The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) has set aside EEDA funds for the Preparing College- and Career-Ready Graduates Competitive Grants so that, upon completing high school,  students with academic deficiencies will meet the criteria defined in the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate codified by the General Assembly in Act 195 (2016).

The SCDE has established four competitive priorities for the 2023–24 funding cycle:

• Priority 1—Alternative School Programs: Ten (10) competitive priority points will be awarded to applications that propose to serve a specific cohort of students participating in alternative school programs approved by the SCDE. The cohort served must be comprised of students who have been assigned to the Alternative School Program for a minimum of one semester.
• Priority 2—One Intersession Period: Five (5) competitive priority points will be awarded to applications that propose to provide at least three weeks of learning activities for one summer intersession period (either pre-school year, July–August, period or post-school year, May–June, period).
• Priority 3—Both Intersession Periods: Ten (10) competitive priority points will be awarded to applications that propose to provide at least three weeks of learning activities during both summer intersession periods (pre-school year, July–August and post-school year, May–June).
• Priority 4 – Target population: Five (5) competitive priority points will be awarded to applications that propose to serve a cohort that is equal to or greater than 40% of the total student population.

For further information about the program and for allowable activities, see pp. 5-7 of the Request for Proposals listed in Supporting Documents below.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Estimated Total Program Funding: