National Professional Development Program

The National Professional Development program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen the capacity of educators working with English learners. The program is designed to provide discretionary grant funding to institutions of higher education and qualified public or private entities that partner with State or local educational agencies. Its overarching purpose is to improve instructional quality and outcomes for English learners by enhancing the professional skills, certification attainment, and effectiveness of teachers, paraprofessionals, and educational leaders. The program supports both pre-service and in-service professional development activities. These activities are intended to raise the qualifications of educators working with English learners, including those who are not yet certified or who require additional licensure in language instruction educational programs. Allowable uses of funds include the development and implementation of training programs, professional learning opportunities, and initiatives that directly improve instructional practices and educational outcomes for English learners. Funding may also be used to build educator capacity, strengthen teaching practices, and improve institutional systems that support language acquisition and academic achievement. Applicants must be institutions of higher education or other public or private entities with demonstrated experience and capacity, and they must apply as part of a consortium with State educational agencies or local educational agencies. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which lowers the barrier to entry for eligible applicants. However, applicants must adhere to federal cost principles and indirect cost limitations, including a training indirect cost rate cap of eight percent of modified total direct costs or the applicant’s negotiated rate, whichever is lower. The application process includes submission through Grants.gov and requires prior registration in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov systems. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a notice of intent to apply, although it is not mandatory. Required application components include standard federal forms, a project narrative, a budget narrative, performance measures, and supporting documentation such as letters of support and appendices. Applications must clearly address the program’s absolute priority, which focuses on improving instruction for English learners, and may optionally address competitive preference priorities related to evidence-based literacy and state-led education initiatives. Applications are evaluated based on four primary criteria: quality of project design, quality of the management plan, significance of the proposed project, and quality of evaluation or evidence-building strategies. These criteria emphasize measurable goals, alignment with program objectives, capacity to deliver meaningful outcomes, and robust evaluation methodologies. Applicants must also outline data collection strategies and demonstrate the ability to report on performance measures, including participant outcomes and improvements in student achievement. The funding opportunity offers an estimated total of 49 million dollars, with individual awards ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 dollars annually for up to five years. The program anticipates making between 10 and 13 awards. The application deadline is July 14, 2026, with awards contingent upon funding availability and application quality. Projects may run for up to 60 months, and grantees are required to submit annual performance reports. The program is expected to recur annually, subject to federal appropriations and policy priorities. For additional details, applicants may contact the program officer listed in the official notice.

Align proposal with absolute priority; include measurable outcomes; demonstrate strong evaluation methods; clearly define management plan and timelines