Education Innovation and Research Program—Early-phase Grants

Overview

<p>The Department awards three types of grants under this program: ‘‘Early-phase’’ grants, ‘‘Mid-phase’’ grants, and ‘‘Expansion’’ grants. These grants differ in terms of the level of prior evidence of effectiveness required for consideration for funding, the expectations regarding the kind of evidence and information funded projects should produce, the level of scale funded projects should reach, and, consequently, the amount of funding available to support each type of project.</p> <p>Early-phase grants provide funding to support the development, implementation, and feasibility testing of a program, which prior research suggests has promise, for the purpose of determining whether the program can successfully improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students. Early-phase grants must demonstrate a rationale. These Early-phase grants are not intended simply to implement established practices in additional locations or address needs that are unique to one particular context. The goal is to determine whether and in what ways relatively newer practices can improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students.</p> <p>The FY 2019 Early-phase competition includes three absolute priorities and one competitive preference priority. All Early-phase applicants must address Absolute Priority 1. Early-phase applicants are also required to address one of the other two absolute priorities. Applicants addressing Absolute Priority 3 also have the option to address the competitive preference priority. The absolute priorities and competitive preference priority align with the purpose of the program and the Administration’s priorities.</p>