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

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

Abstract

The National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) supports a comprehensive program of rigorous research designed to expand knowledge and improve developmental and education outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with and at risk for disabilities. In the first two presentations, staff from the two IES research centers, the National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), will describe grant funding opportunities and the grant application, preparation, and submission process. The two presentations will provide an overview of mechanisms for grant funding, research grant programs and typical funding opportunities, and technical assistance and resources for applicants. We will address questions about preparing and submitting applications, describe the role and responsibilities of program officers, and share examples of funded grants relevant to the SRCD audience.

NCSER staff will provide an overview of its primary special education research grant programs, which span research on early intervention in infancy through postsecondary education across a wide range of topic areas and project types. We will also cover our research training programs for postdoctoral fellows and early career researchers; methods training for all researchers interested in enhancing skills in methods related to special education research; systematic replication grants to understand what interventions work and under what conditions; and research and development centers and research networks, which provide a structure for focusing resources, sharing ideas, building knowledge, and strengthening dissemination on high-priority issues in special education. Finally, we will describe recent special initiatives for studying students with disabilities, including grants focused on process data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and grants to accelerate learning during recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The presentation will also cover the types of support we provide to applicants. IES 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. We will describe the role of the program officers and highlight online resources, such as grant funding webinars and support to conduct cost analysis, that are available to interested applicants.
With a comprehensive overview of IES funding opportunities, guidance on the grant application process, and description of applicant resources, we hope to encourage both early career and established researchers to consider applying for IES grants.

Author

• Amy L Sussman, Institute of Education Sciences
  Presenting Author