Maricopa High School Equivalency Program (MHEP)

Maricopa High School Equivalency Program (MHEP) is sponsored by Maricopa High School Equivalency Program (federally funded discretionary grant from the Office of Migrant Education). MHEP is a federally funded program that assists migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their immediate family members in targeted Arizona communities to earn their General Education Development (GED) certificate.

High School Equivalency Program (84. 141A) | U.S. Department of Education High School Equivalency Program (84.

141A) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Estimated Total Grant Funding Expected Number Of Awards 06/12/2026 - 11:59 PM EDT The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) helps migratory and seasonal farmworkers (or immediate family members of such workers) who are 16 years of age or older and not currently enrolled in school to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma and, subsequently, to gain employment or begin postsecondary education or training.

The purposes of HEP are to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family: obtain a general education diploma that meets the guidelines for high school equivalency (HSE) established by the State in which the HEP project is conducted; and gain upgraded employment, be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training, or enter the military.

Eligibility and Recruitment To successfully recruit eligible HEP/CAMP students, recruiters focus on key actions: informing, identifying, screening, and selecting. Creating a Recruitment Plan will provide strategic direction and an agreed upon focus for your program’s recruitment activities and goals.

Providing good customer service is also critical to your efforts because referrals by former and current HEP/CAMP students serve among your most valuable recruitment tools. Be strategic and thoughtful about recruiting efforts by establishing a documented recruitment plan.

Elements to include in your program's plan include: the recruitment activities identified in your approved application a defined target population strategies to focus on the state's agriculture and farming industries an identified geographic area for your recruitment efforts identified networks that are already established to tap into, and ways to utilize technology to expand your outreach efforts Non-Regulatory Guidance on HEP and CAMP Recruitment and Eligibility Grant Management and Monitoring Monitoring is an integral part of the Department of Education’s grant administration and oversight.

The end goal of the Department’s monitoring is to promote the efficient and effective achievement of the program objectives. These objectives are in support the Department’s mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

OME conducts monitoring to: Examine the objectives and results achieved by a HEP or CAMP project, particularly progress against GPRA indicators Review implementation of a HEP or CAMP project with a focus on project quality and areas of improvements Determine project compliance with applicable statutes/regulations; and Examine the resolution of prior findings from monitoring reviews and audits.

HEP/CAMP Reports to Congress 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 The Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008) Program Regulations are found at 34 CFR 206 . Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) also apply.

Non-Regulatory Guidance on HEP and CAMP Recruitment and Eligibility Non-Regulatory Guidance on Allowable Services to HEP and CAMP Students Application Closing Date and Time: June 12, 2026 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time. View the FY 2026 84.

141A HEP Application Notice and Instructions Applicants are required to follow the 2025 Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234) and available at ED 2025 Common Instructions Watch FY 2026 HEP and CAMP Pre-Application Presentation View the slide deck for the FY 2026 HEP and CAMP Pre-Application Presentation Learn more about serving as a peer reviewer for the HEP and CAMP grant competitions.

New Directors’ Guide for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) This guide is intended for new HEP and CAMP directors. It includes a compilation of the resources and information that will assist directors with the administration of HEP and CAMP projects. Please note that the Office of Migrant Education (OME) may release updated versions of this guide.

To view the version history, please see the upper right corner of this document. The information provided in this guide is intended for all grantees and does not address specific questions or unique circumstances. This guide does not provide any new interpretations of statutes, regulations, or guidance.

It is provided purely for the purpose of technical assistance. As always, we encourage grantees to contact their program officer with questions specific to their program. Mentoring Initiative (MI) The purpose of the MI is to establish mentor-mentee relationships between experienced High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) directors and directors who are new to HEP and CAMP grant management.

New directors are directors who have been serving in their roles for three or fewer years. Mentors are seasoned directors who provide guidance and support to mentees. Mentors ensure that mentees have a strong understanding of federal program guidelines and performance objectives and coach mentees toward continued success.

