OSERS-OSEP: National Assessment Center

The National Assessment Center grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Education under the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. This initiative is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and is designed to support national-level efforts that enhance educational outcomes for children with disabilities. The program reflects federal priorities to ensure that all children with disabilities are included in state and districtwide assessments and that these assessments accurately measure student performance with appropriate accommodations. The funding supports a cooperative agreement to establish and operate a centralized National Assessment Center. The primary purpose of this grant is to improve participation and performance of children with disabilities in assessments administered at the state and district levels. The funded center is expected to provide technical assistance, develop resources, and disseminate evidence-based practices that help educational agencies better implement accessible and inclusive assessment systems. This includes improving the use of assessment data, strengthening accountability systems, and supporting compliance with federal requirements such as participation thresholds and alternate assessment limits. The project must also build capacity among parents and educators to understand and utilize assessment systems effectively. Funding for this opportunity is capped at a maximum of 1000000 dollars per 12-month budget period, with a total project period of up to 60 months. Only one award is expected to be made. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding. Allowable costs include activities necessary to provide technical assistance, develop tools and resources, maintain dissemination platforms, and support collaborative partnerships. Administrative costs must be reasonable and align with federal cost principles, but no specific administrative cap is imposed. Eligibility for this grant is broad and inclusive. Applicants may include state educational agencies, local educational agencies including charter schools, institutions of higher education, public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, tribal entities, and freely associated states or outlying areas. Nonprofit applicants must provide documentation verifying their tax-exempt status or equivalent certification. Grantees may also issue subgrants to eligible partners such as universities or nonprofit organizations, although subgrantees are not permitted to further subgrant funds. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov, following registration in both SAM.gov and Grants.gov systems. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive application package that includes a project narrative, budget and budget narrative, abstract, resumes of key personnel, and required federal forms and certifications. The project narrative must address significance, project design, evaluation methods, resource adequacy, and management planning. Applicants must also demonstrate how their project aligns with the absolute priority and may optionally address a competitive preference priority related to improving alternate assessments. Applications are evaluated based on detailed selection criteria including significance of the project, quality of design, evaluation approach, adequacy of resources, and management plan. Each category is scored according to federal regulations, with emphasis on evidence-based practices, measurable outcomes, and the ability to deliver high-quality technical assistance. Performance measures require grantees to report annually on the quality, relevance, usefulness, and cost efficiency of their outputs, as reviewed by independent experts. The application window opened on May 20, 2026, and closes on July 20, 2026, with intergovernmental review required by September 18, 2026. The award is expected to support activities over a five-year period, with continuation funding contingent on satisfactory progress and compliance with federal requirements. For further information, applicants may contact Kristen Rhoads at the U.S. Department of Education via email or phone as listed in the official notice. The program is expected to recur annually or periodically as part of ongoing federal efforts to improve special education outcomes.

Focus on strong evidence-based design, measurable outcomes, and alignment with federal priorities; clearly address all selection criteria and demonstrate capacity for national technical assistance