Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP):State Personnel Development Grants (SPDG) Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.323A

Background
The purpose of the SPDG program is to assist State educational agencies (SEAs) in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational, and transition services to improve results for children with disabilities. The program is designed to support the Department’s RTB goals by helping to ensure that children with disabilities have access to well-qualified educators and by growing the number of teachers and administrators who can use data to develop and implement standards-based individualized education programs (IEPs) and provide effective instruction in inclusive environments.

Grant Details
The grant supports activities such as providing teacher mentoring, team teaching, reduced class schedules and caseloads, intensive professional development, encouraging collaborative and consultative models of providing early intervention, special education, and related services, training educators to effectively use technology into curricula and instruction, enhancing learning by children with disabilities, effectively communicating with parents, providing ongoing assistance to personnel receiving SPDG-supported professional development that supports the implementation of evidence-based practices with fidelity, using technology to more efficiently and effectively provide ongoing professional development to personnel including those in rural areas or other populations such as urban or high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), providing training for special education personnel and regular education personnel in planning, developing, and implementing effective individualized education programs (IEPs), conducting effective IEP meetings, addressing the needs of students with significant health, mobility, or behavioral needs prior to serving those students.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must establish a partnership with LEAs and other State agencies involved in or concerned with the education of children with disabilities. They must also work in partnership with other persons and organizations involved in the education of children with disabilities. Additionally, they must submit a State Personnel Development Plan that identifies and addresses the State and local needs for personnel preparation and professional development of personnel serving children with disabilities.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is not explicitly provided in the document.