National Center for Education Research: Funding Opportunities and the Grant Application Process

• In Event: Institute of Education Sciences: Funding Opportunities, the Grant Application Process, and Scientific Peer Review

Abstract

The National Center for Education Research (NCER) supports research to address access to high quality education and close learning opportunity gaps by improving teaching, learning, and education policy and practice for children, students, and adults. In the first two presentations, staff from IES’ two research centers, the National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), will describe research priorities, current grant funding opportunities, and the grant application and submission process. The two presentations will provide an overview of mechanisms for grant funding, research grant programs and topics, and resources for applicants. Staff will address questions about the grant application process, including how to identify a research program and topic in a funding announcement and the steps involved in preparing and submitting an initial application or a resubmission. Staff will describe the role and responsibilities of program officers, outline the types of technical assistance resources available to applicants, and share examples of funded research projects that focus on children and families.

NCER supports research across a range of research programs, topics, and subject matter areas from early childhood through adult education. NCER staff will provide an overview of the center’s education research grant programs and training programs, summarize current research priorities and initiatives, describe current funding opportunities and requirements, and outline the grant application process and timeline. We will describe funding opportunities for pre- and post-doctoral training and statistics and methodology training to increase the number of researchers who are able to conduct rigorous and policy relevant education research. We will provide an overview of research programs to support partnerships and collaborations between researchers and practitioners; research networks focused on critical problems of education policy and practice; research grants to support replication of efficacious interventions; and use of longitudinal data to support state education policy making. We will also discuss recent initiatives to address pandemic recovery efforts in education agencies by providing research evidence to improve student engagement and achievement.

Program officers provide technical assistance to applicants throughout the grant application process. They provide guidance to applicants in identifying the appropriate research program, topic area, and project type for an application; answer questions about the program requirements; and provide detailed feedback to applicants. NCER staff will describe the role of the program officers and highlight online resources, such as webinars and cost analysis tools, that are available to interested applicants.
We will provide a comprehensive overview of funding opportunities, the proposal writing process, and the resources available to support researchers in preparing and submitting successful grant applications.

Author

• Caroline M Ebanks, Institute of Education Sciences