National Center for Education Research (NCER): Transformative Research in the Education Sciences Grant Program

Overview

Purpose of Program: In awarding research grants, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) education outcomes for all learners from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult education, and (2) 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.

Through this program, IES seeks to support innovative and unconventional research that has the potential to make dramatic advances towards solving seemingly intractable problems and challenges in the education field and/or to accelerate the pace of conducting education research to facilitate major breakthroughs. For the FY 2024 competition, the Transformative Research in the Education Sciences grant program will have a special focus on accelerating learning and reducing persistent education inequities by leveraging evidence-based principles from the learning sciences with advanced technology to create high reward, scalable solutions.

The program requires cost sharing or matching. For this program, by the beginning of Year 2, each grant recipient must secure matching funds in an amount equal to 10 percent of the total funds provided under the grant in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Continuation funding in Years 2 and 3 will be contingent upon the establishment of a cost sharing agreement and the inclusion of a revised budget and budget narrative that includes cost sharing funds in the firstyear annual report. The cost sharing partner must be an organization that has experience developing and scaling technology products.

Award Information

• Types of Awards: Discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.
• Project Period: Up to 3 years.