ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Funding Opportunities at the Institute of Education Sciences Elizabeth R. Albro, Ph.D. Acting Commissioner National Center for Education Research
ies.ed.gov Organizational Structure Office of the Director National Board for Education Sciences National Center for Education Evaluation National Center for Education Statistics National Center for Education Research National Center for Special Education Research Standards & Review Office 2
ies.ed.gov Legislative Mission of IES Drives Priorities Describe the condition and progress of education in the United States Identify education practices that improve academic achievement and access to education opportunities Evaluate the effectiveness of Federal and other education programs 3
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ies.ed.gov Partnerships with stakeholder groups The Institute will encourage researchers to develop partnerships with stakeholder groups to advance the relevance of the Institute's work, the accessibility of its reports, and the usability of its findings for the day-to-day work of education practitioners and policymakers.
ies.ed.gov Methodological priorities maintain rigorous scientific standards for the technical quality of its … research….activities ensure that the methods applied are appropriate to the questions asked and the results are valid and reliable include a variety of research and statistical methods
ies.ed.gov Missions of the Research Centers NCER – supports rigorous research that addresses the nation’s most pressing education needs, from early childhood to adult education NCSER – sponsors a rigorous and comprehensive program of special education research designed to expand the knowledge and understanding of infants, toddlers, and students with or at risk for disabilities from birth through high school 7
ies.ed.gov QUICK OVERVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH INVESTMENTS 8
ies.ed.gov NCER Investments by Competition ProgramNumber of Awards Investment (in millions) *Education Research 548$897.2 Research & Development Centers 20$204.7 *Postdoctoral Research Training 35$22 Predoctoral Research Training 26$121.8 *Evaluation of State & Local Programs & Policies 13$53.4 *Statistical and Research Methodology in Education 33$23.9 Reading for Understanding 6$113.4 Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research 12$20.2 Social and Character Development Research 7$13.6 *Unsolicited 31$44.9 *Small Business Innovation Research 58$51
ies.ed.gov NCER Awards ( )
ies.ed.gov NCER Awards Made ( )
ies.ed.gov NCSER Investments by Competition (RFA) ProgramNumber of Awards ( ) Investment (in millions) ( ) Special Education Research233$422.9 Research & Development Centers 6$62.0 Postdoctoral Research Training12$7.8 Small Business Innovation Research 11$7.9 Unsolicited Awards3$1.4
ies.ed.gov President’s FY 2013 Budget Request An increase of $12.5 million over 2012 level for our Research, Development, and Dissemination line. Enable IES/NCER to award up to $30 million in new research and development grants in early learning and elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education. $49.9 million for Research in Special Education to support new and ongoing projects. 13
ies.ed.gov WHAT WERE THE FY 2013 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE FOR FY 2014? 14
ies.ed.gov IES Grant Making Timeline Early March: Requests for Applications are released Typical timeline after RFA release 15 June DeadlineSeptember Deadline Letters of Intent Duemid-Aprilmid-July Applications Duemid-to-late Junemid-to-late September Peer Review Meetinglate Octoberlate February Awards Announcedearly Marchearly July
ies.ed.gov How to Identify Funding Opportunities Begin at the IES website ( Sign up for the IES Newsflash Funding Opportunities are announced in The Federal Register Review current Requests for Applications Contact relevant Program Officer(s) for the topic(s) of interest in the relevant Center 16
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ies.ed.gov How to Identify Appropriate Grant Programs Read the Request for Applications Review announced topics and methodological requirements Look at abstracts of projects funded under a research topic or program – – 21
ies.ed.gov FY 2013 Research Competitions CFDA NumberProgram Title AEducation Research Grants ASpecial Education Research Grants DStatistical and Research Methodology in Education DAccelerating the Academic Achievement of Students with Learning Disabilities Research Initiative EEvaluation of State and Local Programs and Policies HResearcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education Research 22
ies.ed.gov Anticipated FY 2014 Competitions CFDA NumberProgram Title AEducation Research Grants ASpecial Education Research Grants DStatistical and Research Methodology in Education ?Partnerships and Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice or Policy Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education Research Continuous Improvement in Education Research Evaluation of State and Local Programs and Policies 23
