Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 052026 001
The U.S. Department of Education, through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), is offering a discretionary grant competition to create a National Assessment Center under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.326G. The central aim is to improve how children with disabilities participate in, and perform on, State and districtwide assessments. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department expects to have substantial involvement in shaping, monitoring, and supporting the project rather than simply providing funds with minimal ongoing engagement.
This opportunity sits within OSEP's broader Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. In practical terms, the funded National Assessment Center is expected to help strengthen academic outcomes for students with disabilities by providing technical assistance to the field, supporting or informing model and demonstration efforts, sharing practical tools and guidance, and ensuring that recommended approaches are grounded in scientifically based research. The work is framed around improving real-world assessment access and use, including the day-to-day decisions schools and States make about accommodations, participation policies, and assessment systems.
The competition is closely tied to requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA section 612(a)(16) requires that students with disabilities be included in general State and districtwide assessment programs with appropriate accommodations, as documented in each student's individualized education program (IEP). This includes the statewide accountability assessments referenced under section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as well as alternate assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities when appropriate. The notice also reflects the reality that many States now use kindergarten entry assessments that look across multiple developmental domains to support early learning, so the Center's work may extend into early childhood assessment contexts where accessibility and appropriate participation decisions are just as important. In addition, IDEA section 663(b)(2) specifically directs the Secretary to use funds to support activities that improve the participation of children with disabilities in State assessments, reinforcing the federal priority on assessment inclusion and appropriate supports.
A wide range of entities are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include State educational agencies (SEAs); State lead agencies under IDEA Part C (early intervention); local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that qualify as LEAs under State law; institutions of higher education (IHEs) as defined under the Higher Education Act (a definition that includes community colleges and certain Tribal colleges and universities); other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations. Nonprofit applicants must be prepared to document their nonprofit status under 34 CFR 75.51, such as by providing current IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), a certification from a State taxing authority or attorney general, or incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status (including documentation through a parent organization if the applicant is a local affiliate).
Key administrative details include the opportunity number ED GRANTS 052026 001, with the application closing date listed as July 20, 2026. The Department expects to make one award, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000. Applicants must follow the Department of Education's 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), which set out required application components, formatting and submission rules, and other government-wide and agency-specific compliance expectations. The posting also points newer applicants to the Department's "Getting Started with Discretionary Grant Applications" resource to help organizations that do not regularly apply for ED discretionary funds navigate the process.Apply for ED GRANTS 052026 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS-OSEP: National Assessment Center, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.326G" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.326.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-20. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition to establish a National Assessment Center under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.326G. The work is sponsored through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
2) What is the main purpose of the National Assessment Center?
The central aim is to improve how children with disabilities participate in, and perform on, State and districtwide assessments. The Center is expected to support practical, real-world decisions related to assessment participation policies, accommodations, and assessment systems.
3) How does this opportunity fit within OSEP programs?
This competition is part of OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. The Center is expected to provide technical assistance, share tools and guidance, support or inform model and demonstration efforts, and ensure approaches are grounded in scientifically based research.
4) What federal laws or requirements are driving this work?
The opportunity is closely tied to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including IDEA section 612(a)(16), which requires that students with disabilities be included in general State and districtwide assessment programs with appropriate accommodations documented in each student's individualized education program (IEP). It also references IDEA section 663(b)(2), which directs the Secretary to use funds to support activities that improve participation of children with disabilities in State assessments.
5) What types of assessments are included?
The notice references general State and districtwide assessments, including statewide accountability assessments under section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It also includes alternate assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities when appropriate.
6) Does the work include early childhood or kindergarten entry assessments?
Yes. The notice reflects that many States now use kindergarten entry assessments across multiple developmental domains. The Center's work may extend into early childhood assessment contexts where accessibility and appropriate participation decisions are important.
7) What does it mean that the award will be a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means the Department expects to have substantial involvement in shaping, monitoring, and supporting the project, rather than providing funds with minimal ongoing engagement.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include State educational agencies (SEAs); State lead agencies under IDEA Part C (early intervention); local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that qualify as LEAs under State law; institutions of higher education (IHEs) as defined under the Higher Education Act (including community colleges and certain Tribal colleges and universities); other public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas; Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
9) Are public charter schools eligible?
Yes, public charter schools may apply if they qualify as LEAs under State law.
10) Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations are listed among eligible applicants.
11) What are the nonprofit documentation requirements?
Nonprofit applicants must be prepared to document their nonprofit status under 34 CFR 75.51. Examples listed include current IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), certification from a State taxing authority or attorney general, or incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status. Documentation may also be provided through a parent organization if the applicant is a local affiliate.
12) What is the Assistance Listing Number (ALN) for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing Number (ALN) is 84.326G.
13) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 052026 001.
14) How many awards does the Department expect to make?
The Department expects to make one award.
15) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000.
16) What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is July 20, 2026.
17) What application instructions must applicants follow?
Applicants must follow the Department of Education's 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). These instructions cover required application components, formatting and submission rules, and other compliance expectations.
18) Is there guidance for organizations new to ED discretionary grants?
Yes. The posting points newer applicants to the Department's "Getting Started with Discretionary Grant Applications" resource, intended to help organizations that do not regularly apply for ED discretionary funds navigate the process.
19) What kinds of activities is the Center expected to carry out?
Based on the description provided, expected activities include providing technical assistance to the field, supporting or informing model and demonstration efforts, disseminating practical tools and guidance, and promoting approaches grounded in scientifically based research to improve assessment access, accommodations decisions, participation policies, and assessment systems for children with disabilities.
20) Why is assessment participation emphasized in this competition?
The opportunity emphasizes participation because IDEA requires inclusion of students with disabilities in assessment programs with appropriate accommodations documented in the IEP, and federal policy (including IDEA section 663(b)(2)) reinforces improving participation of children with disabilities in State assessments.
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