The U.S. Department of Education, through its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), has announced a funding opportunity under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) Program for fiscal year 2025. This program supports academic training in fields identified as having personnel shortages within vocational rehabilitation (VR). The overarching goal is to address these shortages by providing financial assistance for higher education programs that prepare individuals to serve persons with disabilities. Applications for this discretionary grant competition open on June 20, 2025, and must be submitted by July 17, 2025. A deadline for intergovernmental review is set for September 15, 2025.
The RLTT Program aims to increase the supply of qualified rehabilitation professionals who can meet the evolving needs of individuals with disabilities. Funded programs must allocate at least 65 percent of project funds toward scholarships for students, referred to as RSA scholars. These scholarships may be used for stipends, tuition and fees, books, supplies, and travel associated with academic training. The program also promotes innovation in instructional methods, such as competency-based and hybrid learning models, to enhance participation and training outcomes. Academic programs must comply with state personnel standards under section 101(a)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act and must be aligned with state CSPD (Comprehensive System of Personnel Development) plans.
Funding totals up to $15 million with an estimated 79 awards across several topic areas. These include Rehabilitation Counseling (23 awards, $200,000), Rehabilitation Technology (5 awards, $175,000), Services for Individuals with Mental Illness (15 awards, $200,000), Undergraduate Education in Rehabilitation Services (10 awards, $175,000), Blindness and Low Vision (9 awards, $175,000), Deafness and Hard of Hearing (2 awards, $150,000), and CSPD (15 awards, $200,000). Projects must be structured around one of two absolute priorities: training for State VR Agency CSPD or training in specific rehabilitation topic areas. An invitational priority encourages maximizing scholarship use to at least 85 percent of project costs.
Applicants must demonstrate the relevance of their proposed program to state and regional VR needs and detail how training will address workforce trends and technological advancements, including assistive technology and artificial intelligence tools. They must also show plans for scholar recruitment, academic and career support, partnership development with VR agencies and educational institutions, and ongoing communication with RSA scholars post-graduation to track service obligation completion. A 10 percent cost share is required, though partial waivers may be considered if financial hardship is demonstrated.
The application process requires adherence to detailed formatting and submission instructions, including a recommended 45-page narrative limit and use of specific fonts and spacing. Applicants should review the selection criteria carefully, which emphasize curriculum quality, project design, resource adequacy, and evaluation methods. Successful grantees will receive a Grant Award Notification and are subject to performance reporting and open licensing of deliverables.
Applicants seeking further guidance may review pre-application resources at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx and contact Diandrea Bailey at 84.129@ed.gov or (202) 245–6244 for more information. Technical assistance is also available for applicants with disabilities.
Use hybrid and tech-integrated models, prioritize scholarships (at least 65%, ideally 85%), and include detailed plans for employment tracking and state VR coordination
