Opportunity Information: Apply for DOL OESE 34120
The National Professional Development (NPD) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), under CFDA number 84.365. Its core purpose is to strengthen educator capacity through professional development, supporting both pre-service training (preparing individuals to enter the profession) and in-service training (ongoing learning for current educators). The program is designed to fund structured professional development activities that help educators and related school personnel build the knowledge and skills needed to better serve students, with an emphasis on applicants demonstrating relevant experience and the practical ability to carry out the proposed work.
Eligibility is centered on institutions of higher education and qualified public or private entities, but the program requires partnership. To be considered, an applicant must be either an institution of higher education (as defined in the official notice) or a public or private entity with demonstrated experience and capacity, and the application must be submitted as part of a consortium that includes a State educational agency (SEA) and/or a local educational agency (LEA). In other words, applicants cannot apply in isolation; the program is explicitly built to connect higher education or specialized providers with state and local education systems so the professional development is grounded in real school and district needs and can be implemented at scale.
Financially, awards can be as large as $1,000,000 per grant (the award ceiling). The agency anticipates making approximately 13 awards under this competition, indicating a competitive funding environment where proposals will likely need to be strong on evidence, partnership quality, feasibility, and clear implementation plans. The opportunity is listed as created on 2026-05-15, and the original application closing date is 2026-07-14, giving prospective applicants a defined window to assemble consortia, finalize program designs, and submit required materials.
In practical terms, applicants should expect to propose a coherent professional development model that includes clear goals, target participants (such as teachers, school leaders, or other instructional staff, depending on the notice requirements), training content, delivery methods, and supports for implementation. Because the program supports both pre-service and in-service professional development, competitive proposals often articulate how the project will build a pipeline from preparation into classroom practice, and how it will sustain improvements through coaching, follow-up, or other ongoing supports. The consortium requirement also signals that successful projects should show strong coordination between the IHE or lead entity and the SEA/LEA partners, including defined roles, shared responsibilities, and mechanisms for aligning training with state standards, district priorities, and classroom realities.
Key identifying details for this opportunity include the Funding Opportunity Title (National Professional Development Program), Funding Opportunity Number (DOL OESE 34120), category (Discretionary), instrument type (Grant), activity category (Education), administering agency (Office of Elementary and Secondary Education), eligible applicant type noted in the source data (Public and State controlled institutions of higher education), award ceiling ($1,000,000), expected awards (13), and application deadline (2026-07-14).Apply for DOL OESE 34120
- The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Professional Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.365.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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National Professional Development (NPD) Program (CFDA 84.365) - FAQs
What is the National Professional Development (NPD) Program?
The National Professional Development (NPD) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), under CFDA number 84.365. Its purpose is to strengthen educator capacity through structured professional development.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The core goal is to improve educator knowledge and skills through professional development so educators and related school personnel are better equipped to serve students. The program emphasizes proposals that show relevant experience and the practical ability to carry out the work.
Who administers the NPD Program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).
Is this a discretionary or formula grant program?
This opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The instrument type is a grant.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 84.365.
What is the Funding Opportunity Title?
The Funding Opportunity Title is National Professional Development Program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOL OESE 34120.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is Education.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is centered on institutions of higher education and qualified public or private entities with demonstrated experience and capacity, as described in the official notice. The source data also notes an eligible applicant type of public and state controlled institutions of higher education.
Can an organization apply on its own?
No. The application must be submitted as part of a consortium that includes a State educational agency (SEA) and/or a local educational agency (LEA). The program is designed to connect an institution of higher education or another qualified lead entity with state and local education systems.
What partnerships are required to apply?
Applicants must apply as part of a consortium that includes a State educational agency (SEA) and/or a local educational agency (LEA). This requirement is intended to ensure the professional development is aligned to real school and district needs and can be implemented in practice.
What kinds of professional development does the program support?
The program supports both pre-service training (preparing individuals to enter the profession) and in-service training (ongoing learning for current educators).
What kinds of participants can the professional development serve?
The opportunity is aimed at educators and related school personnel. Examples mentioned include teachers, school leaders, or other instructional staff, depending on the specific requirements in the official notice.
What should applicants be prepared to propose?
Applicants should expect to propose a coherent professional development model with clear goals, defined target participants, training content, delivery methods, and supports for implementation.
How important is experience and capacity in this competition?
The program places emphasis on applicants demonstrating relevant experience and the practical ability to carry out the proposed work.
What does the consortium requirement imply for project design?
It signals that successful projects should show strong coordination between the institution of higher education or lead entity and SEA/LEA partners, including defined roles, shared responsibilities, and ways to align training with state standards, district priorities, and classroom realities.
Does the program encourage projects that connect pre-service and in-service training?
Yes. Because the program supports both pre-service and in-service professional development, competitive proposals often describe how the project will build a pipeline from preparation into classroom practice and sustain improvements through follow-up supports.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per grant.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making approximately 13 awards under this competition.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity is listed as created on 2026-05-15.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is 2026-07-14.
What does the expected number of awards suggest about competitiveness?
With an anticipated 13 awards and an award ceiling of $1,000,000, this is likely a competitive funding environment where proposals may need to be strong on evidence, partnership quality, feasibility, and clear implementation plans.
What category is the opportunity listed under?
The category is Discretionary.
What agency office is specifically named as administering the program?
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) is specifically named as the administering agency office.
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