On September 28, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education announced new funding for a total of 22 Comprehensive Centers across the United States. Grants were awarded to 15 regional educational centers that will focus on providing technical assistance at the state level and to seven content centers that will offer research-based information and tools to states and regional centers alike. The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center (formerly, the Great Lakes East Comprehensive Center) will continue its service to the state education agencies (SEAs) of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

In the U.S. Department of Education’s press release on September 28, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stated: "These centers will help low-performing schools and districts close the achievement gap. They provide valuable support of the Administration's P–12 initiatives to ensure that every child is able to receive a high-quality education."

The Great Lakes Comprehensive Center began its work under the new grant with state managers, the center's directors, and key staff members working closely with the SEAs to build five-year technical assistance plans that are driven by the needs of their states while also aligning to the priorities of the U.S. Department of Education. These plans will help not only guide the work over the next five years, but also helps to define the goals, strategies, and outcomes of the work.