration is determined to ensure every student, in every zip code, has access to equitable and enriching educational experiences by making meaningful investments in locally-driven efforts to increase school diversity, working in close collaboration with parents, educators, and communities. As President Biden has often said, diversity is America’s greatest strength, and that is clear in the classroom – where research shows that students of all backgrounds benefit from learning in diverse environments, including through improved academic achievement, social mobility, civic engagement, empathy, and understanding. The Department has put equity and academic acceleration at the forefront of its work. Through the investments like MSAP and FDS, the Department is supporting districts to provide a world class education by providing more students with the opportunities and resources they need to be successful.

Full lists of awards can be found below:

Magnet Schools Assistance Program

Fostering Diverse Schools Grants