Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 060515 001
Apply for ED GRANTS 060515 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation (I3) Fund SCALE UP GRANTS CFDA Number 84.411A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.411 Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 5, 2015 and posted on Jun 5, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 4, 2015 Applications Available June 8, 2015. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply June 25, 2015. We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly encourages each potential applicant to notify us of the applicants intent to submit an application by completing a Web based form. When completing this form, applicants will provide (1) the applicant organizations name and address and (2) the one absolute priority the applicant intends to address. Applicants may access this form online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VWFQPMD. Applicants that do not complete this form may still submit an application. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications August 4, 2015.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible Applicants Entities eligible to apply for i3 grants include either of the following (a) An LEA. (b) A partnership between a nonprofit organization and (1) One or more LEAs or (2) A consortium of schools. Statutory Eligibility Requirements Except as specifically set forth in the Note about Eligibility for an Eligible Applicant that Includes a Nonprofit Organization that follows, to be eligible for an award, an eligible applicant must (a)(1) Have significantly closed the achievement gaps between groups of students described in section 1111(b)(2) of the ESEA (economically disadvantaged students, students from major racial and ethnic groups, students with limited English proficiency, students with disabilities) or (2) Have demonstrated success in significantly increasing student academic achievement for all groups of students described in that section (b) Have made significant improvements in other areas, such as high school graduation rates (as defined in this notice) or increased recruitment and placement of high quality teachers and principals, as demonstrated with meaningful data (c) Demonstrate that it has established one or more partnerships with the private sector, which may include philanthropic organizations, and that organizations in the private sector will provide matching funds in order to help bring results to scale and (d) In the case of an eligible applicant that includes a nonprofit organization, provide in the application the names of the LEAs with which the nonprofit organization will partner, or the names of the schools in the consortium with which it will partner. If an eligible applicant that includes a nonprofit organization intends to partner with additional LEAs or schools that are not named in the application, it must describe in the application the demographic and other characteristics of these LEAs and schools and the process it will use to select them. Note An entity submitting an application should provide, in Appendix C, under Other Attachments Form, of its application, information addressing the eligibility requirements described in this section. An applicant must provide, in its application, sufficient supporting data or other information to allow the Department to determine whether the applicant has met the eligibility requirements. Note that in order to address the statutory eligibility requirement above, applicants must provide data that demonstrate a change. In other words, applicants must provide data for at least two points in time when addressing this requirement in Appendix C of their applications. If the Department determines that an applicant has provided insufficient information in its application, the applicant will not have an opportunity to provide additional information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund Scale Up Grants (CFDA 84.411A) was a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition designed to help proven education interventions grow to a national footprint. Established under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the i3 program was built around the idea that education funding should be tied to evidence. In practice, that meant the Department offered different grant types depending on how strong the research was behind a proposed strategy. This particular notice focused only on Scale Up grants, which sit at the top of the i3 tiered structure and are meant for interventions already backed by strong evidence of effectiveness and ready to expand quickly while maintaining results for students, especially high-need students.
The core purpose of the Scale Up track was expansion plus learning. Applicants were expected not only to bring an effective practice to many more schools and districts, but also to generate new, credible information about where and for whom the practice works best. A major requirement was a rigorous, independent evaluation funded as part of the project budget. The evaluation was expected to do more than just report outcomes; it also needed to identify and document the "core elements" of the intervention so other organizations could replicate it with fidelity. The Department emphasized that this kind of evaluation becomes even more important when the project modifies the model to reach scale more efficiently (for example, shifting training or implementation supports into technology-enabled tools). Scale Up grants were also framed as a way to help the field understand the practical mechanics of scaling: what organizational strategies, supports, and conditions allow an evidence-based program to expand without losing effectiveness.
Eligibility was limited to (1) a local educational agency (LEA), or (2) a partnership between a nonprofit organization and one or more LEAs, or a nonprofit organization partnered with a consortium of schools. Beyond that basic category eligibility, applicants also had to meet specific statutory eligibility requirements with data-based proof. They needed to show meaningful progress over time, such as significantly closing achievement gaps for student groups identified in ESEA section 1111(b)(2) (including economically disadvantaged students, major racial and ethnic groups, English learners, and students with disabilities) or significantly increasing achievement for all of those groups. Applicants also had to demonstrate other significant improvements (examples mentioned include graduation rates or stronger recruitment and placement of high-quality teachers and principals) using meaningful data. Another central requirement was demonstrating established private-sector partnerships that would provide matching funds; cost sharing/matching was required for this competition, and applicants had to show that private-sector partners (including philanthropy) would help support scaling. If the applicant included a nonprofit, the application had to name the LEAs or schools it would partner with, or, if additional sites might be added later, describe the characteristics of those future partners and the process for selecting them. The notice also stressed that applicants needed to provide enough supporting information up front; if the Department deemed the submission insufficient, applicants would not get a later chance to supplement it.
In terms of scale and expectations, Scale Up grants were explicitly intended for national-level expansion, not small pilots. The Department wanted these projects to improve outcomes for substantially larger numbers of students while simultaneously strengthening the evidence base for the field. The notice also reminded participating LEAs that IDEA obligations still apply. In other words, any work serving students with disabilities had to remain consistent with all IDEA rights, protections, and procedures, including for students already receiving services or being evaluated for eligibility.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this opportunity was posted June 5, 2015 under Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-060515-001, with applications available June 8, 2015. The deadline for a non-mandatory but strongly encouraged notice of intent to apply was June 25, 2015, collected through an online form so the Department could plan its peer review workload; not submitting the notice did not disqualify an applicant. The final deadline for submitting applications was August 4, 2015, and submissions had to be made electronically through Grants.gov by searching CFDA 84.411 (without the letter suffix) and uploading the completed application package; emailing an application was not allowed. The estimated total funding amount was $20,000,000, with an award ceiling of $20,000,000, and the listing indicated an expected number of awards of 1, meaning this competition was structured to make a single very large Scale Up award rather than multiple smaller ones.
