Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights
Active
- Assistance listing
- 84.240
- Agency
-
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 1,477 $378,338,555 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Formula Grant
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 91-0301-0-1-506
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services distributes grants under the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights program (CFDA 84.240) to state and territorial protection and advocacy agencies and the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium, with the most recent awards issued October 1, 2025.
The program funds legal and human rights protection and advocacy services for individuals with disabilities who fall outside the scope of other protection and advocacy programs or the Client Assistance Program. Only designated protection and advocacy agencies in each state and territory, and the system serving the American Indian Consortium, may apply. The program operates on a statutory formula basis subject to a restricted indirect cost rate requirement under 34 CFR 76.563–76.569.
The portfolio reflects steady, predictable activity: 57 awards per year over the past five years, with 1,477 total awards since 2000 and combined federal dollars obligated of $378.3 million. The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services dominates with 1,425 awards ($361.6 million), while a separate Department of Education funding line accounts for 52 awards ($16.8 million). The assistance-type mix is heavily skewed toward Formula Grants (77 percent of awards) with Project Grants comprising the remaining 23 percent.
Recent awards granted in October 2025 demonstrate the program's formula-driven structure. Individual award magnitudes vary substantially based on state population and need: Formula Grant H240A260005 obligated $1.92 million, Formula Grant H240A260044 obligated $1.53 million, and Formula Grant H240A260010 obligated $1.14 million, while smaller jurisdictions received awards under $200,000. Awards typically cover a single fiscal year (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026).
The program employs a statutory non-supplanting requirement, meaning recipients must maintain accounts and records for three years following final expenditure report submission and comply with Education Department General Administrative Regulations under 34 CFR Part 75 and audit requirements under 2 CFR Subpart F.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide grants for States, and to the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium when sufficient funds are appropriated for the program in accordance with section 509(c)(1)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), to
- Description
Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights provides grants for States, and to the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium when sufficient funds are appropriated for the program in accordance with section 509(c)(1)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), to support protection and advocacy systems to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities who are ineligible for services from the other protection and advocacy programs or whose problems fall outside the scope of services available from the Client Assistance Program (CAP). This program is subject to a statutory non-supplanting requirement and, therefore, must use a restricted indirect cost rate in accordance with 34 CFR 76.563 through 76.569. For assistance with questions related to the restricted indirect cost rate, email the Indirect Cost Division at IndirectCostDivision@ed.gov.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Only designated protection and advocacy agencies in each State and Territory, and the protection and advocacy system serving the American Indian Consortium, may apply. Except for the protection and advocacy system serving the American Indian Consortium, the Governor designates the protection and advocacy agency in each State.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Individuals with disabilities will benefit.
- Uses of assistance
The Secretary must set aside not less than 1.8 percent and not more than 2.2 percent of the funds appropriated for this program for training and technical assistance to eligible systems established under this program. Federal formula funds are used to support a system in each State to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities who need services that are beyond the scope of the CAP under Section 112 of the Rehabilitation Act; and are ineligible for the protection and advocacy programs under Part C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DDA) and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (PAIMI Act). For any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for this program equals or exceeds $10,500,000, the Secretary must reserve a portion and make a grant to the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Annual formula grants.
How to apply
- Award procedure
Once the applications have been approved, awards are made on the basis of the statutory formula or statutory minimum amounts, as applicable and the eligible system serving the American Indian Consortium.
- Appeals
The State may appeal to the Office of Administrative Law Judges.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,477 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disability Rights California | $36,086,478 | 10% |
| 2 | Disability Rights Texas | $25,552,416 | 7% |
| 3 | Disability Rights Florida Inc. | $19,049,344 | 5% |
| 4 | Disability Advocates Inc. | $13,306,268 | 4% |
| 5 | Equip For Equality, Inc. | $12,038,809 | 3% |
| 6 | Disability Rights Pennsylvania | $12,009,153 | 3% |
| 7 | Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc. | $9,608,111 | 3% |
| 8 | Disability Rights Michigan | $9,409,061 | 2% |
| 9 | Disability Rights North Carolina | $8,984,190 | 2% |
| 10 | Disability Rights New Jersey | $8,424,891 | 2% |
10 of 69 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $19,706,700 |
| FY2025 | $19,563,873 |
| FY2024 | $19,559,127 |
| FY2023 | $19,506,259 |
| FY2022 | $18,736,332 |
| FY2021 | $17,823,300 |
| FY2020 | $17,329,527 |
| FY2019 | $17,168,915 |
| FY2018 | $17,230,965 |
| FY2017 | $17,092,667 |
| FY2016 | $17,317,883 |
| FY2015 | $17,325,788 |
| FY2014 | $17,272,885 |
| FY2013 | $16,917,684 |
| FY2012 | $17,323,012 |
| FY2011 | $17,437,824 |
| FY2010 | $17,863,174 |
| FY2009 | $16,869,736 |
| FY2008 | $15,947,625 |
| FY2007 | $15,836,087 |
| FY2006 | $1,892,753 |
| FY2005 | $9,052,166 |
| FY2004 | $2,017,774 |
| FY2003 | $1,451,577 |
| FY2002 | $3,461,453 |
| FY2001 | $6,633,469 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.240?
Assistance Listing 84.240 is Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights, a federal grant program run by Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (Department of Education).
What is the CFDA number for Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights?
Its CFDA number is 84.240: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.240 awarded?
1,477 grant awards under 84.240 have obligated $378,338,555 in federal funds to 69 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.240?
The recipients obligated the most under Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights are Disability Rights California ($36,086,478), Disability Rights Texas ($25,552,416) and Disability Rights Florida Inc. ($19,049,344).
How much did 84.240 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 84.240 obligated $19,563,873 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this program