State grant - B preschool (619)

The Louisiana Department of Education received a $7.1 million Special Education Preschool Grants (CFDA 84.173) formula grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, awarded July 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. This grant provides funding to support comprehensive special education services and related services for children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 years throughout Louisiana. The department administers these funds as the prime state grantee, distributing sub-awards to eligible local educational agencies and school boards to deliver specialized instruction, speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, assistive technology, and individualized support services designed to prepare young children with disabilities for successful transitions into kindergarten and beyond.

The grant funds are distributed to 16 parish school boards and school districts across Louisiana, including St. Mary Parish, Washington Parish, St. Landry Parish, Terrebonne Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Vermilion Parish, Webster Parish, West Carroll Parish, Zachary Community, Bogalusa City, St. Martin Parish, Monroe City Schools, Vernon Parish, and Winn Parish School District. Each sub-awardee uses allocated funds to provide early childhood special education programming under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Preschool component, ensuring free appropriate public education is made available to all eligible children with disabilities residing within their respective jurisdictions.