Finally, the announcement highlighted that the synopsis provided was not a substitute for the official Federal Register notice. Applicants were directed to the Federal Register for the controlling details on priorities, performance measures, exact definitions (including what qualifies as "strong evidence" and "national level"), required forms and appendices, and submission rules. Contact points were provided for both technical Grants.gov issues and program questions, including a program manager email (i3@ed.gov) and staff phone numbers, reflecting the complexity and high stakes of a competition built around rigorous evidence, matching funds, and large-scale implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund Scale Up Grants competition (CFDA 84.411A), a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant designed to help proven education interventions expand to a national footprint.
What does "i3" stand for and what was the program designed to do?
i3 stands for "Investing in Innovation." The program was designed around the idea that education funding should be tied to evidence, with different grant types offered depending on how strong the research base is behind a proposed intervention.
What is a "Scale Up" grant in the i3 structure?
Scale Up grants sit at the top of the i3 tiered structure. They are intended for interventions already backed by strong evidence of effectiveness and ready to expand quickly while maintaining results for students, especially high-need students.
What is the main purpose of the Scale Up track?
The Scale Up track focuses on expansion plus learning. Applicants are expected to expand an effective practice to many more schools and districts while also producing credible information about where and for whom the practice works best.
Is an evaluation required?
Yes. A major requirement is a rigorous, independent evaluation funded as part of the project budget.
What is the evaluation expected to include?
The evaluation is expected to do more than report outcomes. It must also identify and document the "core elements" of the intervention so that other organizations can replicate it with fidelity.
Why does the notice emphasize documenting "core elements"?
Because Scale Up grants are about national-level expansion, the Department emphasized that identifying the intervention's core elements supports replication and helps maintain effectiveness as the program grows.
What if the project changes the model to scale more efficiently?
The notice highlights that rigorous evaluation becomes even more important if the project modifies the model for scaling purposes (for example, shifting training or implementation supports into technology-enabled tools).
Is this competition intended for small pilots?
No. Scale Up grants are explicitly intended for national-level expansion rather than small pilot efforts.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to: (1) a local educational agency (LEA), or (2) a partnership between a nonprofit organization and one or more LEAs, or a nonprofit organization partnered with a consortium of schools.
Are there additional eligibility requirements beyond being an LEA or nonprofit partnership?
Yes. Applicants must meet specific statutory eligibility requirements with data-based proof, including evidence of meaningful progress over time in key student outcomes and other significant improvements documented using meaningful data.
What kinds of student groups are referenced for achievement gaps and progress requirements?
The notice references student groups identified in ESEA section 1111(b)(2), including economically disadvantaged students, major racial and ethnic groups, English learners, and students with disabilities.
What types of progress over time are applicants expected to demonstrate?
Applicants must show meaningful progress over time, such as significantly closing achievement gaps for the specified student groups or significantly increasing achievement for all of those groups.
Are applicants required to show improvements beyond achievement?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate other significant improvements using meaningful data. Examples mentioned include graduation rates or stronger recruitment and placement of high-quality teachers and principals.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing/matching is required for this competition.
Where must the matching funds come from?
Applicants must demonstrate established private-sector partnerships that will provide matching funds. The notice indicates private-sector partners can include philanthropy and are expected to help support scaling.
If a nonprofit is part of the application, do partner sites need to be identified?
Yes. If the applicant includes a nonprofit, the application must name the LEAs or schools it will partner with. If additional sites may be added later, the application must describe the characteristics of future partners and the process for selecting them.
Can applicants submit missing eligibility documentation after submission?
No. The notice stresses that applicants need to provide enough supporting information up front. If the Department deems the submission insufficient, applicants will not get a later chance to supplement it.
How many awards were expected under this competition?
The listing indicates an expected number of awards of 1, meaning the competition was structured to make a single very large Scale Up award rather than multiple smaller awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $20,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $20,000,000.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 5, 2015, under Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-060515-001, with applications available on June 8, 2015.
Was there a notice of intent to apply? Was it required?
Yes. A non-mandatory but strongly encouraged notice of intent to apply was due June 25, 2015. It was collected through an online form so the Department could plan peer review workload. Not submitting it did not disqualify an applicant.
What was the application deadline?
The final deadline for submitting applications was August 4, 2015.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by searching CFDA 84.411 (without the letter suffix) and uploading the completed application package.
Could an application be submitted by email?
No. The notice states that emailing an application was not allowed.
What CFDA number was used to find the opportunity in Grants.gov?
Applicants were instructed to search for CFDA 84.411 (without the letter suffix) in Grants.gov.
What ongoing legal obligations applied to LEAs participating in projects funded under this competition?
The notice reminds participating LEAs that IDEA obligations still apply. Work serving students with disabilities must remain consistent with all IDEA rights, protections, and procedures, including for students already receiving services or being evaluated for eligibility.
Is the synopsis enough to rely on for official requirements?
No. The announcement emphasizes that the synopsis is not a substitute for the official Federal Register notice, which contains the controlling details.
What types of details were applicants told to confirm in the Federal Register notice?
Applicants were directed to the Federal Register for controlling details on priorities, performance measures, exact definitions (including "strong evidence" and "national level"), required forms and appendices, and submission rules.
Who could applicants contact for help?
Contact points were provided for both technical Grants.gov issues and program questions. The notice included a program manager email (i3@ed.gov) and staff phone numbers.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation (I3) Fund VALIDATION GRANTS CFDA Number 84.411B
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