OSERS: OSEP: Absolute Priority 2 Focus B (School Age) Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AAPISIs, ALN 84.325K-5 | ED GRANTS 020422 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 020422 005

This grant opportunity comes from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), specifically the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). It is a discretionary grant competition under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.325K-5 and is titled "Absolute Priority 2 Focus B (School Age): Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AAPISIs." In plain terms, it is designed to strengthen the pipeline of well-prepared professionals who will serve children and youth with disabilities, with a special emphasis on supporting personnel preparation efforts connected to Minority Serving Institutions.

The central purpose of the program is twofold. First, it aims to help address State-identified personnel shortages and workforce needs across special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education roles that directly support children with disabilities, including infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Second, it focuses on quality as much as quantity by requiring that the people prepared through these projects gain the skills and knowledge grounded in scientifically based research, so they can use practices that are proven to work and be successful in real classrooms and service settings. Although this specific priority is labeled "Focus B (School Age)," it sits within a larger OSEP personnel preparation framework that emphasizes building a competent workforce across the disability services continuum.

Eligible applicants are broad and include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status) that are not institutions of higher education, and other entities as allowed under the official notice (the listing notes that additional eligibility details are provided in the application notice itself). The opportunity’s title signals an emphasis on MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AAPISIs). Applicants are expected to align proposed projects to the priority requirements described in the Federal Register notice, which is treated as the controlling document for the competition.

In terms of funding scale and expectations, the award ceiling is $250,000, and the Department anticipated making about 38 awards. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is education. The competition opened with applications available on February 22, 2022, with a deadline to submit applications by April 15, 2022. A later deadline of June 14, 2022 applied for intergovernmental review, which is a standard step in many federal education grant competitions.

For applicant support, OSERS planned to provide technical assistance through informational webinars, with details posted no later than February 9, 2022. Applicants were directed to a Department of Education webpage hosting OSEP grant resources and webinar links. Application submission procedures and required formatting were tied to the Department’s "Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" published on December 27, 2021 in the Federal Register (86 FR 245), which applicants are expected to follow for addresses, submission steps, and other government-wide application mechanics.

Finally, the opportunity lists a federal program contact for Absolute Priority 2: Tracie Dickson at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC, with a phone number and email provided for questions. Because the provided text is explicitly a synopsis, anyone developing an application would need to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for the full set of requirements, including the exact priority language, eligibility clarifications, selection criteria, performance measures, and any competitive preference priorities or mandatory project components.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: Absolute Priority 2 Focus B (School Age) Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AAPISIs, ALN 84.325K-5" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.325.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2022 Applications Available February 22, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications April 15, 2022. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review June 14, 2022. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than February 9, 2022, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will post details on pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Links to the webinars may be found at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/new-osep-grants.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT For Absolute Priority 2 Tracie Dickson, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5176, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone (202) 245-7844. Email Tracie.Dickson@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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 38 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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