Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: Rehabilitation Services Administration: Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program: Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are Hard of Hearing ALN 84.129Q

The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) Program, administered by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) within the U.S. Department of Education, is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 grant cycle. This federal discretionary grant aims to strengthen the professional workforce in vocational rehabilitation (VR) by addressing personnel shortages in areas serving individuals with disabilities. The program provides funding to eligible entities for academic training to prepare qualified vocational rehabilitation professionals. Applications open on June 20, 2025, and close on July 17, 2025, with intergovernmental review due by September 15, 2025. The RLTT program supports training projects that lead to either a degree or certificate in one of several specialized rehabilitation topic areas, such as rehabilitation counseling, rehabilitation technology, services for individuals who are mentally ill, blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, or those pursuing undergraduate education in rehabilitation services. Additionally, the program includes a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) priority for training currently employed State VR agency personnel. The program requires that at least 65% of awarded funds be used for scholarships to support students—referred to as RSA scholars—in these training programs. Scholarships may cover tuition, fees, stipends, books, and travel related to the training assignments. The funding pool for FY 2025 is estimated at $15 million. Maximum award sizes range from $150,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on the topic area, with project periods of up to five years. The program mandates a minimum 10% cost share from grantees, though partial waivers may be considered. Grantees must not only meet financial requirements but also deliver high-quality training aligned with State VR agency personnel standards as mandated under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 34 CFR 361.18. Eligible applicants include States, public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations, institutions of higher education, and Indian Tribes. The application process includes submission through the Department of Education's discretionary grants portal, compliance with common application instructions, and development of detailed project plans addressing workforce shortages, scholar recruitment, training design, and partnerships with State VR agencies and educational institutions. Programs must incorporate technological innovation, employer engagement strategies, and instructional flexibility, including hybrid or competency-based delivery methods. Grant proposals are evaluated based on criteria such as relevance to vocational rehabilitation, curriculum design, resource adequacy, project management, and evaluation strategies. Applications must also include performance metrics related to scholar graduation rates, employment outcomes, and compliance with service obligations. Selected applicants must demonstrate ongoing communication with scholars and track progress post-graduation to ensure they fulfill their professional service obligations. Interested parties may direct inquiries to Diandrea Bailey at 84.129@ed.gov or (202) 245-6244. A pre-application resource package will be available at https://ncrtm.ed.gov/RSAGrantInfo.aspx. The Department also encourages applications that maximize the percentage of project funds allocated to scholarships, with an invitational priority for proposals dedicating 85% or more of project costs to student support.

Use at least 85% of total funding for scholarships to align with the invitational priority. Incorporate hybrid learning, use of assistive technology, and maintain strong partnerships with State VR agencies.