Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 112020 002
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER), is offering a discretionary research funding opportunity titled "Education Research: Transformative Research in the Education Sciences" (Assistance Listing 84.305T). The core goal of this program is to fund education research that can deliver reliable, valid evidence about education practices and policies that improve learning, raise academic achievement, and expand access to educational opportunity for all learners. What makes this particular competition distinct is its emphasis on transformative work: NCER is looking for proposals that go beyond incremental advances and instead have a credible path to major impact, such as opening up new scientific directions, producing unconventional but promising approaches to practice or policy, or creating technologies that could substantially improve learner outcomes.
This competition is specifically designed for innovative or unconventional research that could reshape how education research is conducted or how education systems operate. NCER indicates it will consider only those applications that clearly argue for the potential to produce a major impact in areas aligned with the Institute's mission. In practical terms, a strong application under this program would not just propose a standard study in a familiar line of work, but would make a compelling case that the project could change the field's assumptions, methods, or available solutions. While the synopsis does not list topical priorities, it frames the program broadly around education practices, policy, access, and outcomes, with a strong preference for ambitious ideas that could shift the current landscape.
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, meaning applicants should expect a more involved relationship with the funder than a standard grant, potentially including substantial federal participation or collaboration during the project. The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The opportunity number is listed as ED GRANTS 112020 002, and the original closing date in the provided summary is March 11, 2021. The synopsis does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so applicants would need to consult the official Federal Register notice for those details, along with any budget limits, project duration guidance, or topic-specific requirements.
Eligibility is broad, centered on whether an applicant has the capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, per the listing), and a wide range of government entities. The eligibility list explicitly includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled colleges and universities, private colleges and universities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they meet the relevant requirements), and other types of organizations that can demonstrate research capability. For nonprofits, the notice references 34 CFR 75.51 as the basis for proving nonprofit status, and it lays out common forms of acceptable documentation. These include IRS recognition of 501(c)(3) tax-deductible status, certification from a state taxing authority or attorney general, incorporation documents that clearly establish nonprofit status, or equivalent documentation for a parent organization along with a statement confirming the applicant is a local affiliate.
For application logistics and compliance requirements, the synopsis stresses that it is only a summary and that the authoritative requirements are in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants are directed to review the official notice for pre-application and application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contact details. The synopsis also points applicants to the Department of Education's Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, at 84 FR 3768) for standardized guidance on how to obtain and submit applications, including addresses and other procedural requirements. In short, the program funds high-risk, high-reward education research with the potential to be field-changing, is open to a broad set of research-capable organizations, and requires close attention to the official Federal Register notice and the Department's common application instructions to ensure compliance.Apply for ED GRANTS 112020 002
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institute of Education Sciences (IES): Education Research: Transformative Research in The Education Sciences Assistance Listing Number 84.305T" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.305.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-03-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Education Research: Transformative Research in the Education Sciences", offered by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) through its National Center for Education Research (NCER).
2) What is the Assistance Listing number for this program?
The Assistance Listing number is 84.305T.
3) What is the core purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program’s core goal is to fund education research that can deliver reliable, valid evidence about education practices and policies that improve learning, raise academic achievement, and expand access to educational opportunity for all learners.
4) What makes this competition different from other education research competitions?
This competition emphasizes transformative work. NCER is looking for projects that go beyond incremental progress and instead have a credible path to major impact, such as opening new scientific directions, advancing unconventional but promising approaches to practice or policy, or creating technologies that could substantially improve learner outcomes.
5) What does NCER mean by "transformative research" in this context?
Based on the synopsis, “transformative” research is research that could change the field’s assumptions, methods, or available solutions, not merely extend an existing line of work. The application must clearly argue how the project could produce a major impact aligned with IES’s mission.
6) What types of projects are likely to be competitive?
The synopsis suggests that competitive projects will be innovative or unconventional and make a compelling case for being field-changing. Examples described in the summary include work that opens new scientific directions, proposes unconventional approaches to policy or practice, or creates impactful technologies for learners.
7) Are there specific topical priorities listed in the synopsis?
No. The synopsis does not list topical priorities. It frames the program broadly around education practices, policy, access, and learner outcomes, with a strong preference for ambitious ideas that could shift the current landscape.
8) Who is offering and administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through IES/NCER and administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
9) What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
10) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates a more involved relationship with the funder than a standard grant, and applicants should expect the possibility of substantial federal participation or collaboration during the project.
11) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number listed in the synopsis is ED GRANTS 112020 002.
12) What was the closing date shown in the provided summary?
The original closing date shown in the summary is March 11, 2021.
13) Does the synopsis list the award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The synopsis does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. Applicants are instructed to consult the official Federal Register notice for those details.
14) Where should applicants look for official requirements and authoritative details?
The synopsis states it is only a summary and that the authoritative requirements are in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants should review that notice for pre-application and application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contact details.
15) Are there standard application instructions applicants are expected to follow?
Yes. Applicants are pointed to the Department of Education’s Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, at 84 FR 3768) for standardized guidance on how to obtain and submit applications, including addresses and procedural requirements.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and centers on whether the applicant has the capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, per the listing), and a wide range of government entities.
17) Which government entities are explicitly included as eligible?
The eligibility list explicitly includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
18) Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled colleges and universities and private colleges and universities.
19) Are nonprofit organizations eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The synopsis indicates that nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible, so long as they meet the relevant requirements and can document nonprofit status as described in the notice.
20) Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The synopsis lists for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, per the listing) among eligible applicants.
21) How can a nonprofit prove its nonprofit status for eligibility purposes?
The synopsis references 34 CFR 75.51 as the basis for proving nonprofit status and describes common acceptable documentation, including IRS recognition of 501(c)(3) tax-deductible status, certification from a state taxing authority or attorney general, incorporation documents that establish nonprofit status, or equivalent documentation for a parent organization plus a statement confirming the applicant is a local affiliate.
22) What kinds of documentation are mentioned as acceptable for nonprofit status?
The synopsis lists examples such as: (1) IRS recognition of 501(c)(3) tax-deductible status; (2) certification from a state taxing authority or attorney general; (3) incorporation documents clearly establishing nonprofit status; or (4) parent-organization documentation with a statement that the applicant is a local affiliate.
23) Is the program focused on incremental research improvements?
No. The defining feature described in the synopsis is that it seeks proposals that go beyond incremental advances and instead present a credible path to major, transformative impact.
24) What kind of impact is NCER looking for?
The synopsis emphasizes potential for major impact aligned with IES’s mission, including reshaping how education research is conducted or how education systems operate, and producing evidence, approaches, or technologies that could substantially improve learning outcomes and educational opportunity.
25) What should applicants do if they need budget limits, project duration guidance, or other missing details?
The synopsis indicates those details are not provided in the summary and instructs applicants to consult the official Federal Register notice for award sizes, potential award counts, budget limits, project duration guidance, and any topic-specific requirements.
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