IES Announces FY 2020 Grant Competitions in Education and Special Education Research and Training

The National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) released funding announcements for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020) grant competitions. All application packages will be available July 11, 2019.

• For all competitions except the Education Research and Development Centers (84.305C) competition, the application deadline is August 29, 2019. For the Education Research and Development Centers competition, the application deadline is September 26, 2019.

• Please see Director Mark Schneider’s article, Some Thoughts on the New IES RFAs

• For more information, see the Federal Register 06/19/2019 notice by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Pre-recorded webinars that describe the grant programs, application procedures, and grant writing procedures will be available in the coming weeks.

Education and Special Education Research Grants

Education Research Grants (84.305A): This program seeks to expand our understanding of what works for whom, in what context, and why to provide reliable information about how to improve education outcomes for learners at all levels, including early childhood, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and adult education. Grants support exploratory research, development and pilot testing of new interventions, initial efficacy studies to evaluate interventions, and the development and validation of measures. This research program will cover 11 standing topic areas in FY 2020.

Special Education Research Grants (84.324A): This program seeks to expand the knowledge base and understanding of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with or at risk for disabilities. Grants support exploratory research, development and pilot testing of new interventions, initial efficacy studies to evaluate interventions, and the development and validation of measures. This research program will cover 11 standing topic areas and 3 limited-time, special topic areas in need of more attention.

Research Training Programs

Research Training in Education Research (84.305B): These training programs seek to fund new approaches to train and mentor students and researchers from diverse backgrounds to encourage their entry into and success in education research careers. These efforts are intended to improve the quality of education research and to encourage new ideas, approaches, and perspectives. For FY 2020, there are three training programs in education – predoctoral, postdoctoral, and methods.

Research Training Programs in Special Education (84.324B): These training programs seek to prepare individuals to conduct rigorous and relevant special education and early intervention research that advances knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners. For FY 2020, there are three training programs in special education – postdoctoral training, early career development, and methods training in single-case design.

Research Grants Focused on Systematic Replication (NEW)

Research Grants Focused on Systematic Replication (84.305R) and Research Grants Focused on Systematic Replication in Special Education (84.324R): These programs seek to support systematic replication studies of IES-identified interventions that have produced beneficial effects on education outcomes in one or more prior IES-funded impact studies. Proposed replication studies will systematically vary at least one aspect of the prior impact study and investigate factors that may lead to and sustain successful implementation. In FY 2020, this competition is focused on replicating interventions selected by IES in reading and mathematics.

NCER is offering two additional funding opportunities for FY 2020.

Education Research and Development Centers (84.305C): These national research and development centers are intended to advance the solution of education problems in the United States by engaging in research, development, evaluation, and national leadership activities aimed at improving the education system, and ultimately, student achievement. For FY 2020, IES invites applications that address one of three topics: Improving Opportunities and Achievement for English Learners in Secondary School Settings, Improving Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Institutions, and Improving Access, Instruction, and Outcomes in Gifted Education.

Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D): This program provides a wide range of methodological and statistical tools that will better enable applied education scientists to conduct rigorous education research. In FY 2020, the Institute invites applications to develop new methodological approaches, to extend and improve existing methods, and to create other tools that can enhance the ability of researchers to conduct high quality, scientific education research. This program invites applications under two topics, Regular and Early Career.

More information about the NCER and NCSER research programs, application process, and deadlines are available on the IES Funding Opportunities web page.