CEC Urges Department to Preserve the Stability of Grants and Grantmaking

This week, CEC submitted comments on proposed revisions to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), arguing that the proposal would give the Department of Education (ED) too much discretion over federal grants. CEC warns that fully funding multiyear grants upfront could substantially reduce the number of future awards, particularly for IDEA Part D personnel-preparation programs, while favoring applicants with lower indirect costs could prioritize less costly but weaker proposals. 

CEC also opposes allowing ED to terminate grants for reasons unrelated to grantee performance, citing past disruptions to services for students with disabilities, educator and mental-health workforce pipelines, and partnerships with state and local agencies. 

In response to the proposal, CEC’s CEO, Chad Rummel, writes, “When considered collectively, the proposed EDGAR revisions would grant any Department of Education broad discretion to reduce or terminate funding for grants based on undefined and potentially subjective criteria. This level of authority would create significant uncertainty for grantees and future applicants, weakening the predictability and stability necessary for effective program planning and implementation.”

Read the CEC response here.