Supporting Effective Educator Development 84.423A
This grant funds projects that use evidence-based methods to train and support educators, with priority for state-led, AI-focused, or apprenticeship-expanding initiatives to improve student outcomes.
Funder: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Due Dates: April 16, 2026 (Applications available) | May 1, 2026 (Intent to Apply) | June 1, 2026 (Full application deadline) | July 31, 2026 (Deadline for Intergovernmental Review)
Funding Amounts: $90 million total; typical awards $1M–$6M/year; average ~$3.5M per project period; up to 36 months
Summary: Supports evidence-based practices to increase the number and effectiveness of educators and improve student outcomes.
Key Information: 25% non-federal cost share required; highly competitive with 25–30 awards expected.
Description
The Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program provides significant federal funding to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance the skills of teachers, principals, and other school leaders. The program aims to improve student outcomes by enabling eligible entities to develop, expand, and rigorously evaluate practices that can serve as sustainable and scalable models.
The FY 2026 competition emphasizes projects that:
- Prepare or develop educators using evidence-based approaches.
- Address literacy and mathematics achievement.
- Advance artificial intelligence (AI) in education and expand registered apprenticeship pathways.
- Serve diverse student populations, including high-need schools.
Applicants can earn competitive preference points for projects endorsed by state education officials, for advancing AI in education, or for expanding registered apprenticeships in educator preparation.