The MI is funded and managed through the OME’s technical assistance (TA) contract. HEP and CAMP Subject Matter Experts coordinate this initiative. Participation is optional and voluntary but strongly recommended for new directors.

Mentors and mentees may submit requests for travel to each other’s institutions of higher education or non-profit organizations to learn more about each other’s programs. Travel is funded through the TA contract.

The National High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Association The Association is dedicated to ensuring that migrant and farmworker youths have access to earning GEDs and postsecondary education opportunities.

The National HEP-CAMP Association Web Page provides general information about the HEP and CAMP programs as well as links to individual directors of HEP and CAMP programs across the country. National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) The U.S. Department of Labor is the only national information source on the demographics and working and living conditions of U.S. farmworkers.

Since the NAWS began surveying farmworkers in 1988, it has collected information from over 25,000 workers. The survey samples all crop farmworkers in three cycles each year in order to capture the seasonality of the work. The NAWS locates and samples workers at their work sites, avoiding the well-publicized undercount of this difficult-to-find population.

During the initial contact, arrangements are made to interview the respondent at home or at another convenient location. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS), Census of Agriculture The census of agriculture is a complete accounting of United States agricultural production. It is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the Nation.

The census includes as a farm every place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold or normally would have been sold during the census year. The census of agriculture is taken every five years covering the years ending in “2”; and “7.

” Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract Boise State University Boise, Idaho Idaho PDF Central Oregon Community College Bend, Oregon Oregon PDF Central Valley Opportunity Center, Inc. Winton, California California PDF Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho Idaho PDF Klamath Community College Klamath Falls, Oregon Oregon PDF Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Michigan PDF Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington Yakima, Washington Washington PDF SER Jobs for Progress Fresno, California California PDF The Regents of the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Colorado PDF The University of Texas El Paso El Paso, Texas New Mexico and Texas PDF The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas Texas PDF Three Rivers Education Foundation, Inc. Farmington, New Mexico New Mexico PDF Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Inc. San German, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico PDF West Hills Community College District Coalinga, California California PDF 2023: 4 grantees Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract California State University Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation Fullerton, California California PDF Pitt Community College Winterville, North Carolina North Carolina PDF University Enterprises Corporation at California State University San Bernardino San Bernardino, California California PDF Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia Florida and Georgia PDF 2022: 6 grantees Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, Washington Washington PDF Community Council of Idaho, Inc. Caldwell, Idaho Idaho PDF Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Colorado and Kansas PDF Sonoma County Junior College District Santa Rosa, California California PDF The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico New Mexico PDF Washington State University Pullman, Washington Washington PDF 2021: 14 grantees Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College Tifton, Georgia Georgia PDF Cambridge Academies Modesto, California California PDF Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington Washington PDF El Paso County Community College District El Paso, Texas Texas PDF Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, Kansas Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma PDF Hartnell Community College District Salinas, California California PDF Kentucky Community and Technical College System Somerset, Kentucky Kentucky PDF Madison Area Technical College District Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin PDF Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Oregon PDF SER Jobs for Progress, Inc. – San Joaquin Valley Fresno, California California PDF Treasure Valley Community College Ontario, Oregon Oregon PDF University Enterprises, Inc. – Sacramento State University Sacramento, California California PDF University of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia Georgia PDF Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, North Carolina North Carolina PDF 2020: 14 grantees Grantee Administration Location Aare(s) Served Abstract California State University, Bakersfield Auxiliary for Sponsored Programs Administration Bakersfield, California California PDF Columbia Basin College Pasco, Washington Washington PDF Heritage University Toppenish, Washington Washington PDF Junior College District of Newton-McDonald Counties Neosho, Missouri Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma PDF Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, Louisiana Louisiana PDF Mendocino-Lake Community College District, Inc. Ukiah, California California PDF Miami Dade College Homestead, Florida Florida PDF Northern New Mexico College Espanola, New Mexico New Mexico PDF Portable Practical Educational Preparation, Inc. Tucson, Arizona Arizona PDF Portland Community College Portland, Oregon Oregon PDF San Diego County SER/Jobs for Progress, Inc. Fresno, California California PDF Three Rivers Education Foundation Farmington, New Mexico New Mexico and Texas PDF University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, Louisiana Louisiana PDF West Hills Community College Coalinga, California California PDF The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) helps migratory and seasonal farmworkers (or immediate family members of such workers) who are 16 years of age or older and not currently enrolled in school to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma and, subsequently, to gain employment or begin postsecondary education or training.

The purposes of HEP are to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family: obtain a general education diploma that meets the guidelines for high school equivalency (HSE) established by the State in which the HEP project is conducted; and gain upgraded employment, be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training, or enter the military.

Eligibility and Recruitment To successfully recruit eligible HEP/CAMP students, recruiters focus on key actions: informing, identifying, screening, and selecting. Creating a Recruitment Plan will provide strategic direction and an agreed upon focus for your program’s recruitment activities and goals.

Providing good customer service is also critical to your efforts because referrals by former and current HEP/CAMP students serve among your most valuable recruitment tools. Be strategic and thoughtful about recruiting efforts by establishing a documented recruitment plan.

Elements to include in your program's plan include: the recruitment activities identified in your approved application a defined target population strategies to focus on the state's agriculture and farming industries an identified geographic area for your recruitment efforts identified networks that are already established to tap into, and ways to utilize technology to expand your outreach efforts Non-Regulatory Guidance on HEP and CAMP Recruitment and Eligibility Grant Management and Monitoring Monitoring is an integral part of the Department of Education’s grant administration and oversight.

The end goal of the Department’s monitoring is to promote the efficient and effective achievement of the program objectives. These objectives are in support the Department’s mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

OME conducts monitoring to: Examine the objectives and results achieved by a HEP or CAMP project, particularly progress against GPRA indicators Review implementation of a HEP or CAMP project with a focus on project quality and areas of improvements Determine project compliance with applicable statutes/regulations; and Examine the resolution of prior findings from monitoring reviews and audits.

HEP/CAMP Reports to Congress 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 The Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008) Program Regulations are found at 34 CFR 206 . Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) also apply.

Non-Regulatory Guidance on HEP and CAMP Recruitment and Eligibility Non-Regulatory Guidance on Allowable Services to HEP and CAMP Students Application Closing Date and Time: June 12, 2026 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time. View the FY 2026 84.

141A HEP Application Notice and Instructions Applicants are required to follow the 2025 Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234) and available at ED 2025 Common Instructions Watch FY 2026 HEP and CAMP Pre-Application Presentation View the slide deck for the FY 2026 HEP and CAMP Pre-Application Presentation Learn more about serving as a peer reviewer for the HEP and CAMP grant competitions.

New Directors’ Guide for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) This guide is intended for new HEP and CAMP directors. It includes a compilation of the resources and information that will assist directors with the administration of HEP and CAMP projects. Please note that the Office of Migrant Education (OME) may release updated versions of this guide.

To view the version history, please see the upper right corner of this document. The information provided in this guide is intended for all grantees and does not address specific questions or unique circumstances. This guide does not provide any new interpretations of statutes, regulations, or guidance.

It is provided purely for the purpose of technical assistance. As always, we encourage grantees to contact their program officer with questions specific to their program. Mentoring Initiative (MI) The purpose of the MI is to establish mentor-mentee relationships between experienced High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) directors and directors who are new to HEP and CAMP grant management.

New directors are directors who have been serving in their roles for three or fewer years. Mentors are seasoned directors who provide guidance and support to mentees. Mentors ensure that mentees have a strong understanding of federal program guidelines and performance objectives and coach mentees toward continued success.

The MI is funded and managed through the OME’s technical assistance (TA) contract. HEP and CAMP Subject Matter Experts coordinate this initiative. Participation is optional and voluntary but strongly recommended for new directors.

Mentors and mentees may submit requests for travel to each other’s institutions of higher education or non-profit organizations to learn more about each other’s programs. Travel is funded through the TA contract.

The National High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Association The Association is dedicated to ensuring that migrant and farmworker youths have access to earning GEDs and postsecondary education opportunities.

