The State Board of Education of Illinois has announced a grant opportunity under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Preschool Discretionary - Early CHOICES program. This initiative aims to improve educational outcomes for young children with disabilities by providing training, technical assistance, and support services to educators, families, and school districts. The grant will fund activities that enhance professional development, foster inclusive learning environments, and increase the number of high-quality preschool programs available for children with disabilities across Illinois.

The program will issue one grant award with a total funding amount of $409,000 for Fiscal Year 2026, with potential renewals over three years totaling up to $1.227 million. The funding is federal and provided under IDEA Part B, Section 619 discretionary funds. The awarded entity is responsible for supplementing, not supplanting, existing funds used for authorized activities. Indirect costs are permitted but must follow a restricted indirect cost rate. Matching funds are not required.

Eligible applicants include public school districts, Regional Offices of Education (ROEs), Intermediate Service Centers (ISCs), special education joint agreements and cooperatives, not-for-profit entities, public universities, charter schools, and area vocational centers. The applicant must demonstrate expertise in training and technical assistance for early childhood special education. Prior awardees are eligible to apply. Applicants must complete prequalification steps under the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) before submission.

Applications are due by April 11, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The grant period begins July 1, 2025, and runs until June 30, 2026, with up to two additional renewal years contingent on performance and available appropriations. Submissions must be completed through the ISBE Attachment Manager, selecting "Early Childhood RFP" as the submission category. Proposals submitted past the deadline will not be accepted.

The grant will be awarded through a merit-based review process assessing experience, capacity, program quality, evaluation methods, and budget feasibility. Applicants must score at least 60 points to be considered. Notifications of award or non-award are expected approximately 90 days after the deadline. The successful awardee must comply with reporting requirements, including quarterly financial reports and annual programmatic reports via the ISBE system. Key deliverables include at least 10 professional training events, technical assistance initiatives, and community practice engagement efforts.