OSERS: OSEP: National Center for Development and Dissemination of Digital Open Educational Resources that Translate Research to Practice for Building the Capacity of Personnel Serving Students with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84,325E | ED GRANTS 030322 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 030322 001

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 competition under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.325E, and it is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of Education expects to be meaningfully involved in the project beyond simply providing funds. The project is framed as a single national center focused on the development and dissemination of digital open educational resources (OER) that translate research into practical, usable guidance for the field, specifically to build the capacity of personnel who serve students with disabilities, including infants and toddlers with disabilities.

At its core, the program’s purpose is tied to strengthening the workforce that supports children with disabilities across early intervention and school-based settings. The notice emphasizes two connected goals: first, helping address State-identified needs for personnel preparation in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education; and second, ensuring that these personnel have the skills and knowledge to succeed, grounded in practices validated by scientifically based research and professional experience. In practical terms, the funded center is expected to take evidence-based knowledge and turn it into accessible digital training and learning resources that can be used widely, consistently, and at low or no cost, supporting educators and service providers in applying research-backed practices in real settings.

The funding mechanism is designed to support one award, with an expected single funded project (ExpectedAwards: 1) and an award ceiling of $1,200,000. Because this is a national center model, the expectation is typically that the grantee will create resources meant for broad dissemination rather than serving only a local or single-State audience. The emphasis on digital OER also signals that deliverables should be openly available and designed for reuse and adaptation, which can help States, districts, preparation programs, and service agencies scale training and implementation support without continually reinventing materials.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities that could credibly operate a national center. Eligible applicants include State, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education under that specific nonprofit category); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses, along with other eligible applicants as clarified in the official notice. This wide eligibility pool suggests the Department is open to applications from universities, research and development organizations, nonprofits with expertise in disability and educator training, and other entities capable of developing high-quality digital products and running a dissemination effort at national scale.

Key dates from the opportunity record show that applications became available on March 3, 2022, with a deadline to submit applications by May 2, 2022. The deadline for intergovernmental review is listed as July 1, 2022. The Department also planned to post details about pre-recorded informational webinars no later than March 8, 2022, hosted on the OSEP grants webpage. These webinars were intended to provide technical assistance to potential applicants, which often includes clarifying priorities, expected project components, and submission requirements.

For applicants looking for official guidance, the synopsis repeatedly stresses that the Federal Register notice is the controlling document, including the details that usually matter most in competitive federal grants: specific eligibility clarifications, required project components and deliverables, selection criteria, competitive preferences or absolute priorities, performance measures, reporting expectations, budget rules, and application submission instructions. It also points applicants to the Department’s Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 27, 2021) for standard requirements on how to obtain and submit an application.

The listed program contact for this competition is Sarah Allen at the U.S. Department of Education, with an office address at 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5160, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076, phone (202) 245-7875, and email Sarah.Allen@ed.gov. For anyone developing an application (or trying to understand the expectations for the national center), that contact information and the Federal Register notice are the primary authoritative sources for the full set of requirements and expectations.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: National Center for Development and Dissemination of Digital Open Educational Resources that Translate Research to Practice for Building the Capacity of Personnel Serving Students with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84,325E" 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 Mar 03, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 02, 2022 Applications Available March 3, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications May 2, 2022. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review July 1, 2022. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than March 8, 2022, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will post details on pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance (TA) 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 Sarah Allen, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5160, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone (202) 245-7875. Email Sarah.Allen@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 $1,200,000.00 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, 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).

Apply for ED GRANTS 030322 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: