OSERS-OSEP: Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel

The Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel program is administered by the Department of Education to address critical workforce shortages in special education and related services fields. The program operates under the broader Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities authority and is designed to strengthen the pipeline of qualified professionals serving children with disabilities. By funding institutions and organizations that prepare educators and service providers, the program aims to ensure that personnel possess the skills and knowledge grounded in scientifically based research necessary to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities. This funding opportunity supports projects that prepare scholars at multiple academic levels, including bachelor’s, certification, master’s, educational specialist, and clinical doctoral degree programs. The program emphasizes evidence-based preparation strategies that equip graduates to work in a variety of settings such as early learning programs, schools, community environments, and home-based settings. Two focus areas guide the competition: preparing personnel to serve infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children with disabilities, and preparing personnel to serve school-age children with disabilities. Applicants must align their proposals with one of these focus areas and demonstrate how their program meets state or national certification requirements. Grant funds are intended to support scholar training and program development activities. Allowable uses include tuition assistance, stipends, travel for training, and resources necessary to enhance instructional quality and clinical experiences. A significant portion of the total award must be allocated to scholar support, ensuring that participants can complete their programs without undue financial burden. The program does not require cost sharing or matching contributions. Indirect costs are limited to a training rate, capped at eight percent of a modified total direct cost base or the negotiated rate, whichever is lower. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and private nonprofit organizations that operate or partner with qualifying degree programs in special education, early intervention, or related services. Nonprofits must demonstrate appropriate legal status and authority to enter into federal grant agreements. Applicants must also demonstrate capacity to recruit, retain, and graduate scholars, as well as to provide high-quality field or clinical experiences aligned with evidence-based practices. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and compliance with federal registration systems such as SAM.gov. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive proposal that includes a project narrative, budget, abstract, and supporting documentation. The narrative must address significance, project design, management plan, adequacy of resources, and evaluation strategy. Applications are reviewed by peer reviewers and scored based on established selection criteria totaling up to 100 points. Additional preference points may be awarded to qualifying applicants such as historically Black colleges and universities or new potential grantees. The application window opens on May 13, 2026, with a submission deadline of July 2, 2026. Intergovernmental review deadlines extend to August 31, 2026. Awards are expected to support projects with a performance period of up to 60 months. Applicants are encouraged to begin registration processes early due to system requirements and validation timelines. For further information, applicants may contact the program officer via phone or email as provided in the official notice.

Align proposal with evidence-based practices; demonstrate personnel shortages; emphasize scholar outcomes and completion; ensure strong evaluation plan