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The U.S. Department of Education has set aside more than $20 million in grants for 24 programs and institutions that serve Native Hawaiians and promote their educational advancement.

The recipients include nonprofits, foundations and a health organization. More than half of the grant money — $11 million — is going to colleges that serve Native Hawaiians, including five community colleges, the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Chaminade University.

The grants are earmarked for specific projects focusing on areas such as school readiness, STEM education, Native Hawaiian culture and language and college success.

“Many in our Native Hawaiian communities face unique challenges in gaining a higher education,” said Sen. Brian Schatz in a statement. “We must make sure the federal government continues to do its part to identify and tackle some of the obstacles standing in their way. These investments will go a long way in providing our children with the opportunities to learn in a unique, culturally sensitive way and help them reach their full potential.”

Here’s a list of the grants, courtesy of a press release from Sens. Mazie Hirono and Schatz:

• Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) — $328,462 — The Kulia and Ka Lama Education Academy will support students earning their teaching credentials who are committed to teach early childhood in the Native Hawaiian community.
• Kawaiahao Church — $299,500 — The E Lauhoe project will provide bilingual STEM curriculum and encourage the use of STEM knowledge at home.
• Keiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc. — $797,680 — Unite to Progress will create family-based education hubs in seven Native Hawaiian communities in order to support pre-school aged students and their families.
• Marimed Foundation for Island Health Care Training — $937,033 — The Oihana Holomoana Project will work to empower Native Hawaiian youth to successfully transition to post-secondary education and career pathways in the maritime industry.
• Maui Family Support Services, Inc. — $650,700 — Positive Impacts for Keiki Outcomes proposes to provide family support services to Native Hawaiian families to ensure school success in kindergarten.
• Pacific American Foundation — $750,000 — The Kulia Natural Resource Stewardship Project will support STEM instruction for middle and high school Native Hawaiian students.
• Partners in Development Foundation — $626,227 — Ka Paalana plans to provide comprehensive family education programming to homeless Native Hawaiian families to break the cycle of generational poverty.
• Partners in Development Foundation — $581,914 — The Na Pono Project proposes to reach out to homeless populations and increase self-sufficiency and educational skills.
• Partners in Development Foundation — $311,250 — The Pili A Paa Project will create a teacher development and leadership program in order to raise Native Hawaiian students’ achievement.
• Partners in Development Foundation — $628,299 — Tutu and Me: Pa Ka La will equip caregivers to be their child’s first teacher, preparing young children for when they enter school.
• University of Hawaii — $363,105 — Literacy Through Digital Media plans to improve students’ cultural identity and literacy by learning from kupuna and storytelling.
• University of Hawaii — $470,908 — The Pili Pono project will provide college preparation activities to at-risk Native Hawaiian students in Oahu.
• University of Hawaii — $604,970 — Project Hookui will increase enrollment of Native Hawaiian students in postsecondary education through dual enrollment programs during high school.
• University of Hawaii — $156,175 — Project Neepapa Ka Hana plans to increase engagement of middle school Native Hawaiian students with special needs in STEM programs.
• Waianae District Comprehensive Health and Hospital Board — $344,230 — Waianae Health Academy will increase the number of Native Hawaiians ready for college and health careers.
• Chaminade University of Honolulu — $2,000,000 — Chaminade University will use the renovation grant to improve five of its academic buildings and upgrade the university’s information technologies.
• Honolulu Community College — $500,000 — With the renovation grant, Honolulu Community College plans to relocate their Native Hawaiian Center and co-locate to provide seamless student services and financial aid.
• Kapiolani Community College — $1,963,365 — The Kauhale Ke Kuleana project will support renovations to the campus to support a culture of success, and will strengthen programs that assess and improve student learning and progress.
• Kauai Community College — $598,923 — KauCC will add campus gathering places that align with Native Hawaiian teaching practices, improving student support and adding degrees.
• Leeward Community College — $1,999,904 — The Paa Ke Kahua project aims to increase Native Hawaiian students’ success in STEM degree programs through the improvement of laboratory facilities.
• University of Hawaii at Manoa — $564,000 — The proposed plan for renovations at UH Manoa will improve classroom, laboratory and student services facilities to support research on Native Hawaiian culture, language and student support services.
• University of Hawaii – West Oahu — $2,000,000 — UH West Oahu’s PIKO project will work towards supporting Native Hawaiian student’s health, wellness and well-being. It will support renovations for students in the health sciences, and make room for Native Hawaiian cultural arts.
• Windward Community College — $1,997,067 — The Hainaulu project will strengthen STEM student’s success through facility renovation and curricular improvement. Additionally, it will develop a Student Parent Center.