Education Research and Special Education Research Grant Programs

Overview

Purpose of Program: In awarding the research grants, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) developmental and school readiness outcomes for infants and toddlers with or at risk for a disability, (2) education outcomes for all learners from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult education, and (3) employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as for those engaged in career and technical, postsecondary, or adult education). The IES research grant programs are designed to provide interested individuals and the general public with reliable and valid information about education practices that support learning and improve academic achievement and access to education opportunities for all learners. These interested individuals include parents, educators, learners, researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its grant programs, IES provides support for programs of research in areas of demonstrated national need. In awarding research training grant programs, IES aims to prepare individuals to conduct rigorous and relevant education and special education research that advances knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.

The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing two competitions--one competition in each of the following areas: education research training and using longitudinal data to support State education policymaking (84.305B and 84.305S). The IES National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) is announcing two competitions—one competition in each of the following areas: special education research and special education research training (84.324A and 84.324B).

NCER Competitions
The Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences Competition (ALN 84.305B) - Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications that address one of the following topics:

• Early Career Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).[1]
• Methods Training in Data Science for Education Researchers.

Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S) - Under this competition, NCER will only consider applications that address State agencies’ use of their State’s education longitudinal data systems to identify and reduce opportunity- and achievement gaps for learners from pre-kindergarten through adult education.
[1] To qualify as an MSI for the purpose of the Early Career Mentoring Program, the institution must be eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA. Information on eligibility under these authorities is available on the FY 2022 Eligibility Matrix at this link. MSIs include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH), American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCU), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI), and Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI). Please note that institutions eligible only for the Department’s Title III Part A Strengthening Institutions program (SIP) are not considered MSIs for the purpose of this competition unless they also meet the eligibility requirements for a specific MSI category.

NCSER Competitions
Special Education Research Competition (ALN 84.324A) - Under this competition, NCSER encourages a broad range of research, including studies that may have more than one research focus (such as reading and behavior) and may focus broadly on students with disabilities or on a particular disability (such as autism spectrum disorders). The range of research supported through this program includes, but is not limited to, programs to improve child development and school readiness; academic and/or behavioral interventions; instructional practices and/or professional development programs for teachers and other school-based personnel; strategies for improving the family support and engagement critical to the success of students with disabilities; policies and systems-level interventions and programs to address school finance, school-community collaborations, or school structures that affect educational progress for students with disabilities; transition from secondary school to postsecondary education, career, and/or independent living; as well as access to, persistence in, and completion of postsecondary education.

Research Training Programs in Special Education (ALN 84.324B) - Under this competition, NCSER will consider only applications that address Early Career Development and Mentoring.

For the Early Career Mentoring Program under the Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences (ALN 84.305B), applicants must be a minority-serving institution of higher education located in the territorial United States. For the Methods Training in Data Science for Education Researchers program (ALN 84.305B), applicants must have the ability and capacity to conduct training in data science methods and be located in the territorial United States.

For the Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking (ALN 84.305S) grant program, eligible applications must include the eligible State agency or State postsecondary system responsible for the education issue, program, or policy to be examined. Eligible State agencies include the State education agency (SEA) responsible for the State’s K-12 sector as well as State agencies responsible for other specific education sectors such as prekindergarten, career and technical education, postsecondary education, and adult education. In addition, a State postsecondary system may serve as the State agency. State agencies may apply alone, or in conjunction with research organizations such as universities and research firms, and/or with other appropriate organizations (such as other State agencies or local education agencies).

For the Special Education Research (ALN 84.324A) grant competition, applicants that have the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions of higher education, such as colleges and universities.

For the Early Career Development and Mentoring Program under the Research Training Programs in Special Education (ALN 84.324B), applicants must be an institution of higher education in the United States and its territories.

Information regarding program and application requirements for the competitions will be contained in the currently available IES Application Submission Guide and in the NCER and NCSER RFAs, which will be available on or before June 30, 2022, on the IES website at: https:// ies.ed.gov/funding/.

National Center for Education Research (NCER): 84.305B Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences; annual award amount $80,000 to $266,000 for projects up to 4 years; 84.305S Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking; annual award amount $100,000 to $333,000 for projects up to 3 years.
National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER): 84.324A Special Education Research; annual award amount $200,000 to $760,000 for projects up to 5 years; 84.324B Research Training Programs in Special Education; annual award amount $100,000 to $200,000 for projects up to 4 years.

NCER will not compete the Education Research (ALN 84.305A), Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (ALN 84.305D), or Systematic Replication in Education Research (ALN 84.305R) grant programs in FY 2023. If funding is available in FY 2023, the Director intends to use the grant slate developed in FY 2022 for the Education Research (ALN 84.305A) and the Systematic Replication in Education Research (ALN 84.305R) grant programs to make new awards to high-quality applications that remain unfunded on this slate.

Program Officers
84.305B - Katina Stapleton, [email protected]
84.305S - Allen Ruby, [email protected]
84.324A - Emily Weaver, [email protected]
84.324B - Katherine Taylor, [email protected]