ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Basic Overview of Funding Opportunities at the Institute of Education Sciences Rebecca McGill-Wilkinson, Ph.D. National Center for Education Research Kimberley Sprague, Ed.M. National Center for Special Education Research

ies.ed.gov Organizational Structure of IES 2 National Board for Education Sciences Standards & Review Office Office of the Director National Center for Education Evaluation National Center for Education Statistics National Center for Education Research National Center for Special Education Research

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 3

ies.ed.gov IES Grant Programs: Research Objectives Develop or identify education interventions (practices, programs, policies, and approaches) – that enhance academic achievement – that can be widely deployed Identify what does not work and thereby encourage innovation and further research Understand the processes that underlie the effectiveness of education interventions and the variation in their effectiveness 4

ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Quick Overview of Current Investments

ies.ed.gov NCER Investments by Competition ( ) ProgramNumber of Awards Investment (in millions) Education Research 584$965.4 Research & Development Centers 20$204.7 Postdoctoral Research Training 39$24.7 Predoctoral Research Training 26$121.8 Researcher and Policymaker Training 1$0.8 Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships 6$2.4 Eval. of State & Local Programs & Policies 14$55.1 Statistical & Research Methodology 34$24.8 Reading for Understanding 6$113.4 Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research 12$20.2 Social & Character Development Research 7$13.6 Unsolicited 31$44.9 Small Business Innovation Research 73$64.9 6

ies.ed.gov NCSER Investments by Competition ( ) ProgramNumber of Awards Investment (in millions) Special Education Research247$451.0 Research & Development Centers6$62.0 Postdoctoral Research Training12$7.8 Early Career Development and Mentoring Training3$1.2 Accelerating the Academic Achievement of Students with Learning Disabilities Research Initiative 1$10.0 Small Business Innovation Research16$11.0 Unsolicited Awards3$1.4 7

ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice What are the FY2015 Funding Opportunities?

ies.ed.gov FY 2015 Research Grant Programs Education Research Programs (84.305A) Special Education Research Programs (84.324A) 9

ies.ed.gov FY 2015 Research Grant Programs Education Research & Development Centers (84.305C) – Knowledge Utilization – Standards in Schools – Virtual Learning Statistical & Research Methodology in Education (84.305D) – Statistical & Research Methodology Grants – Early Career Statistical & Research Methodology Grants Partnerships & Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice & Policy (84.305H) – Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education Research – Continuous Improvement Research in Education – Evaluation of State & Local Education Programs & Policies 10

ies.ed.gov FY 2015 Research Training Grant Programs Research Training Grant Programs in the Education Sciences (84.305B) – Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training – Postdoctoral Research Training Program – Methods Training for Education Researchers Research Training Program in Special Education: Early Career Development and Mentoring (84.324B) 11

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 12

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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 – – 17

ies.ed.gov 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 18

ies.ed.gov 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 19

ies.ed.gov FY2015 Research Goals Exploration Development & Innovation Efficacy & Replication Effectiveness Measurement 20

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 – Combination of above 21

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, usability, and fidelity of implementation in actual education settings AND collect pilot data on student outcomes. Development process must be iterative! 22

ies.ed.gov Efficacy & Replication Goal Evaluate whether or not a fully developed intervention is efficacious under limited or ideal conditions OR Replicate an efficacious intervention varying the original conditions OR Gather follow-up data examining the longer term effects of an intervention with demonstrated efficacy OR Analyze retrospective (historical) secondary data to test an intervention implemented in the past 23

ies.ed.gov Efficacy & Replication Goal Intervention must be fully developed Implemented under ideal or routine conditions Implemented by end user in authentic education settings 24

ies.ed.gov Remember to Address Requirements Cost analysis Data Management Plan (in appendix E) 25

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 26

ies.ed.gov Effectiveness Goal Must have two prior efficacy studies Implemented by end user under routine conditions Project team must be independent of intervention 27

ies.ed.gov Remember to Address Requirements Cost analysis Data Management Plan (in appendix E) 28

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 29

ies.ed.gov Measurement Goal Must include a rationale for a new assessment or refinement Will result in well-specified assessment framework: – Operation definition(s) of construct(s) – Theoretical model showing relation of construct(s) – Description of how assessments provides evidence of construct(s) – Description of the intended use(s) and population(s) 30

ies.ed.gov For All Goals Dissemination plan Check RFA for materials for each Appendix 31

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 Retrospective 4 years, $3,500,000 3 years, $1,300,000 3 years, $800,000 Effectiveness Follow-up study 5 years, $5,000,000 3 years, $1,600,000 Measurement4 years, $1,600,000 Maximum Award Amounts (84.305A & A) 32

ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Additional FY 2015 Research Programs

ies.ed.gov Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences (84.305B) Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Program Postdoctoral Research Training Program Methods Training for Education Researchers 34

ies.ed.gov Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Training Program For institutions to create cohesive graduate training programs Should involve a number of different disciplines 35

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 36

ies.ed.gov Methods Training for Education Researchers Supports training of current education researchers to maintain and upgrade methodological skills Applications should respond to ongoing development and adaptation of methods 37

ies.ed.gov Research Training Program in Special Education (84.324B) Early Career Development and Mentoring – Intended for those within 3 years of their doctorate or postdoctoral work – Provides support to further develop methodological, content, and grant writing expertise – Involves working with a mentor – Requires a research plan AND career development plan 38

ies.ed.gov Education Research and Development Centers (84.305C) Knowledge Utilization Standards in Schools Virtual Learning 39

ies.ed.gov Knowledge Utilization Explore how and when practitioners use research evidence to make decisions Explore how existing education research can be made more relevant and useful to practitioners 40

ies.ed.gov Standards in Schools States across the U.S. are adopting and implementing new standards for college- and career-readiness – E.g. Common Core State Standards Explore how K-12 schools and teachers are responding to new standards and what they might mean for students 41

ies.ed.gov Virtual Learning Support research on and evaluation of instructional practices, content, and learning tools within widely- used online instructional delivery platforms Explore how the large amounts of data generated by platforms can be used to address practical needs and questions of practitioners and researchers 42

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 Special topic for early career projects 43

ies.ed.gov Partnerships and Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice and Policy (84.305H) Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education Research Continuous Improvement Research in Education Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies 44

ies.ed.gov Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships Supports partnerships composed of research institutions and state or local education agencies – Identified education problem of high priority for the education agency that has important implications for student outcomes Supports partnership’s development of a research plan New or existing partnerships 45

ies.ed.gov Continuous Improvement Research in Education Supports partnerships between research institutions and state or local education agencies – To address specific education problem of high priority for the education agency that has important implications for student outcomes Existing, well-established partnerships Implement, adapt, and revise an approach to addressing the issue or problem 46

ies.ed.gov Evaluation of State and Local Education Programs and Policies 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 47

ies.ed.gov Award Parameters (84.305B-H & B) ProgramMaximum Number of Years Maximum Award (direct + indirect) 305B Predoc Training Postoc Training Methods Training 5 years 3 years $4,000,000 $700,000 $1,000, B Early Career in Special Ed4 years$400, C Knowledge Utilization Standards in Schools Virtual Learning 5 years $5,000,000 $10,000, D Stats/Methods Early Career 3 years 1.5 years $900,000 $200, H Researcher-Practitioner Part. Continuous Improvement Eval. Of State and Local 2 years 4 years 5 years $400,000 $2,500,000 $5,000,000 48

ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Now that you’ve decided to apply, what’s next?

ies.ed.gov Then, Contact a Program Officer Program Officers can offer guidance and technical assistance 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 50

ies.ed.gov Documents for Submission RFA – No separate submission guide FY 2015 Application Packages will be available on June 5, 2014 at 51

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ies.ed.gov Application Deadline Letter of Intent Due Date Application Package Posted Start Dates August 7, :30:00 PM DC Time June 5, 2014 July 1, 2015 to Sept 1, 2015 Important Dates and Deadlines 53

ies.ed.gov Submit a Letter of Intent Letters of Intent are strongly encouraged – Program Officer will contact you to offer assistance – Used to identify expertise needed for peer-review panels and to secure a sufficient number of reviewers – Non-binding and not used in review LOIs are submitted electronically – If you miss the deadline, please contact the relevant Program Officer to let him/her know of your intent to submit 54

ies.ed.gov Application Due Dates Applications are accepted once a year For FY 2015, applications are due August 7, 2014 at 4:30:00 PM Washington DC time (Eastern) We do NOT accept late applications The authorized representative at your institution (not the PI) actually submits the grant to IES 55

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 – Most competitive applications move to full panel At panel meeting, the most competitive applications are reviewed by full panel 56

ies.ed.gov Notification All applicants will receive notification that the following information is available via the Applicant Notification System (ANS): Status of award Peer reviewer summary statement If you are not granted an award the first time, consider resubmitting and talking with your program officer

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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! 59

ies.ed.gov For More Information Rebecca McGill-Wilkinson Kimberley Sprague 60