Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge (SPECA) Grants Program
The purpose of the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge (SPECA) Grants Program is to: enhance curricula in agricultural education; increase faculty teaching competencies; and interest young people in pursuing higher education in order to prepare for scientific and professional careers in the food and agricultural sciences. SPECA promotes the incorporation of agriscience and agribusiness subject matter into the general instructional program, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classes, in order for society to gain a better understanding of food, health and environmental issues. Projects that facilitate joint initiatives with the grant recipient and other secondary schools, institutions of higher education (associate's and bachelor's degrees), or nonprofit organizations supporting agriscience and agribusiness education, are also encouraged. All funded projects should maximize resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve agriscience and agribusiness education; support other initiatives designed to meet local, State, regional, or national needs related to promoting excellence in agriscience and agribusiness education; and/or support current Agriculture in the Classroom programs for grades K-12.
