Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP): Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), Assistance Listing Number 84.328C | Apply Online

Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) Grant (Assistance Listing 84.328C) - FAQs

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, administered through OSERS (Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services) and OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs), to fund Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 84.328C.

2) What is the purpose of the Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) program?

CPRCs are intended to provide training and information to parents of children with disabilities in ways that are practical, accurate, and genuinely useful. The goal is to improve outcomes for children with disabilities by strengthening families' understanding of special education rights, services, and effective strategies, so they can participate meaningfully in their children's education at school and support learning and development at home.

3) How do CPRCs fit into the broader federal program landscape?

CPRCs sit within the broader Special Education Parent Information Centers program. The overarching idea is parent empowerment: when families have reliable information and skills, they are better positioned to work with schools and service systems and to advocate effectively for appropriate supports.

4) What types of communities are CPRCs intended to serve?

CPRCs are meant to serve families in specific, geographically defined communities where parents may be cut off from typical sources of support and reliable information. The grant emphasizes communities experiencing significant isolation due to factors such as geography, limited local services, language barriers, poverty, or other access challenges.

5) What is the central focus of the work funded under this program?

The funded work focuses on increasing parents' capacity to support their children with disabilities and to participate in educational planning and decision-making. The program is designed to strengthen the role and responsibility of parents and ensure families have meaningful opportunities to take part in their children's education both at school and at home, consistent with IDEA.

6) What outcomes are CPRCs expected to improve?

The stated priority is for funded CPRCs to measurably increase parents' capacity to help their children achieve: (1) developmental and functional goals and (2) challenging academic achievement goals that apply to all children. The program also emphasizes long-term outcomes, including helping families support their children in preparing for adulthood to the maximum extent possible.

7) What does "preparing for adulthood" mean in this context?

The grant highlights readiness for productive and independent adult lives. This often relates to supporting families through transitions across early intervention, preschool, K-12 special education, and postsecondary or employment-related pathways, depending on the child's age and needs.

8) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is geared toward local parent organizations, aligned with IDEA's definition. A qualifying local parent organization must be a private nonprofit organization and cannot be an institution of higher education.

9) What is the required board composition for an eligible local parent organization?

The board of directors must have a majority of parents of children with disabilities (from birth through age 26) drawn from the community being served. The board must also include individuals working in special education, related services, and early intervention, as well as individuals with disabilities.

10) What representation requirements apply to the organization's membership and leadership?

The membership and leadership must be broadly representative of the community being served, specifically including low-income parents and parents of children with limited English proficiency.

11) What must the organization's mission cover to qualify?

The organization's mission must be to serve families of children with disabilities (birth through age 26) across the full range of IDEA disability categories.

12) Are institutions of higher education (IHEs) eligible?

No. The eligible entity described must be a private nonprofit organization and not an institution of higher education.

13) What nonprofit documentation is required for nonprofit applicants?

Nonprofit applicants must be able to document nonprofit status in ways allowed under 34 CFR 75.51. Acceptable proof includes IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) organization, certification from a state taxing body or the state attorney general, or incorporation documents clearly establishing nonprofit status.

14) Can a local affiliate of a larger parent organization apply, and how would it document eligibility?

Yes. If the applicant is a local affiliate of a larger state or national parent organization, it may use the relevant nonprofit documentation along with a statement from the parent organization confirming the affiliate relationship.

15) What is the opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 040626 001.

16) What type of funding instrument is this?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

17) When is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is June 5, 2026.

18) Approximately how many awards does the notice expect to make?

The notice indicates an expectation of about 30 awards.

19) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is not specified in the provided information.

20) Where are the official application submission instructions and requirements found?

Application submission and address details are handled through the Department of Education's Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs, referenced as published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234). The opportunity references that source for the official process and requirements.

21) What legal framework is this program aligned with?

CPRCs are described as operating in line with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with an emphasis on promoting effective education of children with disabilities by strengthening the role and responsibility of parents and enabling meaningful family participation in education.