Research Training Programs in Special Education

Overview

NCSER training programs prepare individuals to conduct special education and early intervention research that advances knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.

Under this competition, NCSER will consider only applications that address one of the following topics: 

1. Early Career Development and Mentoring 
2. Methods Training for Special Education Research

The Early Career program provides support for an integrated research and career development plan for early career investigators at institutions of higher education or non-academic research organizations who have established an interest in special education research and are developing research careers focused on learners with or at risk for disabilities. 

The Methods Training program funds training to help current education researchers, including state and local education agency research staff, maintain and enhance their research and analysis skills in order to conduct rigorous and relevant research focused on learners with or at risk for disabilities. 

For FY 2027, NCSER is only accepting applications for Methods Training focused on analyzing large administrative datasets to address research questions related to learners with or at risk for disabilities.

Multiple Submissions You may submit applications to more than one of the IES FY 2027 Research Training programs so long as you meet the requirements below. 

• An institution may submit multiple applications to the Early Career Program as long as the PI is different for each application and there is no overlap in mentors. 
• An institution may submit multiple applications to the Methods Training Program if they are substantively different from one another and have no overlap in key personnel. 

If an institution submits multiple applications that violate one of the above conditions, IES will determine whether and which applications will be accepted for review and/or will be eligible for funding.

Early Career Award Limits. The maximum award for Early Career grants has been reduced to $500,000. However, Early Career PIs at institutions that are not R1 institutions may request, with justification, up to an additional $200,000 (maximum of $50,000 per year) to support the costs of grant administration and management.

Methods Training for Special Education Research Award Limits. Applications must conform to the following limits on duration and cost: The maximum duration is 3 years; The maximum cost is $800,000 (total cost = direct costs + indirect costs). See the discussion of indirect cost rate for training grants in Part IV. Funds may be used to develop and disseminate training materials in addition to providing the training directly to participants.