By the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 26, 2023) – The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced $35 million in funding for 138 awards, including one national technical assistance center, which will support preparation, ongoing professional learning and leadership development for educators.
The OSEP Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities Program awards increase the number of well-prepared, diverse and effective personnel serving children with disabilities, including early intervention practitioners; teachers; related services providers; administrators leading early intervention programs, schools, or local and state agencies; and university faculty who are preparing future generations of personnel to serve children with disabilities.
Award recipients will receive one year of funding from federal fiscal year 2023 (FFY 2023) appropriations. The federal funds, authorized under Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), are awarded annually and have the potential to be funded to support five-year grant projects.
The following describes the grant programs, the number of new awards provided under each grant program, the total FFY 2023 appropriations used to fund the grants, the degree levels offered through the program, and service obligations required by individuals receiving funding through the grants. The tables list the institution of higher education (IHE) or organization receiving the grant, the state in which the IHE or organization is located, and FFY 2023 funds and five-year total funding to be received by the IHE or organization.
OSEP Personnel Development Training Grants for FFY 2023
New Awards: 20
FFY 2023 Appropriations: $8,532,569
Overview: OSEP awards grants up to $250,000 per year for five years to IHEs to support the preparation of leadership personnel who are well qualified for, and can act effectively in leadership positions as:
- Future faculty or researchers in special education, early intervention or related services at IHEs, or
- Leaders in state educational agencies, lead agencies under IDEA Part C, local educational agencies, early intervention services programs or schools.
The award also supports the increase in the number of multilingual leadership personnel and leadership personnel from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds at the doctoral level in special education, early intervention or related services.
Degree(s): Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.)
Service Obligation: Scholars who receive funding through an IHE’s award owe two years of service to the field for every one year of academic support.
| Name | State | FFY 2023 Funds | 5-Year Total Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | AR | $485,402 | $2,481,445 |
| Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University | AZ | $410,448 | $2,224,942 |
| Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona | AZ | $82,568 | $1,080,001 |
| Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | CA | $750,000 | $3,750,000 |
| Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | CA | $500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| The Florida International University Board of Trustees | FL | $500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| Florida State University | FL | $500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| University of Iowa | IA | $180,676 | $1,173,558 |
| Northern Illinois University | IL | $500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | MA | $572,524 | $3,523,849 |
| Bowie State University | MD | $248,323 | $1,243,044 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | NC | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Syracuse University | NY | $744,910 | $3,728,775 |
| Pennsylvania State University – University Park | PA | $179,737 | $1,126,773 |
| University of South Carolina | SC | $249,292 | $1,244,392 |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | TN | $399,971 | $2,399,454 |
| Texas Christian University | TX | $728,126 | $3,724,107 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $749,968 | $3,635,326 |
| University of Utah | UT | $149,939 | $2,141,444 |
| University of Washington | WA | $350,685 | $2,331,949 |
| Total | 20 | $8,532,569 | $47,059,059 |
New Awards: 41
FFY 2023 Appropriations: $8,870,090
Overview: Grants up to $250,000 per year for five years are awarded to IHEs to support high-quality projects that prepare early intervention and special education personnel – including personnel who are multilingual and personnel from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds – for professional practice in natural environments, early childhood programs, classrooms, school settings and in distance learning environments serving children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs.
Projects were funded under the following two focus areas:
- Preparing Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs and
- Preparing to Serve School-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs.
Degree(s): Bachelor’s degree, certification, master’s degree or educational specialist degree
Service Obligation: Scholars who receive funding through an IHE’s award owe two years of service to the field for every one year of academic support.
