Special Education Paraprofessional Professional Development Grant

The Illinois State Board of Education is administering the Special Education Paraprofessional Professional Development grant using federal pass-through funding associated with Assistance Listing 84.027A. The project represents the initial funding for this initiative and is intended to strengthen the preparation and retention of paraprofessionals who support students with disabilities throughout the school day. Paraprofessionals provide academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and access support under the direction of teachers. The program responds to an identified need for additional paraprofessionals and for high-quality professional development that prepares these professionals to serve students across the continuum of disability-related needs. The federal authority cited for the program permits IDEA Part B state activity funds to support technical assistance, personnel preparation, professional development, and training. The selected grantee will develop and deliver a statewide professional development system for special education paraprofessionals. Required activities include developing at least seven on-demand learning modules addressing core competencies and skills based on High Leverage Practices for special educators and the Core Competencies for Special Education Paraeducators. The grantee must also plan and deliver two in-person professional learning opportunities in each of six regions, for 12 opportunities total, including summer dates. In-person content is to address learning development and individual learning differences, special education services and supports in the learning environment, assessment, instructional supports and strategies, and social, emotional, and behavioral supports. The grantee is also expected to collaborate with other ISBE grant-funded technical assistance projects, develop and maintain a website for professional development resources, disseminate information about learning opportunities at least monthly, secure or maintain approval as a continuing professional development provider, and hold monthly check-in meetings with ISBE. The program anticipates one grant of up to $300,000 for FY 2027, with the possibility of two additional continuation years through FY 2029. Initial and continuation awards depend on the needs addressed, the scope of activities each year, and available appropriations. Allowable expenditures include salaries and benefits, facility costs such as room rental, supplies directly related to the grant purpose, equipment rental and maintenance related to the project, travel and other program-delivery or professional-development participation costs, presenter fees, training materials, and duplication services. Indirect costs are permitted subject to applicable federally restricted indirect cost rules. Funds must supplement and not supplant funds otherwise available for authorized activities. Cost sharing or matching is not required, and the notice states that 100 percent of the program's $300,000 funding is derived from federal sources. Eligible applicants include Local Education Agencies, institutions of higher learning, ISBE-approved public university laboratory schools, area vocational centers, charter schools, cooperatives and other joint agreements with a governing body or board of control such as special education cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, and schools operated by a Regional Office of Education, Intermediate Service Center, or state agency. Only one application per entity, determined by Federal Employer Identification Number, will be accepted. Applicants must complete applicable GATA registration and prequalification requirements before applying, maintain required SAM registration and a UEI, and possess an RCDT code before submission. First-time applicants without an RCDT code must contact the program contact and should allow up to four weeks for processing. Tentative awardees must also complete the specified FY 2027 fiscal, organizational, and programmatic risk assessments before an award can be executed. A complete application must include the Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, a Program Narrative of no more than five pages, Objectives and Activities of no more than five pages, a Proposal Evaluation Design of no more than two pages, and the Federal Budget Summary and Payment Schedule with the required Budget Summary Breakdown. The application must contain required identifying information and signatures, including the signature of the official authorized to submit the proposal. District budgets must be signed by the district superintendent, while other applicants must obtain the signature of an authorized official. Proposals are to be emailed to Deb Scott at descott@isbe.net no later than July 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Applications submitted late, submitted before obtaining an RCDT code, lacking the required authorized signature, or submitted without completing Steps 1-3 of GATA prequalification will be deemed ineligible and will not be read. Questions and changes were to be reflected through the FAQ and ISBE funding opportunity materials, with no FAQ changes after July 13, 2026. Applications are evaluated on experience and expertise, program implementation, program awareness, program evaluation, and budget. Experience and expertise and program implementation are each worth 25 points, program awareness is worth 10 points, program evaluation is worth 20 points, and budget is worth 10 points. Review considers need, capacity, and quality, with individual proposal elements rated from not provided through very strong. In a tie, priority is given to the applicant with the most years of experience providing professional development to adult educators. The project also requires pre/post surveys, demographic data collection, quarterly reporting, an annual summation, statewide participation analysis including county data and a heat map, and fiscal administration consistent with Uniform Guidance. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are anticipated to receive award or non-award notices by email approximately 90 days after the application deadline. The award letter itself does not authorize performance or expenditures. Deb Scott is the agency contact and can be reached at descott@isbe.net or 217-782-5589.

Provide concrete evidence of expertise identifying paraprofessional training needs and designing and delivering statewide professional development; document qualifications to maintain registration and data-tracking systems; directly address development of at least seven on-demand modules and 12 in-person regional learning opportunities; show the ability to secure or maintain professional development provider approval; provide a specific statewide dissemination plan; explain pre/post survey, demographic, county and heat-map analysis; address monthly ISBE meetings and quarterly and annual reporting; align anticipated expenditures with federal budget line items and include subcontractor information when applicable.