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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12)

What is the NSF Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12) program?

DR K-12 is a National Science Foundation grant program that supports research and development intended to improve how preK-12 students learn and how teachers teach across STEM disciplines. It focuses on building evidence about what improves STEM learning and teaching, not simply delivering a program.

What kinds of projects does DR K-12 fund?

DR K-12 funds projects that begin with a clear research question or hypothesis about what could measurably improve STEM learning or teaching. Funded work is expected to create or adapt instructional resources, learning models, professional learning approaches, or educational technologies, and then study implementation to understand whether they work and how and why they influence teaching practice and student outcomes.

Is DR K-12 primarily research, development, or implementation?

It is research and development with a strong emphasis on evidence-building. While projects may involve creating or refining materials or approaches, teams are expected to study implementation and outcomes rather than focusing on general program delivery alone.

What does NSF mean by “evidence-building” in this program?

The opportunity emphasizes generating evidence about effectiveness and mechanisms. Projects are expected to investigate not only whether an intervention works, but also how and why it affects teacher practice and student learning outcomes.

Does DR K-12 require a specific starting point for a proposal?

Yes. The core expectation described is that proposals should start with a clear research question or hypothesis tied to measurable improvements in STEM learning or teaching.

What topic areas are eligible under DR K-12?

The program spans STEM disciplines in preK-12 settings. Proposals may address learning and teaching within a single STEM field or across multiple fields, as long as they connect to important STEM concepts and skills and are grounded in relevant research and practical experience.

How important is innovation in DR K-12 proposals?

Innovation is a major theme, but it must be paired with a strong research backbone. The program invites proposals that respond to immediate challenges in K-12 STEM education and also encourages forward-looking work that anticipates needs 10 to 15 years in the future.

Does the program encourage projects that challenge current assumptions about teaching and learning?

Yes. Competitive projects are expected to challenge common assumptions about learning and teaching within a STEM field or across multiple fields and propose new ways of educating students and teachers.

What research foundations should proposals draw from?

Proposals are expected to be grounded in prior research and practical experience from relevant disciplines such as the learning sciences, cognitive science, subject-matter education, and instructional design.

Are projects limited to formal school settings?

The program is primarily concerned with formal learning environments (classrooms, schools, school systems, and the day-to-day structures of K-12 education). However, it allows proposals that draw on insights from informal learning settings when appropriate, such as museums, after-school programs, online communities, or other contexts that can inform school-based teaching and learning.

What is NSF looking for regarding scaling or broader adoption?

Projects are expected to support improvements that can be taken up broadly in the K-12 enterprise, not just demonstrated in a one-off pilot. Proposals should describe a plausible pathway to wider adoption or scaling at a national level, which might involve design for usability, alignment with policy and standards, professional learning strategies, partnerships with districts, or dissemination and implementation planning.

What project types are accepted by DR K-12?

DR K-12 accepts multiple project types, including exploratory projects (early-stage development and testing of promising ideas), full research and development projects (more mature, comprehensive R and D efforts), and synthesis projects (integrating and analyzing existing research to generate guidance and identify future directions).

Does DR K-12 support conferences or workshops?

Yes. The program supports conferences and workshops that align with its mission, such as activities that build communities of practice, shape research agendas, or accelerate progress on key STEM education problems.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for the opportunity described?

The listing identifies this as an NSF discretionary grant solicitation with Funding Opportunity Number 09-602.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The posted opportunity details state there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

How much funding was estimated for this solicitation, and how many awards were expected?

The estimated total funding amount listed was $55,000,000, with an expected 70 awards.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to different types of applicant organizations, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation text.

Were preliminary proposals required?

The archived cycle referenced an optional preliminary proposal due date, indicating preliminary proposals were optional for that cycle.

What were the key due dates for the archived cycle described?

The listing notes an optional preliminary proposal due date of October 5, 2009 and a full proposal deadline of January 7, 2010.

Is this solicitation still active?

The notice described is archived. It indicates the notice was later archived on September 13, 2010 and points to a subsequent related opportunity (10-610) for current deadlines.

Where can applicants get help with NSF Grants.gov access issues?

The listing references NSF Grants.gov support via grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.