Early Childhood
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | AL | $249,670 | $1,248,928 |
| The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. | GA | $129,171 | $927,729 |
| Georgia State University Research Foundation | GA | $222,604 | $1,220,198 |
| Idaho State University | ID | $99,684 | $1,097,129 |
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois | IL | $77,605 | $1,011,563 |
| University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. | KS | $100,000 | $1,100,000 |
| University of Kentucky Research Foundation | KY | $233,298 | $1,137,159 |
| Bowie State University | MD | $249,096 | $1,247,334 |
| Washington University | MO | $249,981 | $1,247,901 |
| Teachers College, Columbia University | NY | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | PA | $151,042 | $974,043 |
| Coastal Carolina University | SC | $249,864 | $1,249,419 |
| Utah State University | UT | $197,209 | $1,145,918 |
| Total | 13 | $2,459,224 | $14,857,322 |
School Age
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation | CA | $243,645 | $1,232,437 |
| Chico State Enterprises | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| California State University, Fresno Foundation | CA | $249,843 | $1,249,307 |
| California State University, Northridge | CA | $211,856 | $1,159,720 |
| The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees | FL | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| University of Iowa | IA | $71,371 | $845,761 |
| Regents of the University of Idaho | ID | $219,034 | $1,049,532 |
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois | IL | $249,883 | $1,248,699 |
| Chicago State University | IL | $249,769 | $1,246,152 |
| Northern Illinois University | IL | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc. | KS | $195,566 | $1,195,566 |
| Bay Path University | MA | $249,980 | $1,201,832 |
| University of Maryland | MD | $249,999 | $1,249,998 |
| University of Maryland | MD | $249,999 | $1,247,743 |
| Bowie State University | MD | $248,478 | $1,243,535 |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota | MN | $228,070 | $1,199,193 |
| Minnesota State University Mankato | MN | $219,324 | $1,139,488 |
| University of Montana | MT | $242,629 | $1,216,235 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | NC | $128,025 | $881,858 |
| University of New Hampshire | NH | $248,697 | $1,245,914 |
| Salus University | PA | $248,290 | $1,247,059 |
| University of Rhode Island | RI | $156,986 | $1,128,313 |
| Vanderbilt University | TN | $249,748 | $1,233,676 |
| Vanderbilt University | TN | $249,956 | $1,249,169 |
| East Tennessee State University | TN | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Texas State University | TX | $249,999 | $1,223,265 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | TX | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| University of Vermont and State Agricultural College | VT | $249,719 | $1,246,559 |
| Total | 28 | $6,410,866 | $33,431,012 |
New Awards: 34
FFY 2023 Appropriations: $6,589,389
Overview: Grants up to $250,000 per year for five years are awarded to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that prepare personnel in special education, early intervention, or related services for professional practice in natural environments, early childhood programs, classrooms, school settings and in distance learning environments serving children with disabilities.
Projects were funded under the following two focus areas:
- Preparing Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children with Disabilities and
- Preparing Personnel to Serve School-Age Children with Disabilities.
Degree(s): Bachelor’s degree, certification, master’s degree, educational specialist degree or clinical doctoral degree
Service Obligation: Scholars who receive funding through an IHE’s award owe two years of service to the field for every one year of academic support.
Early Childhood
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona | AZ | $177,516 | $1,172,553 |
| California State University, Northridge | CA | $249,890 | $1,249,468 |
| Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | CA | $100,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| San Francisco State University | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| San Diego State University Foundation | CA | $249,957 | $1,249,834 |
| Hawai`i Pacific University | HI | $177,640 | $1,107,723 |
| The Regents of New Mexico State University | NM | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Total | 8 | $1,705,003 | $9,629,578 |
School Age
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M University | AL | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona | AZ | $195,499 | $1,119,077 |
| California Lutheran University | CA | $244,527 | $1,241,679 |
| California State University Channel Islands | CA | $97,129 | $1,064,311 |
| California State University, Northridge | CA | $249,415 | $1,147,755 |
| San Jose State University Research Foundation | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Delaware State University | DE | $67,286 | $1,065,950 |
| The Florida International University Board of Trustees | FL | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Florida Memorial University, Inc. | FL | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees | FL | $249,984 | $1,249,765 |
| Clark Atlanta University | GA | $249,987 | $1,249,935 |
| University of Hawaii | HI | $95,335 | $1,084,889 |
| Chicago State University | IL | $249,228 | $1,158,606 |
| Elmhurst University | IL | $99,957 | $1,097,711 |
| Coppin State University | MD | $98,971 | $1,065,361 |
| Jackson State University | MS | $186,226 | $1,092,556 |
| North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | NC | $99,999 | $1,099,998 |
| Winston-Salem State University | NC | $172,722 | $1,172,722 |
| University of Nevada, Reno | NV | $249,161 | $1,244,971 |
| Northeastern State University | OK | $99,490 | $1,083,370 |
| University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus | PR | $108,760 | $1,103,727 |
| Texas A&M University | TX | $127,346 | $1,109,162 |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | TX | $99,952 | $1,099,844 |
| University North Texas at Dallas | TX | $344,400 | $1,722,000 |
| Alverno College | WI | $249,012 | $1,242,260 |
| Total | 26 | $4,884,386 | $30,765,649 |
New Awards: 31
FFY 2023 Appropriations: $6,338,229
Overview: Grants up to $250,000 per year for five years are awarded to institutions of higher education to support high-quality projects that prepare related services personnel – including personnel who are multilingual and personnel from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds – for professional practice in natural environments, early childhood programs, classrooms, school settings and in distance learning environments serving children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs.
Projects were funded under the following two focus areas:
- Preparing Related Services Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs; and
- Preparing Related Services Personnel to Serve School-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs.
Degree(s): Bachelor’s degree, certification, master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctorate degree
Service Obligation: Scholars who receive funding through an IHE’s award owe two years of service to the field for every one year of academic support.
