Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OPRE YR 0573
Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OPRE YR 0573
- The Administration for Children and Families OPRE in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Care and Education Research Scholars Head Start Graduate Student Research Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.600 Head Start.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 29, 2013 and posted on Apr 29, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 28, 2013 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Competition under this announcement is limited to accredited public, state controlled, and private institutions of higher education acting on behalf of doctoral level graduate students, including (a) Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, (b) Historically Black Colleges and Universities, (c) Hispanic Serving Institutions, and (d) faith based institutions of higher education. The faculty mentor who will serve as principal investigator must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in the respective field and conduct research as a primary professional responsibility. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Graduate Student Research Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2013-ACF-OPRE-YR-0573) is a discretionary grant program run by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), specifically its Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE). The purpose is to fund dissertation research conducted by advanced doctoral students, with proposals submitted through their accredited universities and led by a faculty mentor serving as the principal investigator. The program is designed to strengthen policy-relevant research in early care and education by supporting scholars who are already working closely with Head Start and, ideally, other early childhood program settings.
The central emphasis is on real, working partnerships between the researcher and early care and education program partners, especially Head Start programs. Strong applications are expected to show that the partnership is not superficial or last-minute, but built into the project from start to finish. That means the Head Start (and potentially other) partners should be involved in shaping and refining the research questions, supporting or coordinating data collection, helping interpret findings in light of on-the-ground realities, and participating in dissemination so the results are useful beyond a single dissertation. OPRE makes it clear that competitive applicants will demonstrate a collaborative partnership and will focus on research questions that can directly inform local, state, or federal policy.
A key programmatic priority is relevance across multiple early care and education contexts, not only within Head Start. Applicants are encouraged to consider collecting data across settings such as child care, pre-K programs, home visiting programs, Head Start, Early Head Start, and other related early childhood services. The goal is to generate findings that can speak to broader system questions, comparisons, or coordination issues across early childhood programs, rather than producing results that apply narrowly to a single site or program type. In practical terms, the strongest projects are likely to connect day-to-day program decisions and challenges to policy questions decision-makers actually face, while still being feasible for a dissertation timeline.
Eligibility is limited to accredited public or state-controlled institutions of higher education and accredited private institutions of higher education applying on behalf of doctoral-level graduate students. The announcement notes that eligible institutions include, among others, Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and faith-based institutions of higher education, as long as they meet the accreditation requirement. Individuals cannot apply directly, and foreign entities and sole proprietorships are not eligible. The faculty mentor, serving as principal investigator, must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in the relevant field and have research as a primary professional responsibility, reinforcing that the student is supported by an experienced researcher who can guide both the science and the compliance aspects of the award.
The funding levels are relatively small and geared toward dissertation-related expenses rather than large-scale research infrastructure. OPRE anticipated making about 6 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $150,000. Individual awards ranged from a floor of $10,000 to a ceiling of $25,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The funding activity category is listed as Income Security and Social Services, and the program is tied to CFDA 93.600 (Head Start), reflecting its connection to the Head Start system and ACF priorities.
This particular announcement was marked as “modified,†with changes specifically related to how applicants submit proof of accreditation. Those changes affected the sections on eligible applicants, required standard forms/assurances/certifications, and the application checklist. While the full operational details live in the complete FOA, the summary point is that accreditation documentation expectations were updated, and applicants needed to follow the revised instructions in the specified sections to avoid administrative issues.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted April 29, 2013, with an application deadline of June 28, 2013. Applications had to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The listing was later archived July 29, 2013, and OPRE also pointed applicants to prior-year announcements and information about past grantees for context on the types of dissertation projects previously funded. As with most federal funding, awards were contingent on the availability of funds and the federal government’s determination of its best interest.
For applicants seeking more background, OPRE provided links to its main site and to a page describing previous Head Start Graduate Student Research Grantees, which can help prospective applicants understand the program’s expectations around rigor, feasibility, and policy relevance. For technical access issues with the announcement or electronic submission, ACF directed applicants to the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Graduate Student Research Grants program?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through its Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE). It funds dissertation research conducted by advanced doctoral students who are working in partnership with Head Start programs and, ideally, other early care and education settings.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2013-ACF-OPRE-YR-0573.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by ACF (Administration for Children and Families), specifically OPRE (Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation).
