Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANT 26 035
The Open Textbook Pilot Program (OTP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity (CFDA 84.116) intended to reduce college costs by accelerating the creation and adoption of open textbooks and related open course materials. Although the program is administered through the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, it is being run on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education and the Secretary of Education. The central idea is to fund projects that replace expensive, proprietary textbooks with openly licensed alternatives that students can access at low or no cost, while still supporting quality instruction in degree-granting programs.
The program focuses on two main types of activities: developing new open textbooks and expanding the sustained use of open textbooks and course materials in existing courses. Priority is placed on courses that are part of a degree program and, in particular, on high-enrollment courses where the same required materials affect large numbers of students each term. The solicitation also highlights programs that prepare people for in-demand fields, signaling that applicants may be competitive if they target gateway or workforce-aligned sequences where textbook costs can be a barrier to completion. Across all projects, the emphasis is on measurable student savings and on approaches that can be maintained and scaled over time rather than one-off pilots.
Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education as defined under Section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including public and state-controlled colleges and universities as well as private institutions of higher education. The opportunity also allows combinations or consortia of eligible institutions, along with other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies. The notice clarifies that "public agencies" can include State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies. Nonprofit applicants may need to document their status under 34 CFR 75.51, typically through IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), certification from a state taxing authority or attorney general, incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status, or comparable documentation through a parent organization with an affiliate statement.
Funding is provided as a grant, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 per award and an expectation of approximately four total awards under this competition. The funding opportunity number is ED GRANT 26 035, and the original application closing date is June 23, 2026. Overall, OTP is aimed at helping colleges, universities, and state higher education entities build and institutionalize open educational resources that lower out-of-pocket costs for students, especially in high-impact, high-enrollment parts of degree pathways.Apply for ED GRANT 26 035
- The Office of Postsecondary Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Open Textbook Pilot Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.116.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Open Textbook Pilot Program (OTP) Grant (CFDA 84.116) - FAQs
What is the Open Textbook Pilot Program (OTP)?
The Open Textbook Pilot Program (OTP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity (CFDA 84.116) intended to reduce college costs by accelerating the creation and adoption of open textbooks and related open course materials. The core goal is to replace expensive, proprietary textbooks with openly licensed alternatives that students can access at low or no cost, while supporting quality instruction in degree-granting programs.
Which federal agencies are involved in administering this program?
OTP is administered through the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. It is being run on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education and the Secretary of Education.
What kinds of projects does OTP fund?
The program emphasizes two main activity types: (1) developing new open textbooks, and (2) expanding the sustained use of open textbooks and course materials in existing courses. Projects are expected to focus on measurable student savings and approaches that can be maintained and scaled over time rather than one-off pilots.
Does OTP only fund creation of new open textbooks, or can it support adoption and expansion too?
It can support both. OTP funds projects that develop new open textbooks and projects that expand and sustain the use of open textbooks and related open course materials in existing courses.
What is the program trying to achieve for students?
OTP is designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for students by accelerating the replacement of expensive, proprietary textbooks with open alternatives. A central emphasis is on producing measurable student savings, particularly in courses that impact many students.
Are certain courses or programs prioritized?
Yes. Priority is placed on courses that are part of a degree program. The solicitation particularly highlights high-enrollment courses, where required materials affect large numbers of students each term.
Does OTP favor workforce or in-demand field programs?
The solicitation highlights programs that prepare people for in-demand fields. That suggests applications may be more competitive when they target gateway courses or workforce-aligned sequences where textbook costs can be a barrier to completion.
What does the program mean by "open textbooks" and "open course materials"?
Based on the notice description, OTP supports openly licensed alternatives to proprietary materials so students can access them at low or no cost. The opportunity references both open textbooks and related open course materials as eligible focus areas.
What does OTP emphasize besides lowering textbook costs?
In addition to lowering costs, the program emphasizes quality instruction in degree-granting programs, measurable student savings, and approaches that can be maintained and scaled over time (not limited to one-off pilots).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education as defined under Section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including public and state-controlled colleges and universities as well as private institutions of higher education.
Can a consortium apply?
Yes. The opportunity allows combinations or consortia of eligible institutions, along with other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies.
Are public agencies eligible applicants under this opportunity?
Yes. The notice clarifies that "public agencies" can include State Education Agencies and State Higher Education Agencies.
Can nonprofit organizations participate or apply?
The opportunity allows other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies as part of combinations or consortia. Nonprofit applicants may need to document their nonprofit status under 34 CFR 75.51.
What nonprofit documentation may be required under 34 CFR 75.51?
The notice indicates nonprofit status can typically be documented through IRS recognition under 501(c)(3), certification from a state taxing authority or attorney general, incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status, or comparable documentation through a parent organization with an affiliate statement.
What type of funding is OTP?
Funding is provided as a grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award.
How many awards are expected under this competition?
The competition expects approximately four total awards.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is ED GRANT 26 035.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is June 23, 2026.
What is the overall focus of OTP?
Overall, OTP aims to help colleges, universities, and state higher education entities build and institutionalize open educational resources that lower student costs, especially in high-impact, high-enrollment parts of degree pathways.
What makes a project align well with OTP's priorities?
Based on the solicitation summary, strong alignment includes focusing on degree-program courses (especially high-enrollment courses), demonstrating measurable student savings, supporting quality instruction, targeting in-demand fields where relevant, and proposing an approach that can be sustained and scaled over time rather than implemented as a one-time pilot.
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| OSERS-OSEP: National Technical Assistance Center for Postsecondary Education and Training for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Assistance Listing Number 84.326D Apply for ED GRANTS 060126 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 060126 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
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| OSERS-OSEP: National Center on Academic Interventions Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.326Q Apply for ED GRANTS 061526 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 061526 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $3,700,000 |
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