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Institutional Eligibility:ÌýCompetitive grants are awarded to institutions of higher education (IHE).Ìý IHE's administer projects in schools/school districts withÌý20 percent or more enrollment of historically underrepresented students.

Student Eligibility:ÌýSTEP serves secondary school students all over É«ÖÐÉ«.ÌýÌý Students must be:

• Enrolled in Grades 7-12
• Economically disadvantaged, or African American, Hispanic/Latino, Alaskan Native or American Indian; and will benefit from academic enrichment.
  • Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
  • American Indian and Alaska Native. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
  • Hispanics or Latinos are those people whose origins are from Spain, the Spanish-speaking countries of Central or South America, or the Dominican Republic.ÌýPeople who identify their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race.

Economically Disadvantaged:

• For the purpose of STEP, a student is economically disadvantaged if he or she meets the income eligibility criteriaÌý(2021-26 STEP Income Eligibility Criteria).ÌýThe eligibility standards set forth apply only at the time of admission as a first-time student to a STEP program. Once admitted, a student may continue to receive supportive services as needed, even if the family income rises above the current eligibility standards.
• Additional documentation of household income need not be collected to determine eligibility under economic disadvantage if the student falls into one of the following categories, and documentation is available to demonstrate:
  • the student's family is the recipient of family assistance program aid or safety net assistance through the É«ÖÐÉ« Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance or a county department of social services; or is the recipient of family day-care payments through the É«ÖÐÉ« Office of Children and Family Services or a county department of social services;
  • the student is living with foster parents and no monies are provided from the natural parents; or
  • the student is a ward of the State or a county.
  • the student is eligible for free or reduced lunch at his or her secondary school based upon family income (verified by the school).

For a list ofÌýProfessions Licensed, Registered, or Certified by the Board of Regents, please visit the Office of Professions atÌýÌý

2025-2030 STEP RFP Materials

• STEP Grant RFP 2025-2030 PDF
• STEP Grant RFP 2025-2030 DOC
• STEP Workplan Template RFP 2025-2030
• STEP Composite-Narrative Budget 2025-2030
• STEP M/WBE PacketÌý
• STEP Income Eligibility Criteria 2021-2026
• STEP NEW GoAnywhere Accounts
• STEP Request for Proposal Webinar and Webinar Slides
• RFP GC25-001 STEP Questions and Answers Summary

* NOTE: We are not able to talk about the RFP during this period. Please submit any questions re: 2025-2030 STEP RFP via email to steprfp@nysed.gov with the words RFP GC#25-001 in the subject line by October 22, 2024.