Special Education Grants to States

CFDA 84.027 Active Grant
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$14.23B FY2026
$14.19B
FY24
$14.21B
FY25
$14.23B
FY26*
* estimated

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 84.027 (USAspending.gov).

Program Objective

To provide grants to States to assist them in providing special education and related services to all children with disabilities.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • U.S. State Government

State educational agencies in the 50 States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and Virgin Islands, the Department of the Interior, and freely associated States. Local educational agencies apply to their State educational agency for subgrants.

Beneficiaries

  • Department/Agency of U.S. State

Children with disabilities will benefit.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Once the State application has been approved, a grant award is forwarded to the State department of education. Notification of the award is made to 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.

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

Program details & compliance

Description

The Grants to States program provides formula grants to assist the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of the Interior, the Outlying Areas, and the Freely Associated States in meeting the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities. In order to be eligible for funding, States must serve all children with disabilities between the ages of 3 through 21; they are not required to serve children aged three through five or 18 through 21 if services are inconsistent with State law or practice or the order of any court. A State that does not provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities aged three through five cannot receive base payment funds attributable to this age group.

Mission Categories

Primary: Special Education

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

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 help provide the special education and related services needed to make a free appropriate public education available to all eligible children and, in some cases, to provide early intervening services.

Required Documentation

No State or jurisdiction may receive a grant unless the Secretary has approved the annual application and statement of assurances.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Determined at Time of Award
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Formula

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B, Section 611)

Contacts

Diana Yu
(202) 245-7309
Office of Special Education Programs, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-07-27. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-08-08 03:04:58.