OSERS-OSEP: Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities--Associate Degree Preservice Program Improvement Grants To Support Personnel Working With Young Children With Disabilities CFDA Number 84.325N | ED GRANTS 071318 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 071318 002

This grant opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of Education through OSERS-OSEP under CFDA 84.325N, focuses on strengthening the pipeline of qualified personnel who serve young children with disabilities, including infants and toddlers. It is a discretionary grant program aimed at improving associate degree-level preservice preparation programs so that graduates are better equipped to work in early childhood special education, early intervention, related services, and inclusive early learning settings. The underlying idea is to help states address shortages and workforce gaps they have identified, while also raising the quality and consistency of training for the people entering these roles.

The program’s stated purpose has two main parts. First, it is meant to help meet state-identified personnel needs in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education for working with children with disabilities. Second, it is designed to ensure those personnel gain the skills and knowledge they need to be effective, with an emphasis on practices supported by scientifically based research and practical experience. In other words, the grants are not just about producing more workers; they are about improving what preservice programs teach and how they teach it, so future practitioners can deliver stronger services and improve outcomes for children with disabilities and their families.

Eligible applicants are broad and include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and other entities as clarified in the official notice. That range is meant to allow community colleges, university partners, and other training or workforce organizations to propose improvements to associate degree preservice programs that prepare personnel to work with young children with disabilities. While the synopsis does not list specific competitive priorities or required project activities, it signals that applicants are expected to align proposed improvements with evidence-based practices and the workforce needs identified by states.

Key administrative details in the synopsis include that applications were made available on July 13, 2018, with a deadline to submit applications by August 13, 2018. The opportunity anticipated making about 8 awards, with an award ceiling of $150,000. The notice also points applicants to the Department’s Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 12, 2018) for standard submission and application procedures, and emphasizes that the authoritative requirements, selection criteria, performance measures, and contact information are contained in the official Federal Register notice.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted investment in improving associate degree preservice training pathways connected to early childhood disability services. By funding program improvement efforts, OSEP is trying to increase both the supply and preparedness of personnel who work directly with very young children with disabilities, ultimately supporting better service delivery and better developmental and educational results. For anything beyond the high-level summary, including the exact competitive priorities, required partnerships, allowable costs, and performance reporting expectations, the Federal Register application notice is the controlling source.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS-OSEP: Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities--Associate Degree Preservice Program Improvement Grants To Support Personnel Working With Young Children With Disabilities CFDA Number 84.325N" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.325.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 13, 2018 Applications Available July 13, 2018. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications August 13, 2018.. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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