The Elementary and Middle School Team in OSERS Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) administers discretionary grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for projects that directly support federally-established priorities and initiatives designed to initiate, expand, and improve current practice or advance the state-of-the-art related to the provision of services for elementary and middle school children with disabilities.

The team is responsible for administering projects under a variety of funding programs. These programs include:

• personnel development to improve services and results for children with disabilities,
• technical assistance and dissemination to improve results for children with disabilities,
• technology and media services for individuals with disabilities, and
• the state personnel development grant program.

Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities | CFDA: 84.325 (IDEA Part D)

The personnel development projects:

• help address state-identified needs for highly qualified personnel—in special education, related services, and regular education—to work with children with disabilities, and
• 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.

Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities | CFDA: 84.326 (IDEA Part D)

The technical assistance and dissemination projects provide technical assistance to states on topics such as:

• response to intervention,
• dispute resolution,
• implementation and scaling up of evidence-based practices, and
• whole-school inclusive practices.

Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities | CFDA: 84.327 (IDEA Part D)

The technology and media services projects promote the development, demonstration, and use of technology to improve outcomes for children with disabilities in elementary and middle school settings.

State Personnel Development Grants | CFDA: 84.323 (IDEA Part D)

The state personnel development projects assist State Educational Agencies and their partners to reform early intervention, educational and transitional services systems to improve results for children with disabilities. To achieve this goal, these projects improve systems of professional development, technical assistance and/or dissemination of knowledge about best practices.

EMST Staff