Open — Maryland FY2027 Driver's Education in Public High Schools; deadline October 30, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET.
Maryland FY2027 Driver Education in Public High Schools Grants — Up to $500,000 (October 30, 2026)
Maryland local education agencies and eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with LEA support may request up to $500,000 for no-cost driver education programs in Maryland public high schools. Applications close October 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. $2,000,000 is the statewide pool, not an individual applicant award.
FundingUp to $500,000 per applicant. The $2,000,000 statewide pool funds an estimated 10–15 awards and is not an individual award amount.
DeadlineOctober 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (EDT), emailed PDF application; no late submissions. Released September 29, 2026.
Last verified2026-10-27
Required next actionDownload and follow the 26-page FY2027 Driver's Education Grant Information Guide and Application for Participation at https://msde.maryland.gov/driver-education-public-high-schools-grant-program. Prepare signed agency cover, one-page abstract, project needs, participating schools and FARMs eligibility, MVA-licensed instruction plan, program goals, benchmarks, management and evaluation, itemized budget and signed C-1-25, and nonprofit MOU/LEA support and 501(c)(3) evidence when applicable. Email complete PDF by October 30, 2026, 5 p.m. ET to occpgrants.msde@maryland.gov using subject 'Driver's Education in Public High Schools Grant Submission'.
Broad Eligibility
Maryland local education agencies (LEAs) and not-for-profit organizations proposing driver-education services within Maryland public high schools. Nonprofits must provide an MOU or LEA support letter and nonprofit-status evidence. Higher scoring priority for schools with >40% FARMs-eligible students. All programs must be free for students and comply with Maryland MVA driver-school licensing, curricula, vehicles, instructor, and safety/privacy rules.
Atlas Analysis
Full official-source review October 27, 2026: FY2027 Driver's Education in Public High Schools Grant Information Guide, 26 pages (released September 29) at https://msde.maryland.gov/about/Documents/OFPOS/GAC/GrantPrograms/Driver-Education-Public-High-School/FY27-Drivers-Education-GIG-A.pdf, plus current MSDE official opportunity page. Competitive grants to LEAs or eligible nonprofits with MOU/LEA support. Up to $500,000/applicant versus $2,000,000 statewide pool, 10-15 estimated awards. Deadline October 30 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time; period July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, pre-award costs permitted. Allowable MVA-licensed driver training providers, tuition vouchers fully free to students, wages, curriculum, materials/software, instructor support, vehicles, admin up to 5%; prohibited building rent/maintenance, food, gift cards, office furniture, supplanting, unrelated costs. Match percentage not uniformly mandated in controlling guide; itemized in-kind contributions required where supplied. MVA instructor, curriculum, vehicle inspections and insurance, student privacy safeguards required. Signed cover, abstract, needs, participating-school FARMs data, goals, management/evaluation, budget C-1-25, nonprofit 501(c)(3) and LEA MOU/support applicable. Email PDF to occpgrants.msde@maryland.gov by deadline. Legitimate applicant-facing grant rather than commercial procurement.
Maryland FY2027 Driver’s Education in Public High Schools Grant Program
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) offers competitive financial assistance to establish or expand driver education programs at no cost to students in Maryland public high schools. Maryland local education agencies (LEAs) and eligible nonprofit organizations may apply. A nonprofit applicant must submit a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or letter of support from the LEA whose schools it will serve. Schools where more than 40% of students are eligible for federal Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs) receive scoring priority.
Individual applicant funding and timing
Up to $500,000 per applicant is available. MSDE identifies $2,000,000 as the overall statewide grant pool, not an individual award, and estimates 10–15 awards. The project performance period is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; qualifying pre-award costs within this period are permitted. The controlling application deadline is Friday, October 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (EDT).
Eligible expenses and restrictions
Permitted uses include contracts or vouchers for Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)-licensed driver education schools, instructor salaries and stipends, supplies and curriculum, equipment and technology, training vehicles purchased or leased in compliance with procurement rules, project management, program operations, and related technical assistance. Administration or indirect expenses may not exceed 5% of the proposed budget. Funds cannot cover unrelated activities, food, gift cards, office furniture, rent or maintenance of building space, supplanting existing funding, or administration above that ceiling. The official guide requires itemized budget and in-kind contribution disclosures but does not state a universal required match percentage.
Implementation and required application materials
The delivery partner must meet MVA licensing, instructor, course-approval, training-vehicle insurance and inspection, safety, student privacy, and behind-the-wheel teaching rules. Proposals should include the signed agency cover page, one-page abstract, demonstrated student need, participating schools and FARMs percentages, delivery partners, goals and quarterly benchmarks, implementation/management plan, evaluation plan, itemized budget narrative, signed MSDE C-1-25 form, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) evidence when applicable. Applicants must be able to deliver the program without charging students.
How to apply
Review the official 26-page Grant Information Guide and Application for Participation using MSDE’s official grant page. Submit the complete PDF application to occpgrants.msde@maryland.gov by October 30 at 5:00 p.m. ET, using email subject Driver’s Education in Public High Schools Grant Submission. The official guide does not announce a separate letter-of-intent stage. Grant managers may answer eligible-cost and submission questions before the deadline.
This program is a competitive grant to applicants, not a vendor procurement notice. Vendors may be engaged by grantees but are not separately defined as direct applicants. Source verification date: October 27, 2026.
Source verificationOfficial government source · msde.maryland.govAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-27. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
