OSERS-OSEP: Technical Assistance on State Data Collection: National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate Early Childhood IDEA Part B Data CFDA Number 84.373Y | ED GRANTS 081219 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 081219 002

This grant opportunity, CFDA 84.373Y, comes from the U.S. Department of Education under OSERS and OSEP and focuses on strengthening how states handle early childhood data under IDEA Part B. The Department is seeking an applicant to operate a National Technical Assistance (TA) Center dedicated to helping states improve the way they collect, report, analyze, and use accurate IDEA data for young children. The broader OSERS mission behind the award is to improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes for people with disabilities and to raise expectations for children, youth, and their families.

At the center of the opportunity are long-standing federal IDEA requirements tied to accountability and public transparency. Under Section 616 of IDEA, every state must submit a State Performance Plan (SPP) and an Annual Performance Report (APR). These documents include specific data showing how the state implements IDEA Parts B and C and how implementation is improving outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Separately, Section 618 of IDEA requires states to submit and publicly share quantitative data about children receiving early intervention and special education services. In practical terms, this grant is meant to address a common challenge: states are required to produce high-quality, accurate, timely data for federal reporting and public reporting, but many need more infrastructure, staff capacity, consistent definitions, better coordination across agencies, stronger validation processes, and more effective ways to use the data for program improvement rather than treating reporting as a compliance exercise.

The funded project is structured as a cooperative agreement, which signals that the Department expects substantial federal involvement during the project period rather than a hands-off grant. The single awardee will run a national center that provides technical assistance to states so they can better meet IDEA data collection and reporting requirements and build stronger internal capacity for data quality, data governance, analysis, and data use. The emphasis is not only on submitting correct numbers to the federal government, but also on improving the full data lifecycle: how data are defined and captured at the local level, how they move through state systems, how they are verified and corrected, and how they are ultimately used to guide decisions, monitor performance, and improve results for children with disabilities in early childhood settings.

The authority to fund this work comes from IDEA Section 611(c)(1), which allows the Secretary of Education to reserve up to one-half of one percent of IDEA Part B appropriations to provide technical assistance activities that improve state capacity to meet Parts B and C data collection and reporting requirements. The notice also cites Section 616(i), which requires the Secretary to review state capacity for collecting and analyzing the data needed for Section 616 implementation and to provide technical assistance when needed so states can collect, analyze, and accurately report required information. In addition, the opportunity references authority in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 that explicitly supports using reserved funds to improve data collection, coordination, quality, and use under IDEA Parts B and C. Together, these authorities frame the center as part of a national accountability and continuous improvement system, not just a short-term reporting support project.

The competition was posted with applications available on August 12, 2019, and a deadline for transmittal of applications on September 11, 2019. To support prospective applicants, OSERS planned to post pre-recorded pre-application informational webinars by August 19, 2019, and to open a pre-application Q and A blog by the same date. The blog was designed specifically for questions about application requirements and remained open until September 3, 2019, after which questions were to be directed to the listed program contact.

In terms of who could apply, eligibility was broad and included state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; and for-profit entities (other than small businesses), along with other applicants as clarified in the official notice. This wide eligibility reflects how technical assistance centers are often operated by universities, nonprofits, research organizations, or consortia that can combine expertise in IDEA policy, early childhood special education, data systems, statistics, and implementation support.

Funding was planned as one expected award with an award ceiling of $6,500,000. Because only one award was anticipated, the selected applicant would serve as the primary national provider of technical assistance for the focus area described, coordinating support that helps states improve data quality and strengthen their ability to use IDEA early childhood data in meaningful ways.

For official instructions on how to obtain and submit an application, the notice points applicants to the Department’s Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (Federal Register, February 13, 2019, 84 FR 3768). The opportunity also notes that the authoritative requirements, priorities, and performance measures are those published in the full Federal Register application notice, and applicants are expected to rely on that official notice for the detailed rules governing the competition. The program contact listed for further information was Richelle Davis at the U.S. Department of Education, with phone and email provided in the notice.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS-OSEP: Technical Assistance on State Data Collection: National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate Early Childhood IDEA Part B Data CFDA Number 84.373Y" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.373.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 11, 2019 Applications available August 12, 2019. Deadline for transmittal of applications September 11, 2019. Pre-application webinar information No later than August 19, 2019, OSERS will post pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance (TA) to interested applicants. Pre-application Q amp A blog No later than August 19, 2019, OSERS will open a blog where interested applicants may post questions about the application requirements for this competition and where OSERS will post answers to the questions received. OSERS will not respond to questions unrelated to the application requirements for this competition. The blog will remain open until September 3, 2019. After the blog closes, applicants should direct questions to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. ADDRESSES For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf. The pre-application webinars may be found at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/new-osep-grants.html. The pre-application Q amp A blog 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 5025A, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5108. 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 $6,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, 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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