OSERS: OSEP: Absolute Priority 2 Focus A (Early Childhood) Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AAPISIs, ALN 84.325K-4 | ED GRANTS 020422 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 020422 004

This grant opportunity comes from the U.S. Department of Education, within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). It is a discretionary grant competition under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.325K-4 and is labeled as Absolute Priority 2, Focus A (Early Childhood). In practical terms, it is aimed at strengthening the pipeline of well-prepared professionals who can serve young children with disabilities (including infants and toddlers) by supporting personnel preparation efforts connected to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), specifically 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).

The core purpose of the program is twofold. First, it is designed to help address State-identified needs for preparing personnel in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education who work with children and youth with disabilities. That emphasis on "State-identified needs" signals that applicants are expected to align what they propose with documented workforce shortages or priority needs identified by states in the areas of early childhood special education and early intervention. Second, the program is intended to ensure that the personnel being prepared have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed, with preparation grounded in practices backed by scientifically based research. Put simply, the Department is not just funding training slots; it is funding preparation programs that can show they are building evidence-based competencies for professionals serving children with disabilities in early learning and early intervention contexts.

Eligible applicants are broad and include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), and other entities as allowed under the official notice (the listing points readers to an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section for clarifications). While the competition title highlights MSIs, the eligibility section indicates multiple entity types may apply, so the key is to look to the official Federal Register notice for the precise requirements on how proposals must be connected to MSIs and how the priority is operationalized (for example, whether the applicant must itself be an MSI, must partner with an MSI, or must primarily serve MSI-enrolled scholars). The synopsis repeatedly emphasizes that the Federal Register application notice is the controlling document for eligibility details and application requirements.

The funding mechanism is a grant, with an award ceiling of $250,000 per award. The notice indicates an expectation of 38 awards, suggesting a relatively broad national distribution of grants rather than a very small number of large awards. The opportunity was posted with applications available beginning February 22, 2022, a deadline for transmittal of applications of April 15, 2022, and an intergovernmental review deadline of June 14, 2022. The Department also planned to provide technical assistance via pre-recorded informational webinars, with details to be posted on the OSEP grants page; these kinds of webinars typically walk applicants through the priority, required application components, and common compliance issues, and they can be useful for understanding how OSEP expects applicants to frame evidence-based preparation and address workforce needs.

For submission logistics and the official addresses and procedures, the synopsis points applicants to the Department of Education Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 27, 2021). This matters because many Department competitions share standard requirements around formatting, required forms, allowable electronic submission methods, and other government-wide grants administration rules, while the Federal Register notice provides the priority-specific rules, selection criteria, performance measures, and any required assurances or service obligations. The program contact listed for Absolute Priority 2 is Tracie Dickson at the U.S. Department of Education (telephone 202-245-7844; email Tracie.Dickson@ed.gov), which is the point of contact for questions about the competition as described in the notice.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a workforce development and capacity-building grant focused on early childhood disability services, with a clear intent to expand and strengthen preparation pathways tied to MSIs. It seeks to increase the number and readiness of special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education personnel who can effectively serve young children with disabilities using scientifically supported practices, while responding directly to state-defined personnel shortages or needs. For anyone considering applying (or evaluating past awards), the critical next step is reviewing the official Federal Register notice to confirm the exact priority requirements, partnership expectations involving MSIs, required project components, and how OSEP will measure performance and outcomes.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: Absolute Priority 2 Focus A (Early Childhood) Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel Attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, and AAPISIs, ALN 84.325K-4" 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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