State Personnel Development Grant

Program Description: The purpose of the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) Program (CFDA 84.323), authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is to assist state education agencies and their partners referred to in Section 651(b) of IDEA with reforming and improving their personnel preparation and professional development systems for teachers, principals, administrators, related services personnel, paraprofessionals, and early intervention personnel. The intent is to improve educational results for children with disabilities through the delivery of high quality instruction and the recruitment, hiring, and retention of highly qualified special education teachers.

Who is Eligible to Apply: As a recipient of funding under the competitive State Personnel Development Grant Program, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is required to establish partnerships with location education agencies and other state agencies involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities. Partnerships must include at least one institution of higher education and the state agency responsible for administering Part C of IDEA, early education, child care, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Other participating partners, although not required, may include: parent training and information centers or community parent resource centers funded under sections 671 and 672 of IDEA, respectively; community-based and other nonprofit organizations involved in the education and employment of individuals with disabilities; personnel as defined in section 651(b) of IDEA, the state advisory panel established under Part B of IDEA; the state interagency coordinating council established under Part C of IDEA; the state agency for higher education; and other providers of professional development who work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children with disabilities. Potential partners in these categories should submit their professional development projects for funding consideration to DPI.

Amount of Funds Available: Approximately 5.9 million over 5 years

Application Due Date:

• Grants to SPDG project partners - No new awards are available at this time. (Awards to project partners have been completed for fiscal years 1-4. These awards may be continued in year 5, subject to satisfactory performance.)
  
  
• Grants to Institutions of Higher Education - Applications for grants of not more than $10,000 per institution are due April 15, 2011. (Project funding period is July 1, 2011-September 30, 2012.)

For more information, contact: Linda Krantz, Director, State Personnel Development Grant, at (608) 266-7987 or linda.krantz@dpi.wi.gov

Additional Resources:

• SPDG website

For questions about this information, contact Judy A. Sullivan (608) 267-9175

Last updated on 12/22/2010 10:53:38 AM