OSERS: OSEP: Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--National Center on Rigorous Comprehensive Education for Students with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.326C | ED GRANTS 022224 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 022224 001

This opportunity comes from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), specifically the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). It sits under the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program (Assistance Listing Number 84.326C). The grant is designed to fund a single National Center focused on rigorous comprehensive education for students with disabilities, using a cooperative agreement structure, which generally means the Department expects to have substantial involvement in the work as it is carried out (for example, shaping deliverables, coordinating dissemination expectations, and monitoring project direction more closely than in a typical formula grant).

At its core, the program purpose is to improve academic achievement and long-term outcomes for children with disabilities. It does that by funding technical assistance (TA) and dissemination activities that help schools, districts, and states implement practices backed by scientifically based research. In practical terms, a national center funded under this program would typically be expected to develop and share evidence-based tools, provide training and implementation support, and spread effective approaches in ways that lead to better instruction, stronger systems, and improved results for students with disabilities. The emphasis on "rigorous" and "comprehensive" education suggests a focus on high-quality instruction and meaningful access to grade-level content, along with systems that support consistent implementation across settings.

The posted funding details describe it as a discretionary grant competition with an anticipated single award. The award ceiling is listed as $3,250,000. The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 022224 001, and it was originally posted with an application closing date of April 25, 2024. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, reinforcing that this is intended to be a national, coordinated effort with active federal partnership rather than a loosely structured project.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities that could credibly operate a national technical assistance center. Specifically mentioned are State Educational Agencies (SEAs), IDEA Part C state lead agencies, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) including public charter schools considered LEAs under state law, Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), other public agencies, private nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, as reflected in the listing), Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and U.S. freely associated states and outlying areas. The opportunity also lists common government applicant categories such as state, county, city or township, special district governments, and independent school districts, consistent with a national TA program that might be led by a state, university, nonprofit, or consortium.

A major and time-sensitive note in the synopsis is the stated update tied to the FY24 federal appropriation reduction. OSERS indicated it anticipates withdrawing the notice inviting applications (NIA) and canceling the 84.326C competition. In other words, although the opportunity was announced with an expected award and deadline, the agency signaled that budget changes may prevent it from moving forward. The synopsis explains that if and when a final decision is made, the Department will publish a formal notice in the Federal Register announcing the withdrawal of the NIA and cancellation of the competition. Anyone considering this funding would need to track the Federal Register for the official status because the synopsis is not the authoritative version.

Finally, the notice repeatedly points applicants to the official Federal Register application notice for the controlling requirements. That official notice is where applicants would find the full set of priorities, required project activities, selection criteria, performance measures, pre-application and application instructions, and the specific submission process. It also directs applicants to the Department of Education Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standardized submission and procedural requirements.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--National Center on Rigorous Comprehensive Education for Students with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.326C" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.326.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Others.

Apply for ED GRANTS 022224 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: