OESE-OSERS-OSEP: National Comprehensive Center of Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Assistance Listing Number 84.283D | ED GRANTS 071321 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 071321 002

The OESE-OSERS-OSEP National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities grant (Assistance Listing Number 84.283D) is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary funding opportunity to establish and operate a national center focused on improving literacy outcomes for students with disabilities. The award is made as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of Education expects to have substantial involvement in the work as it is carried out, rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The overall goal is to strengthen how schools and education systems assess, teach, and support literacy development for learners whose disabilities place them at risk of not reaching full literacy.

At the heart of the opportunity is the expectation that the Center will help the field identify or develop evidence-based literacy assessment tools and related professional development activities. In practical terms, this means the Center is expected to play a national leadership role in clarifying what works, packaging those practices into usable tools and training, and supporting adoption in real settings. The focus is not limited to one disability category. It explicitly includes students whose literacy challenges are connected to dyslexia affecting reading or writing, as well as students with developmental delays that may affect reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning. The intent is to address literacy as a multi-component skill set and to connect assessment and instruction to the specific learning needs that can accompany different disability profiles.

The Center is also expected to identify evidence-based instruction, strategies, and accommodations that educators can use to improve literacy learning. This includes instructional approaches (what and how to teach), strategies (practices educators or students apply during learning), and accommodations (changes to materials, presentation, response options, or setting that reduce barriers without lowering learning expectations). The opportunity emphasizes evidence-based practices, meaning the Center should rely on strong research and credible evaluation when recommending tools or approaches, and should translate that evidence into guidance that is practical for classrooms and programs.

Another major responsibility is dissemination. The Center must actively share its products and information on evidence-based literacy with key audiences, including families, State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), regional educational agencies (REAs), and schools. This signals that the work is meant to be usable beyond professional researchers or specialists and should reach the people who make day-to-day decisions about assessment, instruction, intervention, and supports. Dissemination in this context usually implies more than posting materials online; it commonly includes targeted outreach, accessible resources for families, training or technical assistance supports, and materials designed so different audiences can apply them without needing extensive additional interpretation.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted with applications available on July 13, 2021, and a deadline to submit applications of September 1, 2021. The Department also planned a pre-recorded informational webinar to be posted no later than July 19, 2021, intended to provide technical assistance to potential applicants and clarify expectations for the competition. The award ceiling listed is $1,475,000, with one expected award, indicating a single national Center is intended to carry out the scope of work described.

Eligibility is broad and includes various levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, individuals, and other entities as further clarified in the official notice. Because the summary provided is explicitly described as a synopsis, applicants are directed to the official Federal Register application notice for the controlling requirements, including detailed eligibility rules, priorities, application formatting and submission instructions, performance measures, and program contacts. The opportunity also references the Department of Education "Common Instructions" for discretionary grants (published February 13, 2019) for standard guidance on how to obtain and submit an application and how to follow Department-wide application procedures.

The program contact listed for further information is Tina Diamond at the U.S. Department of Education, with a Washington, DC address, telephone (202) 245-6723, and email Christina.Diamond@ed.gov. Overall, this opportunity is designed to fund a single, nationally scoped Center that builds and shares evidence-based literacy assessments, professional learning, instructional approaches, and accommodations to improve literacy outcomes for students with disabilities, while ensuring that guidance and tools reach educators and families through deliberate dissemination and support.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OESE-OSERS-OSEP: National Comprehensive Center of Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Assistance Listing Number 84.283D" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.283.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 01, 2021 Applications Available July 13, 2021. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications September 1, 2021. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than July 19, 2021. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) will post a pre-recorded informational webinar designed to provide technical assistance (TA) to interested applicants. The webinar may be found at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/new-osep-grants.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Tina Diamond, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5142, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone (202) 245-6723. Email Christina.Diamond@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 $1,475,000.00 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, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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