Special Education Preschool Grants

To provide grants to States to assist them in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 years, and at a State's discretion, to 2- year- old children with disabilities who will reach age three dur

The Special Education Preschool Grants provide grants to States to assist them in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 years, and at a State's discretion, to 2- year- old children with disabilities who will reach age three during the school year.

State educational agencies in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Local educational agencies apply to their State educational agency for sub-grants.

Children aged 3 through 5 with disabilities, and (at the State's option) 2-year- old children with disabilities that will reach age 3 during the school year, that require special education and related services.

States must distribute all grant funds that the State does not reserve for administration of the program or other State-level activities to eligible local educational agencies. Funds are used by State and local educational agencies, in accordance with the IDEA, to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5, and at the State's discretion, to 2-year -old children with disabilities who will reach age 3 during the next school year; and in some cases, early intervening services.

Grants are issued each fiscal year. The Federal obligation period is a 15-month period from July 1 through September 30 of the following fiscal year. State and local educational agencies have an additional 12-month period to obligate funds they receive.

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in their State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

States and other eligible entities qualify for funding if they submit approvable applications under IDEA, section 612 and if they make a free appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities ages three through five years, residing in the State.

Once the State application has been approved, a grant award representing the total preschool grant amount for that fiscal year is forwarded to the State's department of education. Notification of the award is made to the Chief State School Officer. States make subgrants to eligible local educational agencies from their initial grant award after setting aside funds for administration and state-level activities.

Formula grants. Recipients must submit required documentation to OSEP.

The time for reviewing the State's application is determined by EDGAR (in 34 CFR §76.703) and ranges from 45 to 90 days.

The Department must not take final action to disapprove an application until the State is provided reasonable notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The State must request a hearing no later than 30 days after it receives notice of the proposed final determination that the State is not eligible to receive its award.