U.S. Department of Education: Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel

The Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel program aims to: (1) help address state-identified needs for personnel preparation in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education to work with children, including infants and toddlers, with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research and experience, to be successful in serving those children.

The program includes two absolute priorities and three competitive preference priorities.

• Absolute priority 1 — Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Faculty: This priority seeks to support existing doctoral degree programs that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services personnel at the doctoral degree level who are well qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership positions as researchers and preparers personnel. This priority will provide support to help address identified needs for personnel with the knowledge and skills to establish and meet high expectations for each child with a disability. Programs must culminate in a doctoral degree, which may include a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree.
• Absolute Priority 2 — Preparation of Special Education and Early Intervention Administrators: This priority seeks to support existing doctoral degree programs that prepare special education or early intervention personnel to work as administrators in traditional and non-traditional public school systems such as state educational agencies (SEAs), charter management organizations (CMOs), charter school authorizers, lead agencies (LAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), private school networks, parochial schools, early intervention services (EIS) programs, or schools in positions such as SEA special education administrators, LEA or regional special education directors, school-based special education directors, preschool coordinators, and early intervention coordinators. This priority will provide support to help address identified needs for personnel with the knowledge and skills to establish and meet high expectations for each child with a disability. Doctoral programs in educational administration that include a focus on special education are eligible under this priority. Programs must culminate in a doctoral degree, which may include a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree.

Within Absolute Priorities 1 and 2, competitive preference is given to applications that address Competitive Preference Priorities 1, 2, and 3.

• Competitive Preference Priority 1: An application that proposes a partnership consisting of two or three institutions of higher education (IHEs) in a high-need area of leadership shortages
• Competitive Preference Priority 2: An application that demonstrates matching support for the proposed project (points range by percent of matching support, see solicitation for more details)
• Competitive Preference Priority 3: Projects proposed by applicants that have not had an active grant award under this program at any point in the preceding five fiscal years

Amount: A total of $4,250,000 is available to make 17 awards that average from $225,000-$250,000 for an individual IHE; $450,000-$500,000 per year for a two-IHE group application; and $675,000-$750,000 for a three-IHE group application. The project period is 60 months. A 10 percent cost share or match is required.

Eligibility: IHEs and private nonprofit organizations.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=316209

This post was filed under: