Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 042516 001
Apply for ED GRANTS 042516 001
- The ED in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Investing in Innovation Fund: Development Grants Pre-Application CFDA Number 84.411P" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.411.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2016 and posted on Apr 25, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $19,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) Development Grants Pre-Application opportunity (CFDA 84.411P) is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition created to spur stronger, evidence-based solutions to long-running problems in education. The i3 program was originally established under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and its core aim is to help identify, test, and ultimately expand practices that can improve student outcomes at meaningful scale. Rather than funding routine local initiatives, i3 is built to surface approaches that are novel, potentially transformative, and relevant to widely shared challenges across schools, districts, and states.
A defining feature of i3 is its tiered evidence model, which ties the size and type of award to the strength of evidence behind the proposed intervention. In the broader i3 program, applicants with only limited evidence can seek smaller grants to develop and study promising ideas, while applicants backed by rigorous research (including large randomized controlled trials) can pursue larger awards aimed at expansion. This specific notice, however, is focused only on Development grants, which sit at the earlier stage of the evidence pipeline. Development grants are intended for projects supported by either "evidence of promise" or a "strong theory" (both terms are defined in the official notice) where the intervention still needs systematic study to determine whether it works and under what conditions.
Development grants are meant to support the creation or testing of new practices, or practices that are substantially more effective than what is currently common, in response to broadly experienced educational needs. The program makes clear that Development projects should be nationally significant and innovative, not simply expansions of existing programs into a few more sites or initiatives designed primarily to address a single community's local needs. In other words, the Department is looking for projects that could plausibly become models for many settings if the evidence proves out, and that are designed with learning, iteration, and measurable results in mind.
Another central requirement is that every i3-funded project must build the evidence base, not just claim it. Grantees are expected to devote part of their budgets to independent evaluation of their projects (as defined in the notice). This evaluation requirement is not a side task; it is built into the program so that funded work produces credible information for educators and policymakers about what works, for which students, and in what contexts. For Development grantees specifically, the notice emphasizes that they must evaluate effectiveness at the level of scale they propose in their applications, reinforcing that even early-stage work should be designed for real-world testing rather than small, informal pilots.
Eligibility is framed around two primary applicant types: local educational agencies (LEAs) and nonprofit organizations that apply in partnership with one or more LEAs or with a consortium of schools. The listing indicates "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," so the official Federal Register notice is the controlling source for exactly who may apply and under what partnership structures. The notice also highlights that when LEAs participate, the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) continue to apply. Any services delivered through an i3 project must be consistent with IDEA protections, processes, and rights for students receiving special education and related services, as well as those being evaluated for eligibility.
This particular competition uses a two-step application process, beginning with a required pre-application under CFDA 84.411P. The point of the pre-application is to reduce the burden of preparing full proposals for applicants who are unlikely to be funded, while still allowing the Department to assess the quality of ideas early. Pre-applications are reviewed and scored by peer reviewers using selection criteria specified in the official notice. Applicants with highly rated pre-applications are expected to be invited to submit full applications for Development grants (the full-application CFDA is 84.411C). At the same time, the notice states that any entity that successfully submits a pre-application may choose to submit a full application, even if it is not among the highest-rated pre-applications, though being invited signals a strong competitive position.
Key administrative details included in the opportunity summary are as follows: the Funding Opportunity Number is ED GRANTS 042516 001; the opportunity category is Discretionary; and the funding instrument type may be a cooperative agreement and/or a grant. The agency is the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The posting date and creation date are both April 25, 2016, and the closing date for the pre-application is May 25, 2016. The anticipated award ceiling listed is $19,000,000, with an estimated 11 awards expected, reflecting a competitive, limited set of large investments aimed at generating scalable learning about what works.
Finally, the synopsis repeatedly stresses that the Federal Register notice is the official, authoritative document for this competition. Applicants are directed to review it for the binding details on eligibility, application and pre-application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contacts. Free access is available through the Government Publishing Office, and the notice signals that the Department intended to release separate competitions for Validation and Scale-up grants later (anticipated in spring 2016), even though this posting is specifically limited to Development grants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) Development Grants pre-application opportunity (CFDA 84.411P) from the U.S. Department of Education. It is a discretionary grant competition designed to spur stronger, evidence-based solutions to persistent challenges in education.
What is the overall purpose of the i3 program?
The i3 program aims to identify, test, and ultimately expand educational practices that can improve student outcomes at meaningful scale. It is intended to surface approaches that are innovative, potentially transformative, and relevant to widely shared challenges across schools, districts, and states (not routine local initiatives).
