‘Grants for Single Mothers: Mainly Educational Purpose’

In the USA, a number of government grants are available for single mothers. The number may be more than in any single country. It is often seen that a single mother has some additional strain on her because of the double duty she needs to perform of a father and a mother. Recently many social policies are becoming more and more women centric to enable such single mothers to stay in the workforce.

Let us look at some of the government grants for single mothers.

• One of the most popular US grants in this category is the Pell Grant. A single mother who is interested in college education is eligible for the grant. Originally, Basic Education Opportunity Grant (BEOG), Pell Grant was renamed so after Senator Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island. Pell Grant is offered to a student to the tune of some $400 to $5350 yearly. Other grants may be mixed up with this special grant in some cases. The grant is need based and it addresses the difficulties of anyone needy who is willing to obtain college degree or diploma.
• Another need-based grant for a single mother who wants to pursue higher education is Academic Competitive Grant (ACG). A first year or a second year college student is qualified for the grand. To be qualified for the grant one must be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen and she must be Federal Pell Grant eligible. An ACG grant holder may receive an amount ranging from $750 (the first year0 to $1300 (the second year of study).
• The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is another well-known grant meant for a single mother. A student awarded with the FSEOG is given an amount between $100.00 and $4,000.00 yearly calculated as per her need. A special feature of the grant is the federal government provides up to 75% of the amount and the rest is allocated by the school. Often the government does not assure the amount and the amount varies from year to year.
• The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant is meant for students pursuing science subjects and engineering degrees. Initiated in the year 2006, the grant responded to the growing need and encouraged science subjects keeping in view the changing economy and demand in global scenario. In addition to pure science subjects, the grant includes the study of some languages also.
• Some more grants indirectly related to government grants for single mothers are National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program and Summer Food Service Program. No amount is given to students in this category; but some amount is spent on breakfast and food items meant for the students belonging to below poverty line. It is the responsibility of the schools to obtain the grants and utilize the amounts by serving nutritious, inexpensive lunches to students each day. In case a family is qualified to receive or already receiving food stamps, the children automatically qualify for these free lunch programs at schools.

Since the middle of the 20th century, waves of women’s movements have secured at least some attention towards women folk and in many cases the balance is in favor of the ‘fair sex’. It may not be all irrelevant that many love to stigmatize the women’s status and make fun of them as ‘welfare queens.’ However, the problem cannot be side lined. Although they work, single mothers are mostly engaged in low level salary sectors. The US government is aware of the fact that without proper education the problems cannot be duly addressed. For their education there are some exciting schemes like Sunshine Lady Foundation Scholarship Program and Gilman International Scholarship Program , etc. The first one encourages women undertake even study program in foreign countries and the second one encourages a victim of some domestic violence to pursue some educational course.