Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Education Research CFDA Number 84.305A | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Education Research CFDA Number 84.305A."

2) Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which is part of the U.S. Department of Education.

3) What is the overall purpose of IES research funding described in this notice?

The purpose is to strengthen the evidence base behind education practice and policy by supporting scientifically valid studies that expand what the country knows about learning and development. The funded research is intended to produce reliable, valid, and useful findings that can guide real-world decisions in education.

4) What kinds of results does IES want from funded projects?

IES emphasizes "trustworthy information" about education practices that support learning, increase academic achievement, and expand access to educational opportunity. The core expectation is scientifically valid research that generates reliable and useful evidence.

5) Who is expected to use the research results?

The intended users include parents, teachers and school leaders, students, policymakers, and researchers.

6) What are the two broad knowledge goals highlighted in the notice?

The notice highlights two broad goals: (1) improving understanding of developmental and school readiness outcomes for infants and toddlers with or at risk for disabilities, and (2) improving education outcomes for students across the full pipeline from early childhood through postsecondary and adult education.

7) How many research competitions were included in IES FY 2015 grant competitions?

The notice describes seven separate research competitions offered through two different IES centers.

8) Which IES centers ran these competitions?

The competitions were run through the National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER).

9) What competitions were offered through NCER?

NCER offered five competitions: Education Research (the core research competition, including CFDA 84.305A), Education Research Training, Education Research and Development Centers, Statistical and Research Methodology in Education, and Partnerships and Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice or Policy.

10) What competitions were offered through NCSER?

NCSER offered two competitions: Special Education Research and Special Education Research Training.

11) What is the CFDA number for this specific opportunity?

This specific opportunity is identified as CFDA Number 84.305A.

12) Are there other CFDA numbers mentioned in the notice?

Yes. The notice lists multiple CFDA numbers associated with the competitions: 84.305A, 84.305B, 84.305C, 84.305D, 84.305H, 84.324A, and 84.324B.

13) How is this opportunity listed on Grants.gov?

It appears in Grants.gov under the broader CFDA series 84.305 (Education Research, Development and Dissemination).

14) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is ED GRANTS 041014 001.

15) What types of funding instruments are used for this opportunity?

The notice states that the funding instrument types include both grants and cooperative agreements.

16) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Education.

17) Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and focuses on an organization’s capacity to conduct high-quality, scientifically valid research. Eligible applicants include (but are not limited to) state governments, local governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses).

19) Is eligibility limited only to colleges and universities?

No. While colleges and universities are explicitly included, the eligibility description is not limited to higher education institutions and includes various government, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), as long as they can carry out rigorous research.

20) How must applications be submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.

21) Can an application be emailed directly to IES or the Department of Education?

No. The notice is explicit that applications cannot be emailed directly to the agency.

22) How do applicants find the correct application package on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to search Grants.gov using the CFDA number without the letter suffix. In other words, search for 84.305 rather than 84.305A to locate the correct application package.

23) When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date listed is April 10, 2014.

24) When did applications become available?

Applications became available on June 5, 2014.

25) Was a Notice of Intent to Apply required, and when was it due?

The timeline in the posting includes a deadline for a Notice of Intent to Apply of June 5, 2014.

26) What was the application deadline for final submission?

The deadline for transmittal (final submission) of applications was August 7, 2014.

27) What is the archive date shown in the listing?

The archive date is September 6, 2014.

28) Where can applicants find the official requirements and rules for this opportunity?

The announcement directs applicants to the official Federal Register notice as the controlling document for full requirements, including detailed eligibility rules, pre-application and application requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact information.

29) Who should be contacted for help with Grants.gov or system/access issues?

For support with accessing the announcement and Grants.gov systems issues, the notice lists a Grants.gov/FIND systems contact: Julius Cotton, 202-245-6288, EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov.

30) Who should be contacted for program or substantive questions about the opportunity?

The notice lists a program contact at IES for substantive questions: Program Manager Erin Higgins, 202-208-3749, Erin.Higgins@ed.gov, 400 Maryland Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20202.

31) What is the main theme behind how IES structures these competitions?

IES emphasizes funding research in areas of demonstrated national need, with competitions structured to fill important gaps in knowledge or address pressing problems in the education field.

32) What range of work do the FY 2015 competitions cover, according to the notice?

The notice describes a range that includes building general knowledge about effective educational practices, developing researcher talent (training), improving statistical and research methods, supporting longer-term research centers, and strengthening partnerships and collaborations focused on practical problems of practice or policy.