OSERS: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel, ALN 84.325M | ED GRANTS 050523 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 050523 001

This discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), is focused on strengthening the pipeline and quality of professionals who serve children with disabilities. Listed under ALN 84.325M and titled "Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities: Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel," the program is designed to fund projects that prepare educators and service providers to work effectively with infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. The central idea is to help states meet their own identified workforce needs while also improving the practical readiness of personnel entering the field.

The purpose is twofold. First, the program aims to address state-identified shortages or preparation gaps in special education, early intervention, related services (such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, school psychology, counseling, and other support roles), and regular education personnel who work with children with disabilities. Second, it emphasizes ensuring that those personnel are trained in the skills and knowledge needed to succeed, specifically drawing on practices supported by scientifically based research. In other words, the program is not simply about producing more graduates or staff; it is about preparing professionals who can use evidence-based practices in real settings to improve services and outcomes for children with disabilities.

The opportunity is administered as a grant under the Department of Education and falls within the Education funding activity category. The funding opportunity number is ED GRANTS 050523 001. Applications were made available on May 5, 2023, with a deadline to submit applications by July 14, 2023. An additional administrative deadline is listed for Intergovernmental Review on September 12, 2023. The notice also points applicants to the Department's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standard requirements on how to obtain and submit applications, which is important because the synopsis itself does not include all technical application instructions, selection criteria, or compliance details.

In terms of funding scale, the award ceiling is $250,000, and the Department anticipated making about 29 awards under this competition. While the synopsis does not describe project length, required partnerships, or specific priority areas, it makes clear that applicants are expected to align proposed training and preparation activities to state-identified needs and to ground their approach in research-backed methods. Applicants are also directed to the official Federal Register notice for the full details that typically govern these competitions, including eligibility rules, application components, priorities, performance measures, and program-specific requirements. The synopsis notes that the Federal Register version is the official controlling document, and it provides a path for public access to Federal Register and regulatory materials.

To support prospective applicants, OSERS planned to post details for pre-recorded informational webinars no later than May 10, 2023. These webinars were intended to provide technical assistance and are linked through the Office of Special Education Programs grants page at https://www2.ed.gov/#8203fund/#8203grant/#8203apply/#8203osep/#8203new-osep-grants.html. For direct questions, the listed program contact is Tracie Dickson at the U.S. Department of Education (400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 5013, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076), reachable by phone at 202-245-7844 or by email at Tracie.Dickson@ed.gov.

Eligibility is not fully spelled out in the provided synopsis beyond indicating "Others" and directing readers to consult the official application notice for clarification. That phrasing usually signals that eligibility may include certain institutions of higher education, public or private nonprofit organizations, state or local agencies, or other entities depending on how OSERS structured this specific competition year. Because eligibility, required project design elements, and evaluation/performance reporting are often very specific in OSERS competitions, the Federal Register notice is essential for confirming whether a particular organization can apply and what exactly the project must include to be considered responsive and competitive.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel, ALN 84.325M" 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 May 05, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 14, 2023 Applications Available May 5, 2023. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications July 14, 2023. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review September 12, 2023. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than May 10, 2023, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will post details on pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Links to the webinars may be found at https://www2.ed.gov/#8203fund/#8203grant/#8203apply/#8203osep/#8203new-osep-grants.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Tracie Dickson, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5013, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone 202-245-7844. Email Tracie.Dickson@ed.gov.. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 29 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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