Building relationships and knowledge for interdisciplinary development and growth in education for high-intensity needs (BRIDGE)

The University of Missouri System received a $331,024 Project Grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Special Education - Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program (CFDA 84.325), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The BRIDGE (Building Relationships and Knowledge for Interdisciplinary Development and Growth in Education for High-Intensity Needs) initiative supports personnel preparation and professional development activities designed to train special education teachers, early intervention personnel, related services providers, and school leaders to serve children with disabilities, with particular focus on high-intensity needs populations.

This award aligns with the OSERS mandate to address state-identified workforce gaps in special education by funding research-based training and professional development programs that ensure personnel are fully certified and possess the requisite skills and knowledge to work effectively with children with disabilities. The one-year funding period supports the University of Missouri System's interdisciplinary training model at the Columbia, Missouri campus, contributing to the broader federal objective of developing a highly qualified special education workforce across the nation.