Special olympics

Special Olympics Inc. received a $36 million Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Special Education - Special Olympics Education Programs (CFDA 84.380) for the period September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. This annual award supports the expansion and implementation of Special Olympics education programs serving individuals with and without intellectual disabilities nationwide. The primary deliverable is the Unified Champion Schools program, which integrates students with and without intellectual disabilities on unified sports teams and in collaborative leadership roles within participating school districts. The program promotes social inclusion, athletic opportunities, and community integration through sports training, competitions, and educational activities designed to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics Inc. distributes sub-grant funding from this award to 50+ state and local Special Olympics chapters to implement Unified Champion Schools Year 18 (2025-2026) programming at the community level. Year 18 sub-awards identified in this grant cycle were distributed to state chapters including Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Washington, North Dakota, Vermont, Utah, Montana, Virginia, Texas, Minnesota, South Carolina, Kansas, Maryland, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Illinois, Alaska, Idaho, New Jersey, Northern California, Arizona, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Southern California, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Oregon, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Maine, Nebraska, Michigan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Iowa, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, and Connecticut. These sub-awardees provide unified sports leagues, inclusive youth leadership initiatives, and whole school engagement activities that empower individuals with intellectual disabilities across their respective regions.