ies.ed.gov FY 2013 Research Training Competitions CFDA NumberProgram Title BResearch Training Programs in the Education Sciences Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education Sciences Researcher and Policymaker Training Program in the Education Sciences BResearch Training Program in Special Education Early Career Development and Mentoring 24
ies.ed.gov Anticipated FY 2014 Research Training Competitions CFDA NumberProgram Title BResearch Training Programs in the Education Sciences Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education Sciences Researcher and Policymaker Training Program in the Education Sciences BResearch Training Program in Special Education Early Career Development and Mentoring 25
ies.ed.gov EDUCATION RESEARCH AND SPECIAL EDUCATION RESEARCH PROGRAMS 26
ies.ed.gov A Basic Requirement Each application to the education research or special education research program must address one topic and one research goal. 27
ies.ed.gov FY 2013 Education Research Topics (84.305A) Cognition and Student Learning Early Learning Programs and Policies Education Technology Effective Teachers & Effective Teaching English Learners Improving Education Systems: Policies, Organization, Management, and Leadership Mathematics and Science Education Postsecondary and Adult Education Reading and Writing Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning 28
ies.ed.gov Education Research Grants by Topic ( )
ies.ed.gov FY 2013 Special Education Research Topics (84.324A) Autism Spectrum Disorders Cognition and Student Learning in Special Education Early Intervention and Early Learning in Special Education Families of Children with Disabilities Mathematics and Science Education Professional Development for Teachers and Related Service Providers Reading, Writing, and Language Development Social and Behavioral Outcomes to Support Learning Special Education Policy, Finance, and Systems Technology for Special Education Transition Outcomes for Secondary Students with Disabilities 30
ies.ed.gov NCSER Research Investments by Topic FY 2006 – FY 2012 % of Funds Expended R & D Centers not included
ies.ed.gov FY 2013 Research Goals Exploration Development & Innovation Efficacy & Replication Effectiveness Measurement 32
ies.ed.gov Exploration Goal Explore associations between education outcomes and malleable factors Identify factors and conditions that may mediate or moderate relations between malleable factors and student outcomes Possible methodological approaches include: – Analyze secondary data – Collect primary data – Complete a meta-analysis 33
ies.ed.gov Development & Innovation Goal Develop an innovative intervention (e.g., curriculum, instructional approach, program, or policy) OR improve existing education interventions AND collect data on its feasibility and usability in actual education settings AND collect pilot data on student outcomes. Development process must be iterative! 34
ies.ed.gov Efficacy & Replication Goal Evaluate whether or not a fully developed intervention is efficacious under limited or ideal conditions OR Gather follow-up data examining the longer term effects of an intervention with demonstrated efficacy OR Replicate an efficacious intervention varying the original conditions 35
ies.ed.gov Effectiveness Goal Evaluate whether a fully developed intervention that has evidence of efficacy is effective when implemented under typical conditions through an independent evaluation Prior to submitting an effectiveness proposal, at least two efficacy studies of the intervention with beneficial and practical impacts on student outcomes must have been completed 36
ies.ed.gov Measurement Goal Development of new assessments or refinement of existing assessments, and the validation of these assessments OR Validation of existing assessments for specific purposes, contexts and populations 37
ies.ed.gov NCER Grants by Goal ( )
ies.ed.gov NCSER Projects by Goal
ies.ed.gov NCER Grants Funded by Developmental Level
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ies.ed.gov GoalMaximum (direct + indirect) Exploration With secondary data With primary data 2 years, $700,000 4 years, $1,600,000 Development & Innovation4 years, $1,500,000 Efficacy & Replication Follow-up study 4 years, $3,500,000 3 years, $1,200,000 Effectiveness Follow-up study 5 years, $5,000,000 3 years, $1,500,000 Measurement4 years, $1,600,000 FY 2013 Maximum Award Amounts (84.305A & A) 42
ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Additional FY 2013 Research and Research Training Programs
ies.ed.gov Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences (84.305B) Postdoctoral Research Training Program Researcher & Policymaker Training Program in the Education Sciences 44
ies.ed.gov Postdoctoral Research Training Program For institutions to establish postdoctoral training programs to train researchers in the skills necessary to conduct the type of research that the Institute funds 45
