Comprehensive Centers Program: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (84.283D)

Comprehensive Centers Program: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (84.283D) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education. Aims to improve literacy outcomes for students with disabilities by developing evidence-based assessment tools and instructional strategies.

Comprehensive Centers Program: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (84. 283D) | U.S. Department of Education Comprehensive Centers Program: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (84. 283D) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) OESE.

ComprehensiveCenters@ed.

gov Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Research Institution/Organization State Educational Agencies (SEAs) Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs) Estimated Total Grant Funding Expected Number Of Awards 06/30/2026 - 11:59 PM EDT Applicant Info and Eligibility About the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (NCIL) The purpose of the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (NCIL) is to identify or develop evidence-based literacy assessment tools and professional development activities and to identify evidence-based instruction, strategies, and accommodations for students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia, impacting reading or writing, or a developmental delay impacting reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning.

The Center also disseminates its products and information on evidence-based literacy to families, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, regional educational agencies, and schools. NCIL is part of a broader network of Comprehensive Centers. Learn more about the Comprehensive Centers Program below, and visit the Comprehensive Centers Network for additional information and resources.

The Comprehensive Centers program supports the establishment of Comprehensive Centers (CCs) to provide capacity-building services to State educational agencies (SEAs), regional educational agencies (REAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools that improve educational opportunities and outcomes, close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of instruction for all students, and particularly for groups of students with the greatest need, including students from low-income families and students attending schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement or targeted or additional targeted support and improvement activities under section 1111(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).

Each Comprehensive Center must develop a 5-year plan for carrying out authorized activities. The plan of each center is developed to address the educational challenges facing students, practitioners, and education system leaders, as well as priorities established by the Department and the States.

Each center has an advisory board, with representation from SEAs, LEAs, institutions of higher education, educators, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and business representatives, that advises the center on: Strategies for monitoring and addressing the educational needs aligned to its mission, Maintaining a high standard of quality in the performance of its activities, and Carrying out the center's activities in a manner that promotes progress toward improving student academic achievement.

2026 NCIL Application Notice and Instructions (ANI) On May 11, 2026, the Department published the Application Notice and Instructions: Comprehensive Centers Program National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (84. 238D) for one new award for the National Center for Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (NCIL) grant competition.

The Department may choose to make awards in fiscal year 2026 or subsequent fiscal years. Deadline for Intent to Apply: May 29, 2026 Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 30, 2026 Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 8, 2026 Absolute Priority: Content Center: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Under 34 CFR 75.

105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet the absolute priority for a specific competition. The absolute priority used in this competition is National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities. Competitive Preference Priority: Returning Education to the States An application may receive up to 10 additional points under the Competitive Preference Priority “Returning Education to the States”.

An applicant must identify in the abstract form and the project narrative section of the application any priority that it addresses. Applicants should review the ANI for specific information on how to meet the absolute and competitive preference priorities for this competition. Application Instructions and Submission To apply for this competition, applicants must submit the application through Grants.

gov and follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. Applicants should review the ANI in its entirety and only rely upon the information and requirements listed in the ANI.

An application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application, or the application does not contain the information required under the program. Notice of Intent to Apply The Department strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an application by Friday, May 29, 2026. To do so, please email OESE.

ComprehensiveCenters@ed. gov with the subject line “Intent to Apply,” and include the applicant’s name and a contact person’s name and email address. Notification is optional and non-binding.

Please see the ANI for more information. For additional questions, please contact OESE. ComprehensiveCenters@ed.

gov . The Department intends to publish a webinar for prospective applicants. During the webinar, the Department will review the competition eligibility requirements, priorities, selection criteria, and application requirements.

The Department will also publish resources to respond to applicant questions received. To submit questions to the Department, email OESE. ComprehensiveCenters@ed.

gov .

Who May Apply: Research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutes of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities described in this notice, including regional entities that carried out activities under the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such Act existed on the day before November 5, 2002) and Title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as such title existed on the day before January 8, 2002).

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) seeks qualified individuals to serve as Peer Reviewers for the 2026 National Center for Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities grant competition.

The request for Peer Reviewers seeks to attract a diverse pool of qualified candidates with relevant subject matter expertise aligned to serve on panels to review applications for Comprehensive Centers, including a National Center, Regional Centers, Content Centers, the National Center for Improving Literacy (NCIL) and the Bureau of Indian (BIE) Regional Center. For more information, please review the Call for Peer Reviewers .

NCIL was funded in response to 2016 appropriations language and a new authority in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), focuses on students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability.

Fiscal Year (FY) Appropriation Number of New Awards Range of New Awards Number of Continuation Awards Range of Continuation Awards FY 2026 $1,500,000 1 $1,485,000* 0 0 FY 2025 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2024 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2023 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2022 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2021 $1,500,000 1 $1,480,666 0 0 FY 2020 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2019 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,499,507 FY 2018 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2017 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2016 $1,500,000 1 $1,449,831 0 0 *Estimated The NCIL is authorized under Sec.

2244, “Technical Assistance and National Evaluation” of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 . The Comprehensive Centers Program is a discretionary grant program authorized under Title II, Sec. 203, of the Educational Technical Assistance Act (ETAA) of 2002 .

The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. Note: 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 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. The regulations in 34 CFR part 299.

Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions published on May 8, 2026 (91 FR 25452) National Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities : Find additional information about resources from the NCIL. Comprehensive Center Network (CCNetwork) : Find resources and additional information about Comprehensive Center services. National Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Sarah Sayko Ed.

D. , Interim Director Hank Fien, Ph. D.

, Founding Director About the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (NCIL) The purpose of the National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (NCIL) is to identify or develop evidence-based literacy assessment tools and professional development activities and to identify evidence-based instruction, strategies, and accommodations for students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia, impacting reading or writing, or a developmental delay impacting reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning.

