OSERS: OSEP: Model Demonstration Projects to Develop Equitable Family Engagement with Underserved Families of Children with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.326M | ED GRANTS 021424 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 021424 001

The U.S. Department of Education, through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and its Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Model Demonstration Projects to Develop Equitable Family Engagement with Underserved Families of Children with Disabilities" under Assistance Listing Number 84.326M. This competition sits within OSEP's broader Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program, which is designed to strengthen academic achievement and overall outcomes for children with disabilities by funding technical assistance, model demonstration work, and the spread of practical, research-supported strategies that can be adopted more widely.

At its core, this opportunity is about building and testing model approaches that improve family engagement in ways that are equitable and responsive to families who have historically been underserved. The emphasis on "equitable" and "underserved" signals that projects are expected to address barriers that prevent some families from fully participating in special education and related decision-making, communication, services, and school partnerships. While the synopsis does not list the required project activities in detail, the program framing makes clear that funded work should be more than general outreach; it should demonstrate approaches that are intentionally designed, implemented, and shared so they can be replicated and used to improve results for children with disabilities across different settings.

The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of Education expects to have substantial involvement in the project during the period of performance (for example, through ongoing coordination, review, or collaboration on major activities and deliverables), rather than awarding funds with minimal federal engagement. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary, meaning awards are made through a competitive process rather than by formula. The notice lists an award ceiling of $1,600,000, indicating the maximum amount expected per award under this competition as posted in the opportunity data.

A wide range of organizations may be eligible to apply based on the notice summary. Eligible applicants include State educational agencies (SEAs); local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that qualify as LEAs under State law; institutions of higher education (IHEs); other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; outlying areas and freely associated States; Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations. The opportunity record also highlights nonprofit eligibility categories commonly used on Grants.gov (nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, both other than institutions of higher education), along with "others," which aligns with the broader eligibility list in the synopsis. For nonprofits, the notice points to 34 CFR 75.51 as the governing regulation for demonstrating nonprofit status and provides examples of acceptable documentation, such as IRS recognition of tax-deductible status under 501(c)(3), certification from a State taxing authority or attorney general, or incorporation documents clearly establishing nonprofit status. It also notes that local nonprofit affiliates may rely on documentation applicable to a State or national parent organization, paired with a statement confirming the affiliate relationship.

Key administrative details included in the opportunity data are the Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 021424 001, a posted creation date of February 14, 2024, and an original closing date of April 24, 2024. Because the text provided is explicitly described as a synopsis of the official Federal Register notice, applicants are directed to rely on the Federal Register publication for the authoritative requirements, including any pre-application expectations, required project components, performance measures, priorities, submission instructions, and contact information. The synopsis also points applicants to the Department of Education's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standard guidance on where and how to obtain and submit an application.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: Model Demonstration Projects to Develop Equitable Family Engagement with Underserved Families of Children with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.326M" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.326.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-24. (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 $1,600,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: 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, Others.

Apply for ED GRANTS 021424 001

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