State data collection technical assistance CFDA 84.373X | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the State Data Collection Technical Assistance grant opportunity (CFDA 84.373X)?

The State Data Collection Technical Assistance grant (CFDA 84.373X) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Education, administered through the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the General Supervision Enhancement Grants. It funds technical assistance projects aimed at improving how states meet IDEA-related special education data collection responsibilities.

What is the purpose of this grant program?

The core purpose is to strengthen states' ability to meet the data collection requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), specifically under IDEA section 616(i)(2). Practically, the program supports efforts to improve how special education data are collected, managed, validated, and used so states can meet federal reporting and accountability expectations tied to IDEA implementation and oversight.

Which federal office administers this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Education through OSERS (Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services).

How does this program relate to IDEA section 616(i)(2)?

The program is explicitly intended to help states build capacity to fulfill the IDEA data collection requirements referenced in IDEA section 616(i)(2), supporting more reliable reporting and oversight of IDEA implementation.

When was the competition announced and what were the key dates?

The competition was announced for fiscal year 2007. Applications were made available on July 9, 2007, and the deadline to submit applications was August 23, 2007.

Where was the application submitted?

Applications were posted and administered through Grants.gov, and applications had to be transmitted through Grants.gov.

Can applications be submitted by email?

No. The notice states that applications could not be submitted by email and had to be submitted through Grants.gov.

Which CFDA number should applicants use when searching on Grants.gov?

Applicants were required to use the downloadable application package associated with CFDA 84.373 (without the 84.373X suffix) when searching the Grants.gov system.

How much total funding was estimated to be available under this competition?

The estimated total funding amount for the competition was $13.5 million.

What was the maximum award amount per grant?

Individual awards were capped at an award ceiling of $400,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.

Who is eligible to apply directly?

Eligible applicants included state educational agencies (SEAs), outlying areas, and freely associated states.

Can entities other than the SEA apply?

Yes, but only if the state educational agency endorsed another entity to apply and carry out the project on the state's behalf. With SEA endorsement, eligible applicants could include local educational agencies, public charter schools that qualify as LEAs under state law, institutions of higher education, tribes or tribal organizations, other public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations.

Does an endorsed applicant need SEA support to apply?

Yes. The notice indicates that non-SEA entities could apply if the SEA endorsed them to apply and carry out the project on the state's behalf.

Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations were included among the types of entities that could apply if endorsed by a state educational agency to carry out the project on the state's behalf.

Are tribes or tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Tribes or tribal organizations were identified as eligible applicants if endorsed by a state educational agency to apply and carry out the project on the state's behalf.

Can an applicant submit one application covering multiple priorities?

No. The notice specifies that eligible entities had to submit separate applications for each priority they wanted to compete under, meaning one application per priority.

Were applicants encouraged to apply as a consortium?

Yes. The notice strongly encouraged states and related jurisdictions to form consortia when applying under Priority A or Priority B.

What counts as a consortium for this opportunity?

A consortium could be any combination of eligible entities that meets the federal regulatory requirements in 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129.

Why did the Department encourage consortia for certain priorities?

The Department indicated consortia were viewed as an efficient and effective way to meet the priorities, implying an emphasis on shared expertise, shared infrastructure, and coordinated solutions across multiple partners or jurisdictions.

What kinds of improvements were projects expected to support?

Projects were intended to help states improve how they collect, manage, validate, and use special education data to meet federal IDEA reporting and accountability expectations.

What was the authoritative source for full requirements and instructions?

The Federal Register notice was identified as the authoritative source for the full requirements, including priorities, performance measures, and detailed application instructions.

Who was listed as the program contact for program-level questions?

Larry Wexler was listed as the program manager for program-level questions.

Who was listed as a contact for technical access issues related to the announcement?

Julius Cotton was listed as a contact for technical access issues related to the announcement.

What help was available for electronic submission issues?

For applicants needing support with electronic submission, Grants.gov helpdesk assistance was available by phone, and the notice also provided specific Department of Education contacts for access and program questions.