Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2024: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B (IDEA) Federal Targeted Special Education Program Improvement Grant

Fund Code: 0274

Purpose:

The purpose of the Fund Code 274 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B (IDEA) Federal Targeted Special Education Program Improvement Grant is to support schools and districts to implement IEP Improvement Project, with a strong emphasis on transitioning to utilization of the newly revised forms and processes.

Project goal:

To improve outcomes for all students with disabilities by providing guidance, technical assistance, and tools on equitable processes to school and district professionals, families, and students so that all students with disabilities have meaningful access to the curriculum frameworks and life of the school.

Theory of Action:
If students with disabilities have meaningful access to the curriculum frameworks and the skills to engage in all aspects of the life of the school, then we will begin to close the opportunity and achievement gaps between students with disabilities and their age-appropriate non-disabled peers.
To do this, the education system must:

Increase effective and efficient collaboration between general educators, special educators, related service providers, parents, and students.
Support teachers to know how to respond to the needs of students with disabilities and use that knowledge to proactively work with students across the curriculum frameworks and the life of the school.
Promote a high-functioning process for evaluation and ongoing assessment across environments.
Develop student-centered IEPs driven by data and written to ensure that students will gain knowledge and skills to prepare themselves effectively for postsecondary opportunities, career training options, economically viable careers, and healthy, productive lives.
Support families of students with disabilities to understand how their student learns and interacts with the life of the school, as well as what the individualized program and outcomes will be during the course of the school year.
Promote student voice and engage students in their own IEP process.

Priorities:

The priorities of this grant align with the following DESE goals to support improved outcomes for students with disabilities in all modes of instruction:

Principle 1: All students are general education students first. Take a strengths-based approach.
Principle 2: General and special education should work together. Integrate systems.
Principle 3: Ensure a continuous cycle of improvement. Move beyond compliance.
Principle 4: Assessment is key. Make no decisions without the right data.
Principle 5: Family engagement matters. Welcome parent and student voice.

It is expected that schools and districts will begin using the new forms in either fall of 2023 or the fall of 2024. Schools and districts that have not transitioned to the new IEP will continue utilizing the IEP forms found at IEP Forms and Notices: English and Translated Versions.

Eligibility:

Grant funds are available to public schools, charter schools, education collaboratives and approved special education schools providing special education services for students with disabilities.

FY24 Fund Code 0274 Amounts

Funding Type:

Federal U.S. Department of Education CFDA: 84.027
Federal grant funds must adhere to:

UGG (2 CFR 200)
EDGAR As Applicable
EDGAR General Fiscal Administration 34 CFR Part 76

Funding:

An approximate total of $10,000,000 is available, subject to federal appropriation. A base amount was established; then additional funds were allocated based on special education enrollments.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Grant funds are to be used to implement IEP Improvement Project, with a strong emphasis on transitioning to utilization of the newly revised forms and processes.

All expenditures must be for the costs related to special education IEP program improvement.

The following are allowable costs:

Stipends and Salaries, Substitutes
MTRS/fringe
Development or updating of forms and resources related to IEP
Updating web-based information and other communication needed with schools, districts, and families regarding the new IEP form.
Supplies
Printing and reproduction of training materials
Consultant fees (e.g., professional development and program evaluation)
Travel for professional development activities
Computer hardware or software, including licenses and web-based IEP development tools

The following are not allowable costs:

Food and refreshments
Indirect costs
Advertising
Maintenance/repairs

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – 9/30/2024

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Special Education Planning and Policy Development Office

Contact:

Bob Hanafin

Phone Number:

(781) 338-3364

Date Due:

Monday, December 4, 2023*

*Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

Additional Information:

Applications can legally claim expenses to the grant only as of the DESE approved start date.

GEM$ Submission Instructions:

The FY24 FC274 Special Education Program Improvement Grant will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Last Updated: October 30, 2023