The Center also disseminates its products and information on evidence-based literacy to families, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, regional educational agencies, and schools. NCIL is part of a broader network of Comprehensive Centers. Learn more about the Comprehensive Centers Program below, and visit the Comprehensive Centers Network for additional information and resources.

The Comprehensive Centers program supports the establishment of Comprehensive Centers (CCs) to provide capacity-building services to State educational agencies (SEAs), regional educational agencies (REAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools that improve educational opportunities and outcomes, close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of instruction for all students, and particularly for groups of students with the greatest need, including students from low-income families and students attending schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement or targeted or additional targeted support and improvement activities under section 1111(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).

Each Comprehensive Center must develop a 5-year plan for carrying out authorized activities. The plan of each center is developed to address the educational challenges facing students, practitioners, and education system leaders, as well as priorities established by the Department and the States.

Each center has an advisory board, with representation from SEAs, LEAs, institutions of higher education, educators, administrators, policymakers, researchers, and business representatives, that advises the center on: Strategies for monitoring and addressing the educational needs aligned to its mission, Maintaining a high standard of quality in the performance of its activities, and Carrying out the center's activities in a manner that promotes progress toward improving student academic achievement.

Applicant Info and Eligibility 2026 NCIL Application Notice and Instructions (ANI) On May 11, 2026, the Department published the Application Notice and Instructions: Comprehensive Centers Program National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (84. 238D) for one new award for the National Center for Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities (NCIL) grant competition.

The Department may choose to make awards in fiscal year 2026 or subsequent fiscal years. Deadline for Intent to Apply: May 29, 2026 Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 30, 2026 Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 8, 2026 Absolute Priority: Content Center: National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Under 34 CFR 75.

105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet the absolute priority for a specific competition. The absolute priority used in this competition is National Comprehensive Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities. Competitive Preference Priority: Returning Education to the States An application may receive up to 10 additional points under the Competitive Preference Priority “Returning Education to the States”.

An applicant must identify in the abstract form and the project narrative section of the application any priority that it addresses. Applicants should review the ANI for specific information on how to meet the absolute and competitive preference priorities for this competition. Application Instructions and Submission To apply for this competition, applicants must submit the application through Grants.

gov and follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, which contain requirements and information on how to submit an application. Applicants should review the ANI in its entirety and only rely upon the information and requirements listed in the ANI.

An application will not be evaluated for funding if the applicant does not comply with all the procedural rules that govern the submission of the application, or the application does not contain the information required under the program. Notice of Intent to Apply The Department strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an application by Friday, May 29, 2026. To do so, please email OESE.

ComprehensiveCenters@ed. gov with the subject line “Intent to Apply,” and include the applicant’s name and a contact person’s name and email address. Notification is optional and non-binding.

Please see the ANI for more information. For additional questions, please contact OESE. ComprehensiveCenters@ed.

gov . The Department intends to publish a webinar for prospective applicants. During the webinar, the Department will review the competition eligibility requirements, priorities, selection criteria, and application requirements.

The Department will also publish resources to respond to applicant questions received. To submit questions to the Department, email OESE. ComprehensiveCenters@ed.

gov .

Who May Apply: Research organizations, institutions, agencies, institutes of higher education, or partnerships among such entities, or individuals, with the demonstrated ability or capacity to carry out the activities described in this notice, including regional entities that carried out activities under the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (as such Act existed on the day before November 5, 2002) and Title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (as such title existed on the day before January 8, 2002).

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) seeks qualified individuals to serve as Peer Reviewers for the 2026 National Center for Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities grant competition.

The request for Peer Reviewers seeks to attract a diverse pool of qualified candidates with relevant subject matter expertise aligned to serve on panels to review applications for Comprehensive Centers, including a National Center, Regional Centers, Content Centers, the National Center for Improving Literacy (NCIL) and the Bureau of Indian (BIE) Regional Center. For more information, please review the Call for Peer Reviewers .

NCIL was funded in response to 2016 appropriations language and a new authority in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), focuses on students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability.

Fiscal Year (FY) Appropriation Number of New Awards Range of New Awards Number of Continuation Awards Range of Continuation Awards FY 2026 $1,500,000 1 $1,485,000* 0 0 FY 2025 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2024 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2023 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2022 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2021 $1,500,000 1 $1,480,666 0 0 FY 2020 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2019 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,499,507 FY 2018 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2017 $1,500,000 0 0 1 $1,500,000 FY 2016 $1,500,000 1 $1,449,831 0 0 *Estimated The NCIL is authorized under Sec.

2244, “Technical Assistance and National Evaluation” of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 . The Comprehensive Centers Program is a discretionary grant program authorized under Title II, Sec. 203, of the Educational Technical Assistance Act (ETAA) of 2002 .

The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. Note: 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 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. The regulations in 34 CFR part 299.

Notice of Final Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions published on May 8, 2026 (91 FR 25452) National Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities : Find additional information about resources from the NCIL. Comprehensive Center Network (CCNetwork) : Find resources and additional information about Comprehensive Center services. National Center on Improving Literacy for Students with Disabilities Sarah Sayko Ed.

D. , Interim Director Hank Fien, Ph. D.

, Founding Director Associated Federal Register Notice FY 2026 Comprehensive Centers Grant Competition Announcement FY 2026 Final Priorities: Comprehensive Centers Grant Program Higher Education Institutions Students with Disabilities Comprehensive Centers: National, Regional, and Content Centers Find information about the Comprehensive Centers Program: National, Regional, and Content Centers grant (ALN: 84. 283B).

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Page Last Reviewed: July 1, 2026