Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program, authorized under the IDEA, is to assist SEAs in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational, and transition services in order to improve results for children with disabilities.
The application for a SPDG is based on needs assessment and developed by a partnership that represents agencies, families, students and communities in order to implement the best improvement strategies to increase state and local capacity to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Coordination with other state professional development improvement efforts such as those is a requirement.
Application Information and forms
Federal register announcement of September 5, 2007: State Personnel Development Grants Program Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards.
The due date for the applications is January 3, 2008. Get the forms packages for progress report and grant application.
State Personnel Development Plan
This is an abbreviated summary - see the Federal Register announcement for a full description, and see the SIGnetwork Legislation page for links to the related sections of IDEA and ESEA (NCLB).
Applicants must submit a State Personnel Development Plan that identifies and addresses the State and local needs for personnel preparation and professional development of personnel, as well as individuals who provide direct supplementary aids and services to children with disabilities. The plan must:
- Meet the requirements of IDEA 2004
- Be based on an assessment of State and local needs
- Describe a partnership with LEAs and other State agencies involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities.
- Describe how the strategies and activities the SEA uses will be coordinated with activities supported with other public resources
- Describe how the SEA will align its personnel development plan with the plan submitted under sections 1111 and 2112, respectively, of the ESEA;
- Describe those strategies the SEA will use to address the identified professional development and personnel needs and how such strategies will be implemented
- Provide an assurance that the SEA will provide technical assistance to LEAs and to entities that provide services to infants and toddlers
- Describe how the SEA will recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and other qualified personnel in geographic areas of greatest need;
- Describes the steps the SEA will take to ensure that economically disadvantaged and minority children are taught by highly qualified personnel
- Describe how the SEA will assess, on a regular basis, the extent to which the strategies implemented have been effective in meeting the prescribed performance goals
Resources for each of the above topics can be found in the Resources section
Reporting & Evaluation
At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information. More information about SPDG GPRA goals and reporting can be found in the Reporting and Progrm Evaluation sections.