What is the purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to support policy-relevant dissertation research in early care and education by funding projects led by advanced doctoral students, submitted through accredited universities, and guided by a faculty mentor who serves as the principal investigator (PI). The program is intended to strengthen research that can directly inform local, state, or federal policy, especially in connection with Head Start.
Who is expected to lead the application as Principal Investigator (PI)?
The faculty mentor serves as the principal investigator. The PI must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in the relevant field and have research as a primary professional responsibility.
Can an individual doctoral student apply directly?
No. Individuals cannot apply directly. Proposals must be submitted through an eligible accredited institution of higher education on behalf of the doctoral-level graduate student.
What types of institutions are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to accredited public or state-controlled institutions of higher education and accredited private institutions of higher education applying on behalf of doctoral students. The announcement also notes that eligible institutions may include Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and faith-based institutions of higher education, as long as they meet the accreditation requirement.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible.
Are sole proprietorships eligible?
No. Sole proprietorships are not eligible.
What is the central emphasis of the program?
The central emphasis is on real, working partnerships between the researcher and early care and education program partners, especially Head Start programs. Competitive applications are expected to show that the partnership is integrated into the project from start to finish, rather than being superficial or added late in the process.
What does OPRE expect from the Head Start (and other) program partners?
Strong applications are expected to demonstrate partner involvement in shaping and refining research questions, supporting or coordinating data collection, helping interpret findings based on on-the-ground realities, and participating in dissemination so the results are useful beyond a single dissertation.
Does the research have to involve Head Start?
Yes, the opportunity is designed to support scholars working closely with Head Start programs, and the strongest applications are expected to demonstrate meaningful Head Start partnerships.
Is the program interested in research across settings beyond Head Start?
Yes. A key priority is relevance across multiple early care and education contexts, not only within Head Start. Applicants are encouraged to consider collecting data across settings such as child care, pre-K programs, home visiting programs, Head Start, Early Head Start, and other related early childhood services.
What kind of research questions are most competitive?
OPRE indicates that competitive projects will focus on research questions that can directly inform local, state, or federal policy. The strongest projects are likely to connect day-to-day program decisions and challenges to policy questions decision-makers face, while still being feasible within a dissertation timeline.
How many awards did OPRE anticipate making?
OPRE anticipated making about 6 awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the competition?
The estimated total funding amount was $150,000.
What was the award size range?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum (floor) of $10,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $25,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What types of costs is this funding intended to support?
The funding levels are relatively small and are geared toward dissertation-related expenses rather than large-scale research infrastructure.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is listed as Income Security and Social Services.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 93.600 (Head Start).
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 29, 2013.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was June 28, 2013.
What time were applications due on the deadline date?
Applications had to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Was this funding opportunity later archived?
Yes. The listing was archived on July 29, 2013.
What does it mean that the announcement was marked as "modified"?
The announcement was marked as "modified" because changes were made related to how applicants submit proof of accreditation. The changes affected sections on eligible applicants, required standard forms/assurances/certifications, and the application checklist. Applicants needed to follow the revised instructions in the specified sections to avoid administrative issues.
What should applicants know about accreditation documentation for this opportunity?
This announcement included updated expectations for submitting proof of accreditation. Applicants were instructed to follow the revised guidance in the relevant sections (eligible applicants, required standard forms/assurances/certifications, and the application checklist) to prevent administrative problems.
Are awards guaranteed if an application is strong?
No. As with most federal funding, awards were contingent on the availability of funds and the federal government determining that making the award was in its best interest.
Where could applicants look for examples of previously funded dissertation projects?
OPRE pointed applicants to prior-year announcements and to information about past grantees, including a page describing previous Head Start Graduate Student Research Grantees, to help applicants understand expectations for rigor, feasibility, and policy relevance.
Where could applicants find more background about OPRE?
OPRE provided links to its main site for additional context about its work and priorities.
Who should applicants contact for technical issues accessing the announcement or submitting electronically?
For technical access issues with the announcement or electronic submission, ACF directed applicants to the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov.
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