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.

IES is announcing four research competitions through two of its centers: The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing one competition in the following area: education research (84.305A). The IES National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) is announcing three competitions—one competition in each of the following areas: special education research (84.324A), special education research training (84.324B), and special education research and development center (84.324C).

NCER Competition

The Education Research Competition (ALN 84.305A). Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications that address one of the following topics:

• Career and Technical Education.
• Civics Education and Social Studies.
• Cognition and Student Learning.
• Early Learning Programs and Policies.
• Improving Education Systems.
• Literacy.
• Policies, Practices, and Programs to Support English Learners.
• Postsecondary and Adult Education.
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education. 
• Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Context for Teaching and Learning.
• Teaching, Teachers, and the Education Workforce.

NCSER Competitions

The 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 schoolbased 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.

The Research Training Programs in Special Education Competition (ALN 84.324B). Under this competition,

NCSER will consider only applications that address Early Career Development and Mentoring.
Special Education Research and Development Center (R&D Center) (ALN 84.324C). Under this  competition, NCSER will consider applications that address Research and Development Center on the K–12 Special Education Teacher Workforce.

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.

For all other competitions in this notice, applicants that have the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply.

Information regarding program and application requirements for the competitions is in the currently available IES Application Submission Guide and in the NCER and NCSER RFAs, which are available on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/.

The deadline of 84.324C Special Education Research and Development Center competition is January 11, 2024. 

Funding amount:

National Center for Education Research (NCER): 
84.305A Education Research; annual award amount $300,000 to $800,000 for projects up to 5 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

84.324C Special Education Research and Development Center; annual award amount $500,000 to $1,000,000 for projects up to 5 years

Program officers: 
84.305A - Lara Faust, [email protected] 
84.324A - Emily Weaver, [email protected]
84.324B & 84.324C - Katherine Taylor, [email protected]