ies.ed.gov Researcher and Policymaker Training Program in the Education Sciences Researcher Training – To provide opportunities for current education researchers to maintain and upgrade their methodological skills Policymaker Training – To share evidence from rigorous education research with education practitioners and policymakers working on a specific program or policy 46
ies.ed.gov Research Training Program in Special Education (84.324B) Early Career Development and Mentoring – Provides new investigators support to further develop methodological, content, and grant writing expertise needed to develop a strong line of research that includes federal funding – Requires identification of mentor at time of application – Requires a research plan and career development plan 47
ies.ed.gov Accelerating the Academic Achievement of Students with Learning Disabilities Research Initiative (84.324D) To develop and evaluate interventions (e.g., instructional approaches, curricula, technology) to accelerate reading and math achievement of students with or at risk for reading and math disabilities in Grades 3 through 8 Will create tightly linked network of researchers across variety of disciplines who will work collaboratively to address problem 48
ies.ed.gov Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (84.305D) Research projects intended to expand and improve the methodological and statistical tools available for education researchers These tools will be used to improve the design of research studies, analysis of research data, and interpretation of research findings 49
ies.ed.gov Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies (84.305E) Support for rigorous evaluations of education programs or policies that are paid for and implemented by State or local education agencies Evaluations are to determine both the overall impact of the programs/policies and the impact across a variety of conditions 50
ies.ed.gov Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education Research (84.305H) Intended to support the partnering of researchers with State and local education agencies in the development of joint research projects 51
ies.ed.gov FY 2013 Award Parameters (84.305B-H & B-D) ProgramMaximum Number of Years Maximum Award (direct + indirect) 305B Postdoc Training5 years$687, B Researcher & Policymaker Training 3 years$1,000, B Early Career4 years$400, D A35 years$10,000, D Stats/Methods3 years$900, E State/Local 305H Partnerships 5 years 2 years $5,000,000 $400,000 52
ies.ed.gov NOW THAT YOU’VE DECIDED TO APPLY, WHAT’S NEXT? 53
ies.ed.gov Then, Contact a Program Officer Program Officers are associated with competitions and/or topics Contact information is included at the end of each RFA Contact information is also available on each of the program pages on the IES website Contact Relevant Program Officers 54
ies.ed.gov Submit a Letter of Intent Letters of Intent (LOIs) are important, but not required LOIs are submitted electronically – We encourage all researchers to submit LOIs – April 2013 for June applications – July 2013 for September applications 55
ies.ed.gov Application Due Dates Applications are accepted twice a year. For FY 2014, applications will be due: – June 2013, date TBD – September 2013, date TBD We do NOT accept late applications The authorized representative at your institution (not the PI) actually submits the grant to IES 56
ies.ed.gov Finding Application Packages FY 2014 Application Packages will be available on 57
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ies.ed.gov Review Application Requirements Request for Applications Currently available at Grants.gov Application Submission Guide Will be available at Application Package Will be available on Grants.gov 59
ies.ed.gov Peer Review Process Applications are reviewed for compliance and responsiveness to the RFA Applications that are compliant and responsive are assigned to a review panel Two or three panel members conduct a primary review of each application At panel meeting, the most competitive applications are reviewed by full panel 60
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ies.ed.gov Resources for Researchers Visit links for faculty and researchers on IES website Review past webinars, and participate in future webinars for the FY 2014 competitions 62
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ies.ed.gov Help Us Help You Read the Request for Applications carefully Call or IES Program Officers early in the process As time permits, IES program staff can review draft proposals and provide feedback Don’t be afraid to contact us! 64
ies.ed.gov Notification Process 65 All applicants will receive notification of the status of their application All applicants receive copies of reviewer comments via If you are not granted an award the first time, plan on resubmitting, and talk to your Program Officer
ies.ed.gov For More Information Elizabeth Albro 66