Act 814 of the 2015 legislative session appropriated funds for grants for Academic Enrichment for the Gifted and Talented in Summer Programs (AEGIS). AEGIS grants may be awarded to public or private agencies for the establishment of summer residential or day programs in accordance with A.C.A. § 6-42-108.
Applicants should consider the following general information regarding AEGIS Programs:
- AEGIS programs may be designed for:
Rising 7th through 12th grade students: residential or commuter for up to two weeks.
Rising 1st through 6th grade students: commuter for up to two weeks.
- AEGIS programs should be innovative in their design.
AEGIS grant funds are intended to support in-depth programs that will provide accelerated or enriched educational offerings. AEGIS curriculum should be unique by comparison with college and K-12 school curricula. Most importantly, the curriculum should be predicated on the needs of the students it is designed to serve and reflect challenging learning opportunities.
- AEGIS programs should center around acquainting students with new concepts and new ways of understanding. In most instances, this would involve introducing new facts, works, or techniques; and developing original products. Each program should approach topics conceptually in an interdisciplinary or issue-oriented approach.
- AEGIS programs should include one or more of the following specific subject areas: science, mathematics, literature and communications, social studies, computer science, arts and music, and world languages.
- AEGIS programs selected for funding will operate during the period of June 1, 2026 to August 9, 2026.
The AEGIS Grant Application for summer 2026 programs is now available. Clicking the application link will prompt for a copy of the application to be made so that it can be saved and edited with proposed program information.
Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by Friday, March 13, 2026.