Technical Assistance for Parent Centers (84.328R)

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Parent Information Centers (Parent) Program ensures families of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities under sections 1470-1473 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) receive high-quality, relevant, and useful training and information to help improve outcomes for their children.

The purpose of this grant is to fund cooperative agreements to establish and operate Parent Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) to provide technical assistance (TA) to parent centers (Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers).

Consistent with the statute, PTACs provide support to parent centers to carry out these statutorily required activities and thereby help parents participate in the education of their children to improve their children's outcomes. In addition, section 1473(b) of IDEA lists potential areas in which parent centers may also need TA from PTACs, such as: 

1. effective coordination of parent training efforts;
2. dissemination of scientifically based research and information;
3. promotion of the use of technology, including assistive technology devices and assistive technology services;
4. reaching underserved populations, including parents of low-income and limited English proficient children with disabilities;
5. including children disabilities in general education programs;
6. facilitation of transitions from - 
   1. early intervention services to preschool;
   2. preschool to elementary school;
   3. elementary school to secondary school; and
   4. secondary school to postsecondary environments; and
7. promotion of alternative methods of dispute resolution, including mediation.

FY 2023 Funding

Estimated Available Funds: $2,940,000

Program Authority

• 20 U.S.C. 1473 and 1481 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Applicable Regulations

• The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79*, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
  • The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.
• The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485.
• The Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.

Eligibility

Under section 1473, the term "eligible entity" has the meaning given the term in section 1461(b) of IDEA:

1. State educational agency (SEA)
2. Local education agency (LEA)
3. Public charter school that is a local education agency under State law
4. Institution of higher education (IHE)
5. Public agency not described in subparagraphs (A) throud (D)
6. Private nonprofit organization
7. Outlying area
8. Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization (as defined under section 5304 of title 25)
9. For-profit organization, if the Secretary finds it appropriate in light of the purposes of a particular competition for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part.

Note: The Secretary may limit which eligible entities described above are eligible for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this part to 1 or more of the categories of eligible entities described in paragraph 1 of this section.

Awarded regional PTACs can be found on the Parent Center Hub.

FY 2023 Grantees