STAR PROJECT: SERVICE, TEACHING, ADVOCACY AND REHABILITATION

The University of Alabama has received a $293,724 Project Grant award 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) for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The STAR Project supports the federal program's core objective of addressing state-identified personnel needs by developing and delivering training, education, and professional development initiatives designed to prepare highly qualified personnel in special education and related services. Through this award, the University of Alabama's Office for Sponsored Programs will implement service, teaching, advocacy, and rehabilitation components to enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of professionals serving infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

The grant supports the development of specialized personnel preparation activities that align with evidence-based practices in special education and related services. As a comprehensive public research institution with established expertise in federal grant administration and specialized training programs, the University of Alabama will leverage its faculty and research infrastructure to address critical workforce needs in special education. The one-year project period allows for focused implementation of training modules, educational programming, and professional development activities that contribute to the broader national effort to ensure adequate supplies of qualified special education personnel across diverse service delivery settings.