OSERS: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities--Doctoral Training Consortia Associated with High-Intensity Needs

Overview

Purposes of Program: The purposes of this program are to (1) help address State-identified needs for personnel preparation in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education to work with children, including infants and toddlers, with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research and experience, to be successful in serving those children. 

Priority: This competition includes one absolute priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), the absolute priority is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 662 and 681 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); 20 U.S.C. 1462 and 1481). 

Absolute Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Doctoral Training Consortia Associated with High-Intensity Needs.

The purpose of the Doctoral Training Consortia Associated with High-Intensity Needs priority is to increase the number of highly skilled doctoral leaders, including increasing the number of multilingual leadership personnel and leadership personnel from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, who provide, or prepare others to provide, services to children with disabilities with high-intensity needs 2 by funding three doctoral training consortia to prepare and increase the number of personnel who are well qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership positions as researchers and special education/early intervention/related services personnel preparers in IHEs, or as leaders in SEAs, LAs under Part C of IDEA, LEAs, EIS programs, or schools. Each doctoral training consortium must support preparation programs that culminate in a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D.).

Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $6,500,000 per project for a project period of 60 months or an award that exceeds $1,950,000 for any single budget period.

Note: Project periods under this priority may be up to 60 months. Projects should be designed to ensure that all proposed scholars 3 successfully complete the project within 60 months from the start of the project. The Secretary may reduce continuation awards for any project in which scholars are not on track to complete the program by the end of that period.