OSERS: OSEP: National Center to Improve Faculty Capacity to Use Educational Technology in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Preparation and Leadership Personnel Preparation Programs CFDA Number 84.327F | ED GRANTS 070120 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 070120 001

This discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), is focused on establishing or supporting a National Center designed to strengthen faculty capacity to use educational technology within personnel preparation and leadership preparation programs. In practical terms, the grant is aimed at improving how colleges, universities, and other training providers prepare special education teachers, early intervention personnel, and related services professionals by ensuring the faculty who train them can effectively select, use, and teach with educational technology that benefits children with disabilities.

The opportunity sits under the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program (CFDA 84.327F). The program purpose is broad but clear: improve results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; support educational activities that add value in the classroom for children with disabilities; support captioning and video description appropriate for classroom use; and ensure accessible educational materials (AEM) reach children with disabilities in a timely manner. A key point embedded in the notice is that accessibility obligations do not come only from this grant program. Separate legal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may independently require state and local educational agencies to provide captioning, video description, and other accessible materials when needed to provide equally effective access or to meet requirements associated with a free appropriate public education.

Eligibility is intentionally wide, reflecting the national capacity-building nature of the work. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments and independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and other entities as permitted in the full notice. Because the synopsis points applicants to the official Federal Register notice for the controlling requirements and any additional eligibility clarifications, prospective applicants would need to verify any conditions or limitations there, especially if applying as a consortium or proposing a national center with multiple partners.

The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $500,000, and OSEP anticipated making one award. That combination strongly signals a single national center award rather than multiple smaller projects. The opportunity was posted with applications available July 1, 2020, and a deadline for transmittal of applications of August 21, 2020. OSEP also planned a pre-recorded technical assistance webinar for applicants, to be posted no later than July 6, 2020, on the OSEP grants webpage, which typically covers expectations, competition priorities, and common application pitfalls.

Applicants were directed to follow the Department of Education "Common Instructions" for discretionary grants (published February 13, 2019), which govern practical submission and formatting requirements, including how to obtain and submit the application package, along with standard federal application components. The synopsis also emphasizes that the Federal Register application notice is the official source for the complete set of requirements, including any absolute or competitive priorities, performance measures, reporting expectations, and contact information for program-specific questions.

For questions, the notice lists a program contact at the U.S. Department of Education: Celia Rosenquist, with a phone number (202) 245-7373 and email Celia.Rosenquist@ed.gov. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a national technical assistance and capacity-building effort aimed at improving educator preparation systems so that educational technology, accessibility features (including captioning and video description), and timely provision of accessible educational materials are more consistently and effectively embedded in the training of professionals who serve infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: National Center to Improve Faculty Capacity to Use Educational Technology in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Preparation and Leadership Personnel Preparation Programs CFDA Number 84.327F" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.327.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 01, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 2020 Applications Available July 1, 2020. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications August 21, 2020. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than July 6, 2020, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) will post a pre-recorded informational webinar designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. The webinar may be found at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/new-osep-grants.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Celia Rosenquist, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5158, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone (202) 245-7373. Email Celia.Rosenquist@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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