The National Professional Development grant program, previously administered by the Office of English Language Acquisition, will resume operations this fall with a new cohort of funded projects. The program supports partnerships between researchers and local schools to advance English-learner education and develop teacher certification pathways.
The grant initiative experienced significant disruptions starting in early 2025, creating uncertainty among existing grantees. When the Education Department announced the fiscal 2026 application call on May 15, current grant recipients described the announcement as a relief following months of uncertainty about the program’s future.
The 2026 cohort will consist of approximately 10 to 13 projects, each with a funding cap of $1 million annually over five years, representing an increased annual ceiling for the small group of awardees. The application deadline was July 14, with award announcements expected by the end of September. One significant organizational change involves the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor now soliciting applications on behalf of the Education Department, reflecting broader restructuring within the department.
New competitive priorities have been introduced for the 2026 round, including projects promoting evidence-based literacy instruction, those operated by tribal entities, and applications that include letters of endorsement from governors or state education officials. Current grantees highlighted that the endorsement letter requirement represents a major departure from previous application processes. While program officials emphasized the letter is not mandatory, they clarified that its inclusion could provide competitive advantages in the selection process. An informational webinar held on May 29 addressed questions about implementation, with officials specifying that letters must be signed on official letterhead and that governors or state officials could endorse multiple projects.
Existing grantees, including those whose projects were discontinued, remain eligible to apply for new funding as part of the 2026 cohort. Some researchers whose prior projects were defunded have submitted new proposals aligned with the updated priorities while maintaining focus on improving English learner education through teacher development initiatives.
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