OSERS: OSEP: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program–-Educational Materials in Accessible Formats for Eligible Children and Students with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.327D | ED GRANTS 020922 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 020922 001

This grant opportunity comes from the U.S. Department of Education, specifically the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). It falls under the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities program (often shortened to ETechM2) and is focused on educational materials in accessible formats for eligible children and students with disabilities. The Assistance Listing Number is 84.327D, and the opportunity was offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Department of Education expects to have substantial involvement in the funded project compared with a standard grant.

The central goal of the program is to improve educational outcomes for children with disabilities by making sure they can actually use the same kinds of learning materials and classroom content their peers use, but in formats that meet their access needs. The program description highlights four connected aims: promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; supporting educational activities that have real instructional value in classrooms; supporting captioning and video description that are appropriate for classroom use; and ensuring accessible educational materials (AEM) are provided to children with disabilities in a timely manner. In practical terms, this points to work that strengthens the systems, tools, and workflows needed so that accessible versions of instructional content are not an afterthought, delayed for weeks, or dependent on ad hoc local solutions.

Only one award was expected under this specific competition, and the award ceiling was listed as $8,500,000. That combination usually signals a single large national or multi-state effort rather than many smaller local projects. Because the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should assume there will be negotiated project activities, ongoing federal input, and close attention to deliverables, timelines, and performance reporting. The funding activity category is education, and the opportunity number listed is ED GRANTS 020922 001.

Eligibility is broad and includes many public and private entities that could realistically operate at scale. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than IHEs); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other entities as clarified in the official notice. This broad eligibility suggests the Department was open to a range of potential lead organizations, such as a state agency, a university-based center, a nonprofit technical assistance provider, a consortium, or a specialized organization with strong capacity in accessible publishing, instructional accessibility, or disability-focused educational technology.

Key dates in the posting show applications were made available February 9, 2022, with a deadline to submit applications by April 11, 2022, and an intergovernmental review deadline of June 9, 2022. The agency also planned to post details for pre-recorded informational webinars no later than five days after publication in the Federal Register, with links hosted on the OSEP grants page. That webinar offering is typically meant to clarify priorities, expected project components, and common compliance issues for prospective applicants.

A notable part of the description is the reminder that this grant sits alongside, and does not replace, existing civil rights and disability access obligations. The notice points applicants back to requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which can require state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide captioning, video description, and other accessible materials when needed to ensure equally integrated and equally effective access to educational programs or to meet free appropriate public education (FAPE) obligations. In other words, the grant is designed to strengthen capacity and improve systems for accessible materials, but schools and districts still have independent legal duties to provide accessibility when it is necessary for equal access.

For official requirements, priorities, performance measures, and the exact application process, the posting emphasizes that applicants must rely on the Federal Register notice as the controlling document, along with the Department of Education Revised Common Instructions for Applicants (published December 27, 2021). The listed federal contact for this opportunity was Carlene Reid at the U.S. Department of Education, with a Washington, DC office address, phone number (202) 245-6139, and email carlene.reid@ed.gov.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSERS: OSEP: Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program–-Educational Materials in Accessible Formats for Eligible Children and Students with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.327D" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.327.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 09, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 11, 2022 Applications Available February 9, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications April 11, 2022. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review June 9, 2022. Pre-Application Webinar Information No later than 5 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will post details on pre-recorded informational webinars designed to provide technical assistance to interested applicants. Links to the webinars may be found at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/new-osep-grants.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Carlene Reid, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 5083A, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone (202) 245-6139. Email carlene.reid@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 $8,500,000.00 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, 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).

Apply for ED GRANTS 020922 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: