Universal Screening and Qualified Personnel Grant
Supports Colorado school districts in funding universal gifted student screening and qualified leadership to ensure equitable, research-based gifted education identification and programming.
Funder: Colorado Department of Education
Due Dates: April 15, 2026 | April 17, 2026 | April 15, 2027
Funding Amounts: Annual, state-appropriated grant; funds typically support up to 0.5 FTE for a qualified director and per-pupil screening costs—amounts vary by AU and year.
Summary: Supports Colorado Administrative Units in offsetting costs for universal screening and employing qualified personnel to ensure equitable gifted education identification and programming.
Key Information: Applications submitted by April 15 are prioritized for funding; no carryover of funds is permitted.
Description
This annual grant program, administered by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) under the Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) and House Bill 14-1102, provides funding to Colorado Administrative Units (AUs), including school districts and BOCES, for two primary purposes: (1) universal screening for gifted identification and (2) salary support for a qualified Gifted Education Director of Record. The grant aims to promote equitable access to gifted education by ensuring all students are screened and that each AU has dedicated, qualified leadership for gifted programming. Funds must be used exclusively for universal screening costs and/or up to 0.5 FTE for a qualified director, with strict reporting and expenditure requirements.