Early Childhood
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | DC | $99,692 | $1,099,641 |
| Idaho State University | ID | $99,684 | $1,097,129 |
| University of South Dakota | SD | $249,786 | $1,247,291 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | TN | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Utah State University | UT | $192,128.74 | $1,138,728.96 |
| Total | 5 | $891,290.74 | $5,832,789.96 |
School Age
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona | AZ | $247,466 | $1,242,227 |
| Midwestern University | AZ | $258,998 | $1,274,578 |
| Cal State LA University Auxiliary Services, Inc. | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| San Diego State University Foundation | CA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Colorado State University | CO | $245,659 | $1,244,793 |
| Florida State University | FL | $226,614 | $1,160,620 |
| Northern Illinois University | IL | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois | IL | $100,000 | $1,004,543 |
| Midwestern University | IL | $246,712 | $1,148,134 |
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois – Chicago | IL | $245,492 | $1,035,514 |
| Northeastern University | MA | $249,930 | $1,249,770 |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | MA | $249,999 | $1,249,995 |
| The Johns Hopkins University | MD | $146,244 | $1,022,245 |
| Michigan State University | MI | $235,523.75 | $1,235,523.75 |
| Western Michigan University | MI | $249,183 | $1,247,667 |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities | MN | $89,310 | $1,089,310 |
| Regents of the University of Minnesota | MN | $250,000 | $1,249,999 |
| Washington University | MO | $99,969 | $1,095,047 |
| Washington University | MO | $100,000 | $1,096,128 |
| Seton Hall University | NJ | $233,177 | $1,178,029 |
| University of Nevada, Reno | NV | $203,125.44 | $1,081,557.21 |
| Teachers College, Columbia University | NY | $218,305 | $1,168,505 |
| Salus University | PA | $249,722 | $1,248,895 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | PA | $250,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Baylor University | TX | $157,544 | $1,132,591 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $143,965 | $1,039,733 |
| Total | 26 | $5,446,938.19 | $30,495,403.96 |
OSEP Personnel Development Program Development Grant for FFY 2023
New Awards: 11
FFY 2023 Appropriations: $2,072,412
Overview: Grants up to $250,000 per year for five years are awarded to fund program development and continuous improvement in associate degree preservice preparation programs for personnel working with young children with disabilities.
Projects are to increase the capacity of community college faculty to design and deliver curriculum content so that early childhood personnel with associate degrees have the competencies to work with young children with disabilities and their families.
Degree(s): N/A
Service Obligation: N/A
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego State University Foundation | CA | $199,992 | $999,966 |
| University of Colorado Denver | CO | $199,834 | $997,904 |
| University of Connecticut Health Center | CT | $200,000 | $1,000,000 |
| University of Hawaii | HI | $199,966 | $999,913 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | NC | $200,000 | $1,000,000 |
| University of Nevada, Reno | NV | $196,544 | $979,471 |
| Research Foundation of CUNY on Behalf of Borough of Manhattan Community College | NY | $100,000 | $200,000 |
| University of Toledo | OH | $195,375 | $994,368 |
| University of Cincinnati | OH | $199,986 | $999,835 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | VA | $180,873 | $975,465 |
| University of Washington | WA | $199,842 | $991,672 |
| Total | 11 | $2,072,412 | $10,138,594 |
OSEP Personnel Development Center Grant for FFY 2023
New Awards: 1
FFY 2023 Appropriations: $3,000,000
Overview: One award was funded for a five-year project to establish and operate a National Center for Supporting School Building and Early Intervention Program Administrators to Effectively Implement the IDEA and Improve Systems Serving Children with Disabilities.
The center will help state educational agencies and early intervention IDEA Part C lead agencies to effectively implement IDEA by building the capacity of administrators in school buildings and early intervention programs to meet IDEA requirements and improve systems serving children with disabilities and their families.
Degree(s): N/A
Service Obligation: N/A
| Name | State | FFY 2023 | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Institutes for Research | VA | $3,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Total | 1 | $3,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
OSEP Scholars
Scholars who receive funding through an OSEP Personnel Development Program training grant are known as OSEP Scholars. In Federal Fiscal Year 2020, there were 4,840 OSEP Scholars trained at 144 IHEs.
Potential OSEP Scholars can find a personnel preparation program that meets their needs by visiting the OSEP IDEAs That Work’s Discretionary Grants Database, selecting the “Program” filter “Personnel Development” and then using additional search options such as “State,” “Disability,” “Age of Children,” or “Type of Competition.”
Meet some OSEP scholars who were featured this year for Teacher Appreciation Week.
More Information
Visit OSEP IDEAs That Work’s Discretionary Grants Database for additional information about OSEP Personnel Development Program projects funded in other grant years and other OSEP discretionary grants.