The National HEP-CAMP Association Web Page provides general information about the HEP and CAMP programs as well as links to individual directors of HEP and CAMP programs across the country. National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) The U.S. Department of Labor is the only national information source on the demographics and working and living conditions of U.S. farmworkers.

Since the NAWS began surveying farmworkers in 1988, it has collected information from over 25,000 workers. The survey samples all crop farmworkers in three cycles each year in order to capture the seasonality of the work. The NAWS locates and samples workers at their work sites, avoiding the well-publicized undercount of this difficult-to-find population.

During the initial contact, arrangements are made to interview the respondent at home or at another convenient location. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS), Census of Agriculture The census of agriculture is a complete accounting of United States agricultural production. It is the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the Nation.

The census includes as a farm every place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold or normally would have been sold during the census year. The census of agriculture is taken every five years covering the years ending in “2”; and “7.

” Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract Boise State University Boise, Idaho Idaho PDF Central Oregon Community College Bend, Oregon Oregon PDF Central Valley Opportunity Center, Inc. Winton, California California PDF Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho Idaho PDF Klamath Community College Klamath Falls, Oregon Oregon PDF Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Michigan PDF Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington Yakima, Washington Washington PDF SER Jobs for Progress Fresno, California California PDF The Regents of the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Colorado PDF The University of Texas El Paso El Paso, Texas New Mexico and Texas PDF The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas Texas PDF Three Rivers Education Foundation, Inc. Farmington, New Mexico New Mexico PDF Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Inc. San German, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico PDF West Hills Community College District Coalinga, California California PDF 2023: 4 grantees Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract California State University Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation Fullerton, California California PDF Pitt Community College Winterville, North Carolina North Carolina PDF University Enterprises Corporation at California State University San Bernardino San Bernardino, California California PDF Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia Florida and Georgia PDF 2022: 6 grantees Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, Washington Washington PDF Community Council of Idaho, Inc. Caldwell, Idaho Idaho PDF Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Colorado and Kansas PDF Sonoma County Junior College District Santa Rosa, California California PDF The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico New Mexico PDF Washington State University Pullman, Washington Washington PDF 2021: 14 grantees Grantee Administration Location Area(s) Served Abstract Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College Tifton, Georgia Georgia PDF Cambridge Academies Modesto, California California PDF Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington Washington PDF El Paso County Community College District El Paso, Texas Texas PDF Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, Kansas Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma PDF Hartnell Community College District Salinas, California California PDF Kentucky Community and Technical College System Somerset, Kentucky Kentucky PDF Madison Area Technical College District Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin PDF Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Oregon PDF SER Jobs for Progress, Inc. – San Joaquin Valley Fresno, California California PDF Treasure Valley Community College Ontario, Oregon Oregon PDF University Enterprises, Inc. – Sacramento State University Sacramento, California California PDF University of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia Georgia PDF Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, North Carolina North Carolina PDF 2020: 14 grantees Grantee Administration Location Aare(s) Served Abstract California State University, Bakersfield Auxiliary for Sponsored Programs Administration Bakersfield, California California PDF Columbia Basin College Pasco, Washington Washington PDF Heritage University Toppenish, Washington Washington PDF Junior College District of Newton-McDonald Counties Neosho, Missouri Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma PDF Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, Louisiana Louisiana PDF Mendocino-Lake Community College District, Inc. Ukiah, California California PDF Miami Dade College Homestead, Florida Florida PDF Northern New Mexico College Espanola, New Mexico New Mexico PDF Portable Practical Educational Preparation, Inc. Tucson, Arizona Arizona PDF Portland Community College Portland, Oregon Oregon PDF San Diego County SER/Jobs for Progress, Inc. Fresno, California California PDF Three Rivers Education Foundation Farmington, New Mexico New Mexico and Texas PDF University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, Louisiana Louisiana PDF West Hills Community College Coalinga, California California PDF Grant Applicants / Grantees Higher Education Institutions High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Page Last Reviewed: June 13, 2026