OSERS-OSEP: National Assessment Center, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.326G
A cooperative agreement will fund a National Assessment Center that provides technical assistance to improve participation and performance of children with disabilities in state and districtwide assessments.
⚑ Cooperative agreement; not a research-only award. · Applicants include SEAs, LEAs, IHEs, nonprofits, tribes/tribal organizations, public agencies, and for-profit organizations. · Focus is IDEA/ESEA assessment participation and accommodations for children with disabilities. · Award ceiling is $1,000,000.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 54 partial | education policy/evaluation (core line, primary); signature methods: policy analysis, community engaged; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds technical assistance, not research (capped); capped at 54 (non-research funding) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 40 partial | technical depth: substantial; funds technical assistance (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 10 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
Program Description: The purpose of this grant competition is to establish a National Assessment Center to improve children with disabilities’ participation in and performance on State and districtwide assessments. This award is funded under the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. The goal of this program is to promote academic achievement and to improve results for children with disabilities by providing technical assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating useful information, and implementing activities supported by scientifically based research.
This award aligns to requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Specifically, section 612(a)(16) requires that all children with disabilities are included with appropriate accommodations in general State and districtwide assessments as indicated in their individualized education programs, including assessments described under section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and alternate assessments. Many States have also adopted kindergarten entry assessments to assess multiple developmental domains and support early learning. Additionally, Section 663(b)(2) of IDEA requires that the Secretary use funds to support activities to improve the participation of children with disabilities in State assessments.
ALN: 84.326G.
Applicants are required to follow the 2025 Common Instructions and Information 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 .
Eligibility
State educational agencies (SEAs); State lead agencies under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that are considered LEAs under State law; institutions of higher education1 (IHEs); other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations. Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant’s certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate. Footnote 1 For the purpose of this competition, “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which is inclusive of community colleges, and also includes any college or university receiving funding from the Secretary of the Interior under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (See section 602(17) of IDEA (20 U.S.C. 1401(17))).
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View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Holly Clark Management and Program Analyst <Kristen.Rhoads@ed.gov>
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