OSERS-OSEP: Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness of Special Education Teachers and Early Intervention Personnel Through Registered Apprenticeships, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.325J
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and public agencies preparing special education teachers and early intervention personnel through registered apprenticeship programs. Eligible applicants include State Educational Agencies (SEAs), IDEA Part C lead agencies, State apprenticeship agencies, and other state agencies. If your organization is not a SEA or Part C lead agency, you must partner with one to implement the project. Local education agencies, higher education institutions, and charter schools are ineligible.
This grant is for state and public agencies preparing special education teachers and early intervention personnel through registered apprenticeship programs. Eligible applicants include State Educational Agencies (SEAs), IDEA Part C lead agencies, State apprenticeship agencies, and other state agencies. If your organization is not a SEA or Part C lead agency, you must partner with one to implement the project. Local education agencies, higher education institutions, and charter schools are ineligible.
Program description
Program Description: The purposes of the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program are to (1) help address State-identified shortages and needs for personnel preparation in special education and early intervention, including infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research, to be successful in serving those children.
The purpose of the Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness of Special Education Teachers and Early Intervention Personnel Through Registered Apprenticeships competition is to fund cooperative agreements that support registered apprenticeship1 programs that attract, prepare, and retain special education teachers or early intervention personnel. This priority is particularly relevant for special education and early intervention, where high-quality preparation must be accessible, practice-based, and closely integrated with service delivery systems. Preparing qualified special education teachers and early intervention personnel through registered apprenticeship programs addresses critical workforce shortages, integrating work-based learning, and connecting preparation with local and State labor demands.
1Note: ED encourages applicants to consider the definition of Registered Apprenticeship Program as defined in 5 CFR 362.102 and 29 CFR part 29.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.325J.
Applicants are required to follow the 2025 Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234) and available at ED 2025 Common Instructions.
Note: For new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at ED, please consult our “Getting Started with Discretionary Grant Applications” webpage.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for state and public agencies preparing special education teachers and early intervention personnel through registered apprenticeship programs. Eligible applicants include State Educational Agencies (SEAs), IDEA Part C lead agencies, State apprenticeship agencies, and other state agencies. If your organization is not a SEA or Part C lead agency, you must partner with one to implement the project. Local education agencies, higher education institutions, and charter schools are ineligible.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Proof of state agency status or partnership agreement
- Evidence of workforce shortage analysis
- Registered Apprenticeship Program documentation
- ED 2025 Common Instructions compliance documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Holly Clark Management and Program Analyst
- 📧 Anna.Macedonia@ed.gov
- 📞 2022456408
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 84.325 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$21,249,996
-
$14,716,200
-
$9,398,923
-
$9,000,000
-
$6,426,659
-
$6,254,548
-
$6,068,863
-
$5,723,675
-
$5,400,000
-
$3,766,943
Top States by Funding
- FL 13 awards $57.8M
- TN 9 awards $22.5M
- CT 3 awards $21.4M
- CA 13 awards $20.2M
- VA 5 awards $18.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
State Educational Agencies, IDEA Part C lead agencies, State apprenticeship agencies, and other state agencies. If not a SEA or Part C lead agency, you must partner with one.
What is the funding amount?
Funding ranges up to $1,000,000 per award from a total pool of $7,000,000. Exact amounts vary by project.
What activities does this grant support?
This grant funds registered apprenticeship programs that prepare special education teachers and early intervention personnel. Programs must integrate work-based learning with preparation.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is July 13, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
Is cost sharing required?
No, cost sharing is not required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the 2025 ED Common Instructions for Discretionary Grant Programs. These contain critical formatting and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrate how your apprenticeship program addresses documented workforce shortages in your state. Include data on special education teacher or early intervention personnel gaps.
- Clearly show partnerships with relevant state agencies. If you're not a SEA or Part C lead agency, establish formal partnerships early.
- Emphasize how your program integrates work-based learning with preparation. Connect directly to local and state labor demands.
- Consult ED's "Getting Started with Discretionary Grant Applications" webpage if this is your first federal education grant. It explains common application procedures.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications from ineligible applicants (LEAs, IHEs, charter schools without state agency status) are automatically rejected. Proposals lacking evidence of state agency partnership when required are unfunded. Applications that fail to address critical workforce shortages specific to special education or early intervention receive lower scores.
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