ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Basic Overview of Funding Opportunities at the Institute of Education Sciences Elizabeth R. Albro, Ph.D. Acting Commissioner National Center for Education Research Carol O’Donnell, Ed.D. Program Officer National Center for Education Research

ies.ed.gov Legislative Mission of IES 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 2

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 3

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 4

ies.ed.gov QUICK OVERVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH INVESTMENTS 5

ies.ed.gov NCER Investments by Competition ProgramNumber of Awards Investment (in millions) Education Research 488$803.9 Research & Development Centers 18$184.7 Postdoctoral Research Training 32$20.0 Predoctoral Research Training 26$121.8 Evaluation of State & Local Programs & Policies 10$45.3 Statistical and Research Methodology in Education 29$21.6 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 51$50.2 6

ies.ed.gov NCSER Investments by Competition ProgramNumber of Awards Investment (in millions) Special Education Research188$335.0 Research & Development Centers4$40.0 Postdoctoral Research Training10$6.5 Small Business Innovation Research7$7.3 Unsolicited Awards3$1.4 7

ies.ed.gov WHAT ARE THE FY 2013 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES? 8

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 9

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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 – – 14

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 15

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 16

ies.ed.gov A Quick Internet Tour 17 A researcher is interested in applying for a grant to develop an online pre-algebra tutor. What research program should the researcher apply to? What goal should the researcher apply to?

ies.ed.gov FY2013 Research Goals Exploration Development & Innovation Efficacy & Replication Effectiveness Measurement 18

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 19

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! 20

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 21

ies.ed.gov Efficacy & Replication Goal Ask what might be needed to implement intervention under routine practice Reduce appearance of conflict of interest for developer-evaluators Do not require confirmatory mediator analyses but recommend exploratory ones NCSER also accepts efficacy studies that propose single case experimental designs 22

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 23

ies.ed.gov Effectiveness Goal IES expects researchers to: – Implement intervention under routine practice – Include Evaluators independent of development/distribution – Describe strong efficacy evidence for intervention Does not expect wide generalizability from a single study – Expects multiple Effectiveness projects to this end – Sample size is not a key distinction from Efficacy Does not require confirmatory mediator analyses but encourages exploratory ones Cost of implementation is limited to 25% of budget 24

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 25

ies.ed.gov NCER Grants by Goal 26

ies.ed.gov NCSER Grants by Goal 27

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 Maximum Award Amounts (84.305A & A) 28

ies.ed.gov Connecting Research, Policy and Practice Additional FY 2013 Research 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 30

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 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

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 35

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 36

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 37

ies.ed.gov 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 38

ies.ed.gov NOW THAT YOU’VE DECIDED TO APPLY, WHAT’S NEXT? 39

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 40

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 – 4/19/12 for June applications – 7/19/12 for September applications 41

ies.ed.gov Application Due Dates Applications are accepted twice a year. For FY 2013, applications are due: – June 21, 2012 – September 20, 2012 We do NOT accept late applications The authorized representative at your institution (not the PI) actually submits the grant to IES 42

ies.ed.gov FY 2013 NCER (305) & NCSER (324) Grant Programs Application Deadline Letter of Intent Due Date Application Package Posted Start Dates 305A: Ed Research 324A: Sp Ed Research 305D: Stats/Methods 6/21/124/19/12 3/1/13 to 9/1/13 305A: Ed Research 324A: Sp Ed Research 305B: Research Training 324B: Sp Ed Research Training 324D: A3 Initiative 305E: State/Local 305H: Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships 9/20/127/19/12 7/1/13 to 9/1/13 Important Dates and Deadlines 43

ies.ed.gov Finding Application Packages FY 2013 Application Packages will be available on 44

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ies.ed.gov Review Application Requirements  Request for Applications  Currently available at  Grants.gov Application Submission Guide  Will be available 4/19/12 for June deadline at  Application Package  Will be available on Grants.gov on 4/19/12 for June deadline 46

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 47

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 2013 competitions 48

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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! 50

ies.ed.gov Notification Process 51 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 Carol O’Donnell 52