U.S. Department of Education outlines $70 million CAANN FY2026 competition, deadlines, and application requirements

The U.S. Department of Education on its CAANN (Centers Aligned with Areas for National Need) FY2026 pre-application technical assistance webinar outlined funding, deadlines and application requirements for higher education institutions and consortia seeking grants.

The webinar presenter, Margarita L. Melendez, reviewed the competition and emphasized that the Application Notice and Instructions (ANI) posted on Grants.gov is the controlling document. She said the application period is open June 5, 2026, through July 7, 2026, and warned: “If your application is one second late, it is late and will not be accepted.” Applicants were instructed to search Grants.gov for Assistance Listing Number 84.015C or Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-060526-001.

Why it matters: The Department estimates approximately $70 million is available, with an estimated 50 awards and an award range of about $1.2 million to $1.4 million for a 48-month project period. The agency noted these are estimates and not binding. Awards will be made by Sept. 30, 2026, and successful applicants can expect notification in late September after the Department notifies Congress.

Who may apply and what to propose: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia serving as either comprehensive centers or undergraduate centers. Comprehensive centers must provide intensive modern language training (including less-commonly taught languages), advanced research and scholarship, and dissemination; undergraduate centers focus primarily on undergraduate instruction and preparing students for advanced study. Projects must focus on a single country or a world area designated in Absolute Priority 2 (Latin America, Europe, Eurasia, Middle East, Africa, or Asia) and should teach the principal languages and relevant disciplinary fields for that area.

Priorities, scoring and attachments: Applicants must respond to Absolute Priorities 1 and 2 and select either Absolute Priority 3 (comprehensive center focus) or Absolute Priority 4 (undergraduate center focus). Two Competitive Preference Priorities (CPP1 and CPP2) are optional; CPP1 (Returning Education to the States) can yield 0 or 10 points and requires a governor or chief state education official’s letter of designation if claimed; CPP2 (use of artificial intelligence in education) can add up to 10 points depending on the quality of the response. For each absolute or competitive priority claimed, the applicant must include a separate response of no more than three pages in the Other Attachments Form.

Application components and page limits: The Project Narrative is the most important element and should be attached as a single document. While a 65-page suggested limit applies to the Project Narrative responses to Selection Criteria (double-spaced, 12-point font), that suggested limit does not apply to forms and certain attachments (SF-424 cover sheet, ED supplemental information, the ED 524 Budget Form and Budget Narrative, project abstract, Table of Contents, or other specified attachments). The project abstract should not exceed one double-spaced page.

Budget, indirect costs, and subgrantees: The Budget Narrative must justify each line item and the total should match Line 12 of the ED 524. Indirect costs are permitted but limited to 8% of a modified total direct cost base. Subgrants are allowed under applicable regulations; applicants must identify contractors and subgrantees in the Project Narrative and Budget Narrative and include signed commitment letters for partners. All attachments must be uploaded as PDF files, and only ED-approved file types should be used.

Selection and review: Applications will be peer-reviewed under EDGAR (34 C.F.R. Part 75) using the published Selection Criteria (Need; Significance; Quality of Project Design; Adequacy of Resources; Quality of Management Plan; Quality of Project Evaluation). Selection criteria together with optional CPP points can total up to 145 points. Peer reviewers are screened for conflicts of interest. If two or more applications tie and there are insufficient funds, the Department will apply tie-breaking procedures: (1) highest percentage of Pell Grant recipients, (2) highest average score for Quality of Project Design, and (3) promoting equitable geographic distribution.

Common questions answered: During Q&A, the presenter confirmed that scholarships, stipends, fellowships and participant support costs may be allowable under 2 C.F.R. 200.466 when consistent with program rules and Department approval; summer and study-abroad language activities are allowable when part of an approved program of study; evaluators may be paid from grant funds (with no preset minimum or maximum but justification required); the program uses GEPA Section 437(d)(1) waiver authority for supplement-not-supplant requirements; and grants are front-loaded — the full four years of funding are provided at award and grantees must draw down funds for immediate cash needs only per 2 C.F.R. 200.305.

Next steps and resources: Applicants were strongly urged to register and verify active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov, ensure UEI numbers are current, follow ANI instructions carefully, label each Selection Criterion in the application, and submit early to avoid technical issues. For technical assistance, the Department provided CAANN@ed.gov and included a personal contact for the presenter: margarita.melendez@ed.gov.

The Department reiterated that the ANI in Grants.gov is the controlling document for this competition and applicants should consult it for definitive instructions and any regulatory citations.