Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program
What is the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program?
The LEAP program helps states provide grants to students who demonstrate substantial financial need, enabling them to attend post-secondary schools.
There is also a community service work-study assistance component to the program.
The LEAP program is funded jointly by states and the U.S. Department of Education.
These state programs carry a variety of names that do not necessarily include the name "LEAP" in their titles.
How do I qualify for Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships (LEAP) grants?
Each state may have different eligibility criteria for students to receive aid LEAP program.
However, all students must meet the general eligibility requirements and must demonstrate substantial financial need.
To meet the general eligibility requirements, students must:
- be either a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program at an eligible school
- have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent
- be maintaining satisfactory academic progress standards in their course of study
- sign a Statement of Educational Purpose and a Certification Statement on Overpayments and Default
- register with the Selective Service, if required
Other factors that determine whether a student is eligible for a LEAP award include the state's definition of substantial financial need, its method of determining maximum awards, and the costs that can be covered.
For more details on eligibility criteria, see: http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/0304Vol9Ch1leapprog.pdf 
What is considered substantial financial need?
Each state sets criteria for substantial financial need, which must be approved by the Department.
A state may define need in terms of income, Expected Family Contribution (EFC), or relative need, as measured by cost of attendance minus available resources.
A dependent student who applies for aid from any of the FSA programs must include parental information on the application.
An independent student need only include his or her financial information (and, if married, that of a spouse).
Can I receive the grant if I do not attend school full time?
Yes. However, most states limit LEAP awards to undergraduates attending school at least half time.
The maximum amount of the award is reduced for students who only attend part time.
What schools can participate in the LEAP program?
All non-profit institutions of higher education in a state are eligible to participate, except when participation violates the state's constitution or a state law.
While states are not required to include proprietary (for-profit) schools in their state programs, the most recent LEAP figures show that 26 states made LEAP awards available to students attending such schools.
What is the Community Service-Learning Job program?
Each award year, a state may use up to 20 percent of its LEAP program allotment for a Community Service-Learning Job program.
This award is not a grant — the student must receive compensation for work.
The job program must be administered by post-secondary schools in the state, and each student employed under the program must be employed in work for the public interest.
The employer may be a school, agency or a private non-profit organization.
An arrangement must be established between the school and the agency or organization.
What are the requirements for community service-learning jobs?
Schools consult with local non-profit, governmental and community-based organizations to identify jobs designed to improve the quality of life for residents (particularly low-income residents) of the community served. These jobs should be in direct service, planning or applied research fields.
Each community service-learning job must:
- provide the student with a job related to their educational or vocational program or goals
- be governed by conditions of employment that are considered appropriate and reasonable, based on such factors as type of work performed, geographic region, and proficiency of the employee
- pay at least the current federal minimum wage (not the sub-minimum wage)
- not displace employed workers or impair existing contracts for service
- not involve the construction, operation or maintenance of any part of a facility used or to be used for religious worship or sectarian instruction
How do I apply for the LEAP program?
States may apply.
Undergraduate and graduate students having substantial financial need may then apply to the states in which they are residents.
Note that these state programs carry a variety of names that do not necessarily include the name "LEAP" in their titles.
The student must apply to their state's higher education agency either directly or indirectly through the school.
Every award requires the state agency's formal approval. You can find contact information for each state's agency at: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_id=SHE 
Does it cost anything to apply?
To award a student aid, a state may require the student to provide applicant information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or on another free form.
In addition, the state may require a student to provide supplemental information on a fee-based supplemental form.
How much money can I receive from a LEAP grant?
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website, the maximum award is the lesser of $12,500 or a student's cost of attendance.
Be aware, however, that states may have lower maximums.
In Georgia, the maximum is $2,000.
The average new LEAP award for the 2008-2009 award year was $1,000, and the same is anticipated in 2009-10.
The program expects to give out 162,000 new awards.
What is required from the state?
Each eligible participating state receives an annual LEAP allotment (formula grant) from the Department based on the state's eligible post-secondary education enrollment.
States must, at a minimum, match the federal allotments dollar-for-dollar with state funds provided through direct state appropriations for this purpose.
States must administer the program under a single state agency and meet maintenance-of-effort criteria.
How can I get more information?
For information about the LEAP program in your state, contact your State Higher Education Agency.
You can find contact information at: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_id=SHE
For more information on Student Financial Assistance Programs, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center:
Internet: http://studentaid.ed.gov
Phone: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
TTY : 1-800-730-8913
Spanish speakers are available (se habla español).