Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program

Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education, International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE). This program supports U. S.

teachers studying abroad to improve foreign language skills and cultural knowledge for education and area studies.

Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program (84. 021C) | U.S. Department of Education Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) Program (84.

021C) Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) State Educational Agencies (SEAs) State Higher Education Agencies Estimated Total Grant Funding Expected Number Of Awards 07/15/2026 - 11:59 PM EDT Applicant Info and Eligibility In coordination with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (State), the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) program.

Additional details can be found on the MECE Applicant Info and Eligibility tab. The official funding opportunity announcement for the FY 2026 MECE Program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register. ED is seeking individuals to serve as peer reviewers and assess grant program applications for the FY 2026 program grant competitions.

For more information, please review the FY 2026 MECE Competition Call for Peer Reviewers . The purpose of the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) program is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign language training and area studies in United States schools, colleges, and universities by supporting visits and study in foreign countries by teachers and prospective teachers.

The program provides opportunities for teachers and prospective teachers to improve their skill in languages and their knowledge of the culture of the people of those countries. FY 2026 Application Information The official funding opportunity announcement for the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register.

Resources for the FY 2026 Competition FY 2026 MECE Competition Application Notice and Instructions FY 2026 MECE Competition Application Guidance FY 2026 MECE Competition Technical Assistance Webinar Slides FY 2026 MECE Competition Technical Assistance Webinar Recording Eligible applicants are public or private nonprofit foundations, educational or other institutions.

Note: “Public or private nonprofit foundations, educational or other institutions” include the following: Public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education (IHEs); State departments of education (including State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies); Public or private nonprofit educational organizations; and Consortia of such public or private nonprofit IHEs, State departments of education, and public or private nonprofit educational organizations.

Section 102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 [ 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.] (“Fulbright-Hays Act”); the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub.

L. 119-75). The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.

The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3474. The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 664 , authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act.

A grant under this competition, you must ensure that the necessary processes and systems are developed to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170. 110(b).

At the end of the project period, the grantee must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If a grantee receives a multi-year award, it must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75. 118.

The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75. 720(c). For more inforamtion, review the specific requirements on reporting .

ED has developed the following performance measures for the purposes of the reporting to ED under 34 CFR 75. 110 . Program Performance Measures The Department developed the following program performance indicators to evaluate the overall effectiveness of this program.

These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project. If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your project's annual performance report ( 34 CFR 75.

590 ).

Applications must describe within the evaluation plan: The data collection and reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data The applicant's capacity to collect and report reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research Program Performance Measure 1 The number and percentage of MECE participants in foreign language and area studies who increased their reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking foreign language scores by one level.

Program Performance Measure 2 The number and percentage of MECE participants who integrate foreign language and area studies content into their teaching or curriculum within six months of program completion. Program Performance Measure 3 The number and percentage of MECE participants who develop or implement new instructional materials or lessons on patriotic education topics in their home institutions.

Program Performance Measure 4 The frequency and quality of outreach activities (e.g., workshops, presentations, publications) related to patriotic education conducted by MECE participants within six months of program completion. Main program email: MECE@ed. gov FY 2026 MECE Competition Manager FY 2026 CAANN Competition Manager Margarita.

Melendez@ed. gov Division Director, Institutional Service Stacey. Slijepcevic@ed.

gov In coordination with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (State), the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) program. Additional details can be found on the MECE Applicant Info and Eligibility tab.

The official funding opportunity announcement for the FY 2026 MECE Program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register. ED is seeking individuals to serve as peer reviewers and assess grant program applications for the FY 2026 program grant competitions. For more information, please review the FY 2026 MECE Competition Call for Peer Reviewers .

The purpose of the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) program is to promote, improve, and develop the study of modern foreign language training and area studies in United States schools, colleges, and universities by supporting visits and study in foreign countries by teachers and prospective teachers.

The program provides opportunities for teachers and prospective teachers to improve their skill in languages and their knowledge of the culture of the people of those countries. Applicant Info and Eligibility FY 2026 Application Information The official funding opportunity announcement for the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (MECE) program competition is forthcoming and will be available in the Federal Register.

Resources for the FY 2026 Competition FY 2026 MECE Competition Application Notice and Instructions FY 2026 MECE Competition Application Guidance FY 2026 MECE Competition Technical Assistance Webinar Slides FY 2026 MECE Competition Technical Assistance Webinar Recording Eligible applicants are public or private nonprofit foundations, educational or other institutions.

Note: “Public or private nonprofit foundations, educational or other institutions” include the following: Public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education (IHEs); State departments of education (including State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies); Public or private nonprofit educational organizations; and Consortia of such public or private nonprofit IHEs, State departments of education, and public or private nonprofit educational organizations.

Section 102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 [ 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.] (“Fulbright-Hays Act”); the Explanatory Statement accompanying Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub.

L. 119-75). The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian Tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.

The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of ED in 2 CFR part 3474. The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 664 , authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act.

A grant under this competition, you must ensure that the necessary processes and systems are developed to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170. 110(b).

At the end of the project period, the grantee must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If a grantee receives a multi-year award, it must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75. 118.

The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75. 720(c). For more inforamtion, review the specific requirements on reporting .

ED has developed the following performance measures for the purposes of the reporting to ED under 34 CFR 75. 110 . Program Performance Measures The Department developed the following program performance indicators to evaluate the overall effectiveness of this program.

These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project. If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your project's annual performance report ( 34 CFR 75.

590 ).

Applications must describe within the evaluation plan: The data collection and reporting methods the applicant would use and why those methods are likely to yield reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data The applicant's capacity to collect and report reliable, valid, and meaningful performance data, as evidenced by high-quality data collection, analysis, and reporting in other projects or research Program Performance Measure 1 The number and percentage of MECE participants in foreign language and area studies who increased their reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking foreign language scores by one level.

Program Performance Measure 2 The number and percentage of MECE participants who integrate foreign language and area studies content into their teaching or curriculum within six months of program completion. Program Performance Measure 3 The number and percentage of MECE participants who develop or implement new instructional materials or lessons on patriotic education topics in their home institutions.

Program Performance Measure 4 The frequency and quality of outreach activities (e.g., workshops, presentations, publications) related to patriotic education conducted by MECE participants within six months of program completion. Main program email: MECE@ed. gov FY 2026 MECE Competition Manager FY 2026 CAANN Competition Manager Margarita.

Melendez@ed. gov Division Director, Institutional Service Stacey. Slijepcevic@ed.

gov Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) Page Last Reviewed: July 20, 2026