Project select (special education leaders exceling in collaborative teaching)

Alabama A & M University received a $285,703 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the Special Education - Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program (CFDA 84.325) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. PROJECT SELECT (Special Education Leaders Excelling in Collaborative Teaching) supports the preparation and professional development of special education personnel and school leaders to work effectively with children with disabilities. The award funds training activities designed to address state-identified workforce needs by preparing qualified educators and leaders in special education who can deliver evidence-based instruction and support services to students with disabilities in school settings.

As a historically Black 1890 land-grant institution, Alabama A & M leverages this award as part of its broader portfolio of Department of Education grants focused on special education personnel preparation, including complementary initiatives such as PROJECT TEACH and PROJECT PARITY. The funding will be administered through the university's Business Office Division, which executes workforce development and student support initiatives. This award aligns with the Department of Education's statutory mandate to support competitive personnel preparation grants that ensure adequate numbers of fully certified special education professionals capable of meeting the diverse needs of children with disabilities across the state.