Special Education Preschool Grants (84.173)
Special Education Preschool Grants (Assistance Listing 84.173) is run by the Department of Education. It awarded $2.2 billion in 312 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $7.1 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $4.8 million. Half of the 312 awards fell between $2.1 million and $9.7 million, and they ranged from $98,066 to $42.2 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$2.2 billion
- Grant awards312
- Typical award$4.8 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$398 million
- Size rank149 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceFormula grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $596 million in fiscal 2021 to $398 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 149th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 73% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 52 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide grants to States to assist them in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 years, and at a State's discretion, to 2- year- old children with disabilities who will reach age three during the school year.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
State educational agencies in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Local educational agencies apply to their State educational agency for sub-grants.
What the money can and cannot pay for
States must distribute all grant funds that the State does not reserve for administration of the program or other State-level activities to eligible local educational agencies. Funds are used by State and local educational agencies, in accordance with the IDEA, to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities ages 3 through 5, and at the State's discretion, to 2-year -old children with disabilities who will reach age 3 during the next school year; and in some cases, early intervening services.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Title II, Part B, Subpart Section 619,Public Law 91-230.P.L. 91-230, as amended, Part B, Sec. 619 This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. MOE requirements for this program apply to both State Educational Agencies and local educational agencies.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. MOE requirements for this program apply to both State Educational Agencies and local educational agencies.
Deadlines
Deadlines do not apply Formula grants. Recipients must submit required documentation to OSEP.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
For FY 2024, regular annual allotments to States, including DC and Puerto Rico, ranged from $270,255 to $42,175,137, with an average award of $8,076,923.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Special Education Preschool Grants (84.173) awarded $2.2 billion across 312 grant awards, an average of $7.1 million per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 90% of the money, colleges and universities 10%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 306 | $2.0 billion | 90% |
| Colleges and universities | 6 | $229 million | 10% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 6 | $229 million |
| New York | 6 | $198 million |
| Texas | 6 | $135 million |
| Florida | 6 | $109 million |
| Illinois | 6 | $99.1 million |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | $82.5 million |
| Michigan | 6 | $74.0 million |
| Ohio | 6 | $73.7 million |
| New Jersey | 6 | $67.1 million |
| North Carolina | 6 | $64.0 million |
| Kentucky | 6 | $59.3 million |
| Georgia | 6 | $58.2 million |
| Massachusetts | 6 | $58.1 million |
| Wisconsin | 6 | $55.7 million |
| Virginia | 6 | $54.2 million |
| Indiana | 6 | $52.5 million |
| Washington | 6 | $48.4 million |
| Minnesota | 6 | $43.9 million |
| South Carolina | 6 | $42.3 million |
| Tennessee | 6 | $40.5 million |
| Maryland | 6 | $39.7 million |
| Missouri | 6 | $35.9 million |
| Louisiana | 6 | $34.4 million |
| Alabama | 6 | $32.9 million |
| Arkansas | 6 | $31.7 million |
| Arizona | 6 | $31.7 million |
| Colorado | 6 | $29.0 million |
| Connecticut | 6 | $28.9 million |
| Kansas | 6 | $25.7 million |
| Mississippi | 6 | $24.7 million |
| Iowa | 6 | $23.7 million |
| Oklahoma | 6 | $21.6 million |
| Utah | 6 | $21.5 million |
| Oregon | 6 | $21.3 million |
| West Virginia | 6 | $19.8 million |
| Puerto Rico | 6 | $18.0 million |
| New Mexico | 6 | $16.6 million |
| Maine | 6 | $14.6 million |
| Nevada | 6 | $13.6 million |
| Nebraska | 6 | $13.2 million |
| Idaho | 6 | $13.0 million |
| Rhode Island | 6 | $9.8 million |
| New Hampshire | 6 | $8.7 million |
| South Dakota | 6 | $8.7 million |
| Delaware | 6 | $7.5 million |
| Alaska | 6 | $7.4 million |
| Montana | 6 | $7.1 million |
| Hawaii | 6 | $6.1 million |
| Wyoming | 6 | $6.0 million |
| North Dakota | 6 | $4.9 million |
| Vermont | 6 | $4.5 million |
| District of Columbia | 6 | $1.4 million |