OSERS-OSEP: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel

The U.S. Department of Education, through its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2025 under the grant program titled “Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities—Preparation of Special Education and Early Intervention Administrators.” The purpose of this grant is to support doctoral programs that prepare scholars to assume leadership roles in the administration of special education and early intervention programs. The initiative aims to address critical personnel shortages by increasing the number of well-qualified administrators who can effectively plan and supervise instruction, interventions, and services for children with disabilities and their families. Applicants must be institutions of higher education (IHEs) with doctoral programs or nonprofit organizations that can submit on behalf of eligible IHEs. Projects must culminate in a doctoral degree, such as an Ed.D., with a focus on special education or early intervention administration. The preparation of school principals is not supported under this opportunity. Entities may apply independently or as partnerships of two or three IHEs. Partnerships must provide scholars with annual, shared experiences across institutions to develop core leadership competencies through coursework, research, internships, and work-based learning. Applications must be submitted by June 26, 2025, with a deadline for intergovernmental review on August 25, 2025. Pre-recorded informational webinars will be made available by June 2, 2025. Applications must demonstrate strong significance, project design, management, resources, and evaluation mechanisms. Required elements include narrative descriptions of recruitment strategies, scholar support plans, evaluation metrics, budget justification, and assurances for compliance with federal civil rights and grant performance requirements. The grant includes an absolute priority and two competitive preference priorities: applications from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and applications from new grantees who have not held similar awards under ALN 84.325D or 84.325H in the past five years. Projects are expected to operate for up to 60 months, and up to 65 percent of total funds must be directed toward scholar support. Required appendices must include supporting letters for field placements, course syllabi, and budget details that align with scholar needs and program objectives. Awards are discretionary and contingent on the availability of funds and the quality of applications. The estimated total available funding is $1.5 million, with individual awards ranging from $150,000 to $1,050,000 per year, depending on whether the applicant is a single IHE or part of a partnership. Contact for this grant is Celia Rosenquist at Celia.Rosenquist@ed.gov or 202-245-7373.