What does "Development grant" mean in i3?
Development grants are an earlier-stage tier in i3. They support projects backed by either "evidence of promise" or a "strong theory" (as defined in the official notice) where the intervention still needs systematic study to determine whether it works and under what conditions.
Is this posting for a full application or a pre-application?
This posting is for a required pre-application under CFDA 84.411P. The full application for Development grants is under a different CFDA number (84.411C).
Why does the competition require a pre-application?
The pre-application step is intended to reduce the burden of preparing full proposals for applicants who are unlikely to be funded, while still allowing the Department to assess the quality of project ideas early in the process.
How are pre-applications reviewed?
Pre-applications are reviewed and scored by peer reviewers using selection criteria specified in the official notice (the Federal Register notice is the controlling source for the criteria and process details).
Do you have to be invited to submit a full application?
Applicants with highly rated pre-applications are expected to be invited to submit full applications for Development grants. However, the notice states that any entity that successfully submits a pre-application may choose to submit a full application even if it is not among the highest-rated pre-applications, although an invitation signals a stronger competitive position.
What kinds of projects are Development grants intended to support?
Development grants are intended to support the creation or testing of new practices, or practices that are substantially more effective than what is currently common, in response to broadly experienced educational needs. Projects are expected to be innovative and nationally significant, with measurable results and a design that supports learning and iteration.
Are projects meant to address local needs, or broader needs?
The program emphasizes that Development projects should be nationally significant and innovative, not simply expansions of existing programs into a few more sites or initiatives designed primarily to address a single community's local needs.
Does i3 require evidence and evaluation?
Yes. A central requirement is that i3-funded projects must build the evidence base. Grantees are expected to devote part of their budgets to independent evaluation (as defined in the notice). For Development grantees specifically, the notice emphasizes evaluating effectiveness at the scale proposed in the application.
What does "independent evaluation" mean for this competition?
The opportunity states that evaluation must be independent "as defined in the notice." The Federal Register notice is the authoritative source for the formal definition and associated requirements.
Does the program fund small pilots?
The synopsis stresses that even early-stage Development work should be designed for real-world testing rather than small, informal pilots. Development grantees must evaluate effectiveness at the level of scale they propose.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is framed around two primary applicant types: (1) local educational agencies (LEAs), and (2) nonprofit organizations that apply in partnership with one or more LEAs or with a consortium of schools. The listing also indicates "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," and the Federal Register notice is the controlling source for exact eligibility rules and partnership structures.
If a nonprofit applies, is an LEA partnership required?
Based on the synopsis, nonprofit organizations apply in partnership with one or more LEAs or with a consortium of schools. The binding details on acceptable partnership structures are in the Federal Register notice.
Are there special requirements related to IDEA?
Yes. The notice highlights that when LEAs participate, the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) continue to apply. Any services delivered through an i3 project must be consistent with IDEA protections, processes, and rights for students receiving special education and related services, as well as those being evaluated for eligibility.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number is ED GRANTS 042516 001.
What is the opportunity category and funding instrument?
The opportunity category is Discretionary. The funding instrument type may be a cooperative agreement and/or a grant.
Which federal agency is running this competition?
The agency is the U.S. Department of Education (ED), through the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII).
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date and creation date are both April 25, 2016.
What is the pre-application deadline?
The closing date for the pre-application is May 25, 2016.
How much funding is available, and how many awards are expected?
The anticipated award ceiling listed is $19,000,000, with an estimated 11 awards expected. This indicates a competitive opportunity with a limited number of large investments.
Is the Federal Register notice important, and why?
Yes. The synopsis repeatedly states that the Federal Register notice is the official, authoritative document for this competition. Applicants are directed to it for binding details on eligibility, pre-application and application requirements, submission instructions, performance measures, priorities, and program contacts.
Where can applicants access the official notice?
The synopsis notes that free access is available through the Government Publishing Office. The Federal Register notice should be used as the primary source for official requirements and instructions.
Is this competition part of a larger set of i3 competitions?
Yes. The notice signals that the Department intended to release separate competitions for Validation and Scale-up grants later (anticipated in spring 2016), although this specific posting is limited to Development grants.
What law originally established i3?
The i3 program was originally established under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
What makes i3 different from routine funding for local programs?
The synopsis describes i3 as being designed to surface approaches that are novel, potentially transformative, and applicable to widely shared educational challenges. It is not positioned as a way to fund routine local initiatives or limited expansions of existing programs.
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