Autism Grant Program

The Autism Grant Program (AGP) is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and funded through a legislative appropriation from the 89th Texas Legislature. This competitive program is designed to support autism research centers located within Texas public, private, or independent institutions of higher education. The overarching purpose of AGP is to improve and expand access to evidence-based behavioral treatments for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through research, training, and service delivery. Established in 2015 by the 84th Texas Legislature and renewed in subsequent sessions, including the most recent fiscal biennium, the AGP has served over 82,000 children since its inception. The program’s sustained legislative support reflects a statewide commitment to enhancing autism treatment infrastructure across Texas. The AGP offers funding in three distinct categories: (1) Parent-Directed Treatment, (2) Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Training for Teachers and Paraprofessionals, and (3) Innovative Autism Treatment Models. Under the Parent-Directed Treatment category, funding supports programs that train parents and home-based caregivers to deliver evidence-based interventions to their children with ASD. The BCBA Training category is geared toward enabling teachers and paraprofessionals to implement applied behavior analysis techniques under professional guidance. The final category, Innovative Autism Treatment Models, funds research and development projects that evaluate new treatment approaches. Each grant category has an anticipated funding range, with awards between $250,000 and $1.4 million depending on the scope and impact of the project. Multiple awards may be made in each category, and funding levels are determined by both project quality and the expected number of children to be served. Eligible applicants are entities such as centers, departments, institutes, colleges, or schools that are part of a Texas-based institution of higher education. These entities must have been actively engaged in autism research and the provision of evidence-based behavioral services for children with ASD as of September 1, 2025. Partnerships between institutions are also permitted. For the BCBA Training category specifically, applicants may collaborate with regional educational service centers to deliver professional development to educators. Applications must clearly identify the number of children, families, or professionals to be served, along with timelines and strategies for implementation and evaluation. Each applicant institution may submit one application per distinct autism research unit within its organization, provided each falls under a different grant category. Applications must be submitted through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Grant Management System by 11:59 p.m. CT on February 13, 2026. Submissions must be complete, including all required signatures, attachments, and acknowledgments. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Applicants are responsible for confirming receipt of submission through the online system. The Request for Applications (RFA) provides detailed guidance on eligibility criteria, budget requirements, and allowable costs. Notably, the use of AGP funds is restricted to direct project expenses as detailed in the approved budget. Costs such as indirect charges, recruiting expenses, or participant reimbursements are explicitly prohibited. Applications will be evaluated based on overall project design, access to institutional resources, and the clarity of expected outcomes. Reviewers will award points in these categories to determine the likelihood of a project’s success and its value to the state. For example, parent-directed proposals must demonstrate that caregivers will receive effective training, while BCBA proposals must show how educator training will translate into improved student outcomes. Innovative model proposals must clearly articulate how their treatment methods differ from existing approaches. Awards are expected to be announced in March 2026, with the grant period officially beginning on May 1, 2026 and concluding on March 31, 2028. During the grant period, recipients must provide progress and expenditure reports at set intervals, and a final financial report is due by May 12, 2028. Data collection is a critical component, as grantees must track the number of children served, training participants, and treatment outcomes. The AGP team at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is available to address inquiries throughout the application and grant periods. Interested applicants can access the full RFA through the official agency portal and must direct all correspondence to the designated grant manager via the provided email.

Clearly quantify projected number served and link program model to state impact goals.