Family Empowerment Centers

Funding Description

Family Empowerment Centers offer parents and guardians of children and young adults with disabilities access to accurate information, specialized training, and peer-to-peer support in their communities. The 41 centers serve families with children and young adults with disabilities from ages three through eighteen inclusive, and young adults from ages nineteen through twenty-two who had an individualized education program prior to their eighteenth birthday.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Nonprofit organizations
Required Eligibility Criteria	As mandated, the centers must: (1) have a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) status; (2) have a board majority (51 percent) of parents, guardians, and family members of children with disabilities; and (3) serve the full range of disabilities, including children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, learning disabilities, speech and language issues, hearing impairment, physical impairment, etc.
Other Eligibility Considerations	Prior year recipients will continue to participate in the grant and will receive further funding.
Eligible Grade Level(s)	Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Adult
Eligible Age Level(s)	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, through 22

Funding

Legal Authority	Budget Act Item 6100-161-0890; Schedule (5); Provision (5); Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 84.027A.
Source / Type	Federal / Grant
State Fiscal Year	2026-27
SACS Resource / Revenue Codes	5810 / 8290
Total Available	$13,876,000
Recipient Amount	Varies
Match Requirement	No
Allocation Formula	Each center will receive a minimum amount of $246,000 plus an additional amount based on each region's total enrollment on the 2025-26 California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System.

Important Dates

Date Application Available	Unavailable
Due Date	Unavailable
Expected Notification Date	July 30, 2026

Additional Information

Application	Unavailable
Background	Local Educational Agency Grants [http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/leagrnts.asp#pca14301fec]
Fiscal	Local Educational Agency Grants [http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/leagrnts.asp#pca14301fec]
Other	Unavailable

Contacts

Program	Family Empowerment Center Team, FEC@cde.ca.gov
Fiscal	Family Empowerment Center Team, FEC@cde.ca.gov
Division	Special Education Division, 916-445-4613