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DRK-12 Grant Program FAQs (NSF Discovery Research PreK-12)

What is the NSF Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program?

The NSF Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program is a grant opportunity that supports research and development designed to strengthen STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teaching and learning for students and teachers from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

What kinds of work does DRK-12 fund?

DRK-12 funds research and development efforts that create and test new STEM education approaches, tools, and innovations. The program emphasizes producing research-informed and field-tested outcomes or products that can realistically inform classroom practice and improve learning experiences, not only publishing research findings.

What is the overall goal of DRK-12 projects?

The goal is to improve PreK-12 STEM teaching and learning by supporting work that is grounded in evidence and that results in outcomes or products that can be used in real educational settings. DRK-12 also expects participating teachers and students to deepen their understanding and use of STEM content, practices, and skills through the project activities.

What does NSF mean by proposals being “grounded in solid prior evidence”?

Based on the opportunity description, proposals are expected to build on fundamental STEM education research and earlier development work, with a clear theoretical and empirical rationale for why the proposed approach should work.

Does DRK-12 prioritize practical classroom impact or academic publication?

The opportunity description states that the end goal is not just publishing findings. DRK-12 emphasizes producing research-informed and field-tested outcomes or products that can realistically inform classroom practice and improve learning experiences.

Who should benefit from participation in a DRK-12 project?

DRK-12 expects both teachers and students involved in projects to deepen their understanding and use of STEM content, practices, and skills as part of participating in the study or intervention.

What major topics or “strands” organize the DRK-12 program?

DRK-12 is organized around three interconnected research and development strands: Assessment, Learning, and Teaching.

What does an Assessment-focused DRK-12 project look like?

Assessment-focused work may aim to improve how educators measure STEM understanding, STEM practices, or STEM competencies.

What does a Learning-focused DRK-12 project look like?

Learning-focused work may investigate how students develop STEM ideas and problem-solving abilities.

What does a Teaching-focused DRK-12 project look like?

Teaching-focused work may develop and study instructional strategies, teacher learning, or classroom systems that improve STEM instruction.

Can a proposal address more than one strand (Assessment, Learning, Teaching)?

Yes. NSF acknowledges that strong projects often span more than one strand. However, applicants are expected to name a clear primary focus (assessment, learning, or teaching) aligned with the project objectives and central research questions.

Do applicants have to choose a single primary strand?

Yes. Even if the work spans multiple strands, the description states applicants are expected to identify a clear primary focus strand that matches the project objectives and central research questions.

What project types does DRK-12 support?

DRK-12 supports five project types: Exploratory; Design and Development; Impact; Implementation and Improvement; and Conferences and Syntheses.

What is an Exploratory project under DRK-12?

Exploratory projects generally investigate early-stage ideas or emerging questions, often helping establish feasibility and refine hypotheses.

What is a Design and Development project under DRK-12?

Design and Development projects typically create and iteratively test new interventions, curricula, tools, assessments, or professional learning models, using cycles of improvement informed by evidence.

What is an Impact project under DRK-12?

Impact projects tend to examine the effectiveness of more mature interventions, often using more rigorous designs to determine outcomes and causal impacts.

What is an Implementation and Improvement project under DRK-12?

Implementation and Improvement projects focus on taking evidence-based innovations into broader or more authentic settings and learning how to make them work reliably at scale or across diverse contexts.

What are Conferences and Syntheses projects under DRK-12?

Conferences and Syntheses support convenings and integrative efforts that bring together knowledge across studies, helping the field make sense of what is known and what still needs investigation.

Can any project type be proposed within any strand?

Yes. The description states that any of the five project types may be proposed within any of the three strands (Assessment, Learning, or Teaching).

Does DRK-12 encourage proposals tied to current challenges in STEM education?

Yes. DRK-12 encourages proposals that respond to current, real-world challenges in PreK-12 STEM education.

Does DRK-12 also support forward-looking STEM education research?

Yes. The opportunity description notes support for forward-looking work that anticipates major shifts in how schools and learning environments might operate in the future.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this DRK-12 listing?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is 15-592.

What NSF publication/solicitation is associated with this opportunity?

The listing references NSF Publication 15-592 as the full solicitation.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The listing identifies CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).

What type of grant opportunity is this?

The opportunity is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity.

What activity category is this opportunity listed under?

It is listed in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?

The total estimated funding listed is $50,000,000.

How many awards are anticipated?

The opportunity anticipates 45 awards.

What is the minimum and maximum award size?

Individual award sizes range from a floor of $100,000 to a ceiling of $3,000,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional limitations or clarifications that may appear in the full solicitation (NSF Publication 15-592).

Where should applicants look for any additional eligibility limitations?

The listing notes that additional limitations or clarifications may appear in the full solicitation (NSF Publication 15-592).

What was the posting date for this opportunity?

The posting date listed is July 29, 2015.

What was the closing date for this opportunity?

The original and current closing date listed is December 7, 2015.

When was this opportunity archived?

The archive date listed is January 6, 2021.

Who should be contacted for access or technical issues with the full announcement?

For access or technical issues related to the full announcement, the listing points applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

Does the listing include any emphasis on theoretical or empirical rationale?

Yes. The opportunity description states proposals should provide a clear theoretical and empirical rationale for why the proposed approach should work, building on prior research and earlier development work.

Does DRK-12 require applicants to focus only on research, only on development, or both?

Based on the description provided, the program supports both research and development efforts, including creating and testing innovations as well as examining effectiveness and implementation in authentic settings, depending on project type.