Special Education - State Personnel Development

To assist State educational agencies in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational and transition services, to improve results for children with disabilities. As u

Special Education State Personnel Development Grants assist State educational agencies in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational and transition services, to improve results for children with disabilities. As used in this program, "personnel" means special education teachers, regular education teachers, principals, administrators, related services personnel, paraprofessionals, and early intervention personnel serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or children with disabilities, except where a particular category of personnel, such as related services personnel, is identified.

State Educational Agencies. A State educational agency of one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) may apply.

Infants and toddlers with disabilities as defined in the IDEA and their families, and children with disabilities as defined in the IDEA and their parents benefit from this program.

The uses of funds under the State Personnel Development Grants progam are described in section 654 of the IDEA (20 U.S.C. 1454). Not less than 90 percent of the grant funds for any fiscal year must be used for spent on professional development activities described in section 654(a) of IDEA (20 U.S.C. 1454(a)), including improving results for children with disabilities through the delivery of high-quality instruction and the recruitment, hiring and retention of highly qualified special education teachers. Not more than 10 percent of grant funds for any fiscal year must can be spent on the other activities described in section 654(b) of IDEA (20 U.S.C. 1454(b)), such as reforming special education and regular education teacher certification (including recertification) or licensing requirements and carrying out programs that establish, expand, or improve alternative routes for State certification of special education teachers.

Typically, from one to five years, subject to the availability of appropriations and the grantee's compliance with the requirements of the grant.

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.

Criteria for selecting among grant applications will normally be selected from those in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Part 75.210.

Applications are peer reviewed and grants are made on a competitive basis subject to the approval of the Assistant Secretary, OSERS.

A continuation award may be made annually for up to 5 years throughout the project period of an approved multi-year grant, depending upon the availability of appropriations and the OSERS Assistant Secretary's determination that the grantee has made substantial progress in meeting the objectives of the approved application.