Dear Prospective Applicants:

2024 Request for Applications for the Family Empowerment Centers on Disability Grant

The California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division is pleased to announce the availability of the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Family Empowerment Centers on Disability (FECs) Grant for two regions of the state that are eligible for the RFA process. FECs are critical as California continues to work toward improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

Parents and families need information, support, and training to ensure that their children and young adults with disabilities experience positive and successful learning experiences to reach their fullest potential and meaningfully participate at school and in their community. Senate Bill 511, Chapter 4.3 (Education Code [EC] sections 56400–56414) was enacted in 2001 to award grants to establish FECs in all forty-one regions of California. FECs offer parents and guardians of children and young adults with disabilities community-based information and referral services, access to accurate information, specialized training, and peer-to-peer support.

In providing grant awards pursuant to EC Section 56402(b)(2), the Superintendent shall give priority to applicants that are able to ensure continuity of support for families transitioning from services under Part C to Part B of the federal IDEA (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), either because the applicant operates a program of family support for parents of children with disabilities up to three years of age, or the applicant works in close partnership with an organization that does so, and shall take into consideration the capacity of applicants to carry out the activities specified in EC Section 56408. The CDE shall also give positive consideration to grant applicants proposing to establish new FECs that serve regions with high concentrations of pupils who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, as indicated in EC Section 56406(c).

With the 2024 FEC Grant RFA, the CDE intends to establish centers in two regions of the state that are eligible for the RFA process. Interested applicants should review Appendix I, Eligible Regions for the Family Empowerment Center, of the RFA to determine which California counties are eligible for this application process.

Additionally, interested applicants should also review the FEC RFA Timeline of Activities in Section XI of the RFA for important deadlines.

If you have any questions regarding the RFA, please contact the Programs and Partnerships Unit by email at PPL@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,
Rachel Heenan, Director
Special Education Division

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Enclosure