The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Extramural Nexus January Issue  covers several topics and tips, including Data Management Sharing (DMS) plans and samples, timelines, and revisiting funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). NIH recommends that DMS Plans do not include hypertext in the DMS Plan attachment, and provide sample DMS plans to act as guides. The January Issue also released a new podcast episode focusing on timelines to keep in mind when preparing an NIH grant application. Lastly, due to FOAs having multiple due dates each year, NIH recommends revisiting the FOA within 30 days of the application due date to remain aware of the latest requirements before finalizing the application.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) launched a $6 million prize challenge for the development of innovative learning technologies for K-12 students, titled the Visionary Interdisciplinary Teams Advancing Learning (VITAL) Prize Challenge. The challenge comprises four steps: concept paper, discovery round, semi-final round, and final round, with the focus on providing interdisciplinary teams the funding and training to build K-12 learning technologies at the speed and scale for adoption nationwide. Applicants can choose one of three K-12 technology translation tracks – Rapid and Continuous Learning Assessment, Mathematical Literacy to Promote a Future STEM Workforce, or Other Innovations in Translational Learning Technologies.

The U.S. Department of Education recently released a strategic plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026. In this plan they outline six areas of research to strengthen the nation’s education system:

Focus Area 1: Address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, educators, and faculty.

Focus Area 2: Promote equity in student access to educational resources, opportunities, and inclusive environments.

Focus Area 3: Support a diverse and talented educator workforce and professional growth to strengthen student learning.

Focus Area 4: Meet students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.

Focus Area 5: Increase postsecondary value by focusing on equity-conscious strategies to address affordability, completion, post-enrollment success, and support for inclusive institutions.

Focus Area 6: Effectively manage federal student aid programs.

These areas have been selected with the needs of every student in mind, especially as it concerns the effects of COVID-19 on education. Within each of these areas, there are anticipated problems, largely including the availability of data and the effects of COVID-19 on evidence building activities. The Department of Education is focused on “ the development of novel evidence-based strategies, adaptations of those strategies in response to emerging evidence of promise, and the application of successively more rigorous evidence building techniques to evaluate the capacity to improve student outcomes” (p. 91). We suggest considering the Department’s strategic plan when writing future proposals. You may access the full plan here.