Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 042314 002
Apply for ED GRANTS 042314 002
- 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) Validation Grants CFDA Number 84.411B" 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 Apr 23, 2014 and posted on Apr 23, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 24, 2014 Applications Available April 25, 2014. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications June 24, 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $11,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Innovations that Improve Achievement for High Need Students All grantees must implement practices that are designed to improve student achievement (as defined in this notice) or student growth (as defined in this notice), close achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, increase high school graduation rates (as defined in this notice), or increase college enrollment and completion rates for high need students (as defined in this notice).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Investing in Innovation (i3) Validation Grants opportunity (CFDA 84.411B) was a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition created under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The basic aim of the i3 Validation grant tier was to support education practices that already showed promise and needed stronger evidence through broader implementation and more rigorous evaluation. In practical terms, the program was designed to help move effective approaches beyond small pilots by funding projects that could validate impact at a larger scale, with the longer-term goal of identifying interventions that could be replicated across schools and districts.
Eligible applicants centered on two main groups: local educational agencies (LEAs), and nonprofit organizations that apply in partnership either with one or more LEAs or with a consortium of schools. The emphasis on partnership reflects how i3 typically expected nonprofits to demonstrate real access to implementation settings (schools and districts) and the capacity to operate in authentic public education environments rather than in isolation. The competition materials note that eligibility details should be confirmed in the official Federal Register notice, but the synopsis makes clear that applicants needed to be positioned to implement and study an intervention in school contexts serving high-need students.
Programmatically, the funded work needed to focus on innovations that improve outcomes for high-need students. The notice highlights several qualifying outcome directions: improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, and increasing college enrollment and completion. The common thread is measurable improvement in educational outcomes, particularly for students facing systemic disadvantages. Applicants were expected to propose practices intentionally designed to produce those kinds of results, not simply general program improvements or capacity-building without a clear, outcomes-driven intervention.
From an administrative standpoint, applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package identified by CFDA 84.411 (without the “B” suffix when searching). This is an important procedural detail because Grants.gov searches can fail if the suffix is included. For applicants needing technical assistance with submission, the Grants.gov Helpdesk was listed (1-800-518-4726 and support@grants.gov), which is typical for federal competitions that require electronic submission and have strict deadline enforcement.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number ED-GRANTS-042314-002) was posted April 23, 2014, with applications made available April 25, 2014, and a deadline for transmittal of applications of June 24, 2014. The estimated total funding amount was $11,500,000, and the Department anticipated making about 8 awards. The funding instrument types listed included grants and cooperative agreements, indicating that some awards could involve more active federal involvement consistent with cooperative agreement structures, depending on how the Department set terms for particular projects.
There was no cost sharing or matching requirement listed for this competition, which matters because many education innovation programs sometimes require private matching funds. Here, applicants were not required to bring matching dollars as a condition of eligibility, at least as reflected in the synopsis.
For applicant support and official points of contact, the announcement listed Joyce Mays (Management Analyst) as a contact for difficulty accessing the full announcement, and Kelly Terpak as Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. The synopsis repeatedly stresses that the authoritative requirements are in the Federal Register notice and directs applicants to the online Federal Register resources, which is standard language but also a reminder that definitions (such as “high-need students,” “student achievement,” “student growth,” and “graduation rate”) are often precisely defined in the official notice and can affect how an application must be written and evaluated.
Overall, this i3 Validation Grants competition was designed to fund a small set of relatively sizable projects intended to strengthen the evidence base for promising educational innovations implemented with high-need student populations, with a clear expectation of measurable outcome improvements and formal evaluation, and with applications submitted through the standard federal Grants.gov process within the specified 2014 competition window.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the i3 Validation Grants opportunity (CFDA 84.411B)?
The Investing in Innovation (i3) Validation Grants opportunity (CFDA 84.411B) was a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition administered by the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII). It was created under section 14007 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
What was the main purpose of the i3 Validation grant tier?
The Validation tier was intended to support education practices that already showed promise but needed stronger evidence. In practical terms, it funded broader implementation and more rigorous evaluation so that promising approaches could be tested at a larger scale and potentially replicated across schools and districts.
What kinds of projects were these grants designed to support?
The competition focused on innovations aimed at improving outcomes for high-need students. The expectation was that projects would move beyond small pilots, demonstrate measurable impact at a larger scale, and include formal evaluation to validate effectiveness.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants centered on two main groups: (1) local educational agencies (LEAs), and (2) nonprofit organizations applying in partnership with one or more LEAs or with a consortium of schools.
Do nonprofit organizations have to partner with an LEA or schools to apply?
Yes. The synopsis indicates that nonprofits were expected to apply in partnership either with one or more LEAs or with a consortium of schools, reflecting an emphasis on having real implementation access in authentic public education environments.
What population needed to be served by the proposed project?
The funded work needed to focus on innovations that improve outcomes for high-need students. The synopsis emphasizes that applicants needed to be positioned to implement and study an intervention in school contexts serving high-need students.
What outcomes were considered relevant for this competition?
The notice highlights outcome directions including: improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, and increasing college enrollment and completion. The common expectation was measurable improvement in educational outcomes, particularly for high-need students.
Does the program allow general improvements or capacity-building projects without an outcomes-driven intervention?
The synopsis stresses an outcomes-driven approach: applicants were expected to propose practices intentionally designed to produce measurable improvements (such as achievement, graduation, or college outcomes), rather than general program improvements without a clear intervention tied to those results.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package identified by CFDA 84.411.
When searching on Grants.gov, should applicants use CFDA 84.411B or 84.411?
Applicants were instructed to search for CFDA 84.411 (without the "B" suffix) when locating the application package on Grants.gov, because searches can fail if the suffix is included.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number was ED-GRANTS-042314-002.
When was the opportunity posted, and when were applications available?
The opportunity was posted on April 23, 2014. Applications were made available on April 25, 2014.
What was the deadline to submit an application?
The deadline for transmittal of applications was June 24, 2014.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding amount was $11,500,000.
About how many awards did the Department anticipate making?
The Department anticipated making about 8 awards.
What types of funding instruments were listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity listed grants and cooperative agreements as the funding instrument types, meaning awards could be structured either as grants or as cooperative agreements depending on the terms set for particular projects.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed in the synopsis for this competition.
Where should applicants look for the authoritative eligibility