Blind Independence Grants Get Deadline Extension Fix
Published Date: 3/7/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education fixed some rules for the 2025 grant competition helping older people who are blind live independently. They changed how applications are scored, removed some criteria, and extended the deadline to March 31, 2025, with reviews due by May 30, 2025. If you’re applying or involved, these updates give you more time and clearer guidelines to get your best shot!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Selection criteria and scoring changed
The Department removed two selection criteria—'Quality of project services' and 'Quality of the project personnel'—and moved or removed specific factors among remaining criteria. The new point distribution for selection criteria is: Significance (15 points), Quality of the project design (35 points), Quality of the project evaluation or other evidence-building (15 points), Adequacy of resources (10 points), and Quality of the management plan (25 points).
Application deadlines extended to March 31
The Department extended the deadline to submit applications (transmittal) for this FY 2025 competition to March 31, 2025, and extended the deadline for intergovernmental review to May 30, 2025. The Department will not consider applications submitted prior to March 7, 2025; applicants who already submitted must submit an updated application on or before 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 31, 2025 for their application to be reviewed.
Accessible application formats available on request
Individuals with disabilities can request the document and the application package in accessible formats from the program contact person. Available formats listed include Rich Text Format (RTF), text (txt), thumb drive, MP3, braille, large print, audiotape, compact disc, or other accessible formats.
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