OSERS: OSEP: Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities and Demonstration and Training Programs--National Technical Assistance Center on Transition for Students and Youth with Disabilities 84.326E

The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition for Students and Youth with Disabilities is a funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). This grant program aims to improve the transition outcomes of students and youth with disabilities by providing technical assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating research-based information, and implementing activities supported by scientific evidence. The purpose is to ensure that these young people are equipped for postsecondary education, training, and employment through improved practices and enhanced capacity of State Educational Agencies (SEAs), Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, and other related service providers. The program specifically responds to the need for comprehensive and coordinated transition services for students with disabilities, as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Recent data has shown gaps in compliance with transition requirements, highlighting the necessity for a national center that can provide training, resources, and strategies to help states and local agencies meet these mandates. The center is expected to support data-driven decision-making, professional development, effective delivery of transition services, reduction in student absenteeism and dropout rates, and increased access to career and technical education, credential attainment, and competitive integrated employment. Applicants are required to address two absolute priorities: establishing and operating the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition, and focusing efforts on improving the transition to employment, particularly for youth with significant disabilities, those from underserved populations, or those residing in federally designated empowerment zones and enterprise communities. The successful applicant must demonstrate a clear understanding of national and state training needs, provide a logic model and evaluation plan, employ evidence-based practices, and offer a comprehensive management plan. Key activities include the development of high-quality, accessible resources and TA services (universal, targeted, and intensive), robust dissemination strategies, collaborations with parent centers and other federal programs, and the engagement of doctoral students or post-doctoral fellows. The grant opportunity is open to public or nonprofit agencies or organizations, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations. This includes SEAs, state lead agencies under Part C of IDEA, state VR agencies, LEAs (including public charter schools that are considered LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), and community rehabilitation programs. Matching is not required, and an unrestricted indirect cost rate is permitted. The project period is up to 60 months, with an estimated total available funding of $4,099,988, split between Rehabilitation Act funds and IDEA funds, for a single award. The maximum award for a single budget period of 12 months is $4,099,988. Applications are accepted from June 18, 2025, with a deadline of July 18, 2025. The intergovernmental review deadline is September 16, 2025. A pre-application informational webinar will be available no later than June 23, 2025, with details posted on the OSERS website. Application submission and additional details are provided in the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs. The program requires applicants to include personnel-loading charts, timelines, budget narratives, and plans for engaging individuals with disabilities or their parents in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project. Selected grantees will be required to openly license all deliverables, comply with federal civil rights laws, and submit annual and final performance reports. For further information, contact David Guardino at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202, telephone (202) 245–6403, email David.Guardino@ed.gov, or Tara Jordan, email Tara.Jordan@ed.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities can access telecommunications relay services by dialing 7–1–1:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.

Participate in the pre-application webinar; ensure budget narrative is separated for IDEA and Rehabilitation Act funds; collaborate with parent centers and other stakeholders as required.