Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12)

Overview

The DRK-12 program invites applied research and development proposals, set within the context of formal preK-12 education, with potential to generate high quality and generalizable scientific evidence, and promote success for all teachers, and their students, in all STEM fields of study. Projects should result in research-informed and field-tested outcomes and products that inform teaching and learning. Teachers and students who participate in DRK-12 studies are expected to enhance their understanding and use of STEM content, practices, and skills. The program invites proposals that address immediate challenges facing preK-12 STEM education and proposals that anticipate radically different structures and functions of preK-12 teaching and learning.

The DRK-12 program has two strands: (1) Learning and (2) Teaching. The program recognizes that there is overlap and interdependence among the two strands; however, each proposal should have a clear, foregrounded focus on only one strand. 

The program supports six types of projects: (1) Exploratory, (2) Design and Development, (3) Impact Studies, (4) Implementation and Improvement Studies, (5) Measurement and Assessment and (6) Syntheses. All six types of projects apply to each of the three DRK-12 program strands. All six types of projects apply to each of the three DRK-12 program strands.

In addition to original research proposals, DRK12 also welcomes and supports proposals that involve partnership development and workshops/conferences that explicitly advance research and development in the Teaching and Learning strands. Investigators of the proposal types below are strongly encouraged to contact a program officer prior to submission to discuss their idea(s).

•    Partnership Development: Projects are expected to lead to the development of a research and development project that is responsive to the DRK-12 solicitation. Partnership Development projects must include school partners and researchers.  

•    Workshops & Conferences:  The program invites proposals that bring together researchers and school partners to identify and/or advance critical research agendas of broader importance to preK-12 STEM education.

The level of funding requested for research projects should align with the aims and scope of the proposed work, and the capacity of the interdisciplinary team to conduct the proposed project type. Proposals should provide clear justifications for the requested level of funding.

Funding level ranges for research projects are as follows:
•    Level I = requests up to $450,000 with a duration of up to three years;
•    Level II = up to $3,000,000 with a duration of up to four years; and
•    Level III = up to $5,000,000 with a duration of up to five years.

Funding levels for other project types are as follows:
•    Partnership Development proposals are up to $100,000 for one year;
•    Synthesis proposals are up to $600,000 and three-years duration;
•    Workshop /Conference proposals are up to $200,000 and one-year duration.

The Project Description is limited to 8 pages in Partnership Development projects. 

Workshops & Conferences proposals can be submitted at any time.