OSERS: OSEP: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program-Stepping-up Technology Implementation, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.327S | ED GRANTS 020222 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 020222 003

The OSERS OSEP Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program Stepping-up Technology Implementation grant (Assistance Listing Number 84.327S) is a discretionary U.S. Department of Education funding opportunity designed to improve educational results for children with disabilities by strengthening how technology and accessible instructional materials are developed, supported, and used in real classroom settings. The core idea is to help schools and education systems move beyond simply having tools available and instead focus on effective implementation so that students with disabilities can access instruction and demonstrate learning in ways that are equally meaningful and timely.

This opportunity sits within a broader federal program that emphasizes four connected goals. First, it promotes the development, demonstration, and use of technology that can improve learning outcomes for children with disabilities, which can include tools that support communication, access, participation, and instruction. Second, it supports educational activities that have clear value in the classroom for children with disabilities, meaning the focus is not on technology for its own sake, but on practical, evidence-informed approaches that educators can apply. Third, it supports captioning and video description appropriate for classroom use, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible multimedia content. Fourth, it prioritizes getting accessible educational materials to children with disabilities in a timely manner, recognizing that delays in accessible formats can directly limit students ability to participate and progress.

The award is offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the Department of Education expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out (for example, coordinating on deliverables, technical assistance approaches, or evaluation expectations). The maximum award amount listed is $500,000, and the program anticipated making about three awards under this competition. While the notice provided here is a synopsis, applicants are expected to rely on the official Federal Register application notice for the full requirements, including priorities, performance measures, and the exact technical and submission rules.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities that could reasonably deliver statewide, regional, or national technical assistance and implementation support. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories as specified); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and other entities as clarified in the official notice. This range reflects the reality that scaling accessible technology and materials often requires cross-sector partnerships among schools, universities, nonprofits, developers, and public agencies.

The timeline for this competition was structured with applications made available February 22, 2022, and a deadline for transmittal of applications on April 25, 2022. The deadline for intergovernmental review was June 22, 2022. OSEP also planned to provide pre-application support through pre-recorded informational webinars, with details to be posted no later than February 28, 2022, on the Department of Education OSEP grants webpage. Those webinars were intended to function as technical assistance to help applicants understand expectations and prepare responsive proposals.

A key compliance point embedded in the synopsis is that this grant does not replace or reduce existing legal obligations related to accessibility. The notice reminds applicants that other laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, can require state and local educational agencies to provide captioning, video description, and other accessible educational materials when needed to ensure equally integrated and equally effective access to educational programs or to meet the requirement to provide a free appropriate public education under applicable regulations. In practice, this means projects funded under this competition should align with, and ideally strengthen, systems that help schools meet those obligations consistently rather than treating accessibility as optional or ad hoc.

For official guidance on how to obtain and submit an application, the notice points applicants to the Departments Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 27, 2021). The primary program contact listed for this opportunity is Richelle Davis at the U.S. Department of Education, with contact by phone at (202) 245-7401 and email at Richelle.Davis@ed.gov.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program-Stepping-up Technology Implementation, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.327S" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.327.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 25, 2022 Applications Available February 22, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications April 25, 2022. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review June 22, 2022. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than February 28, 2022, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) will post details on pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance (TA) to interested applicants. Links to the webinars may be found at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/new-osep-grants.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Richelle Davis, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5025, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone (202) 245-7401. Email Richelle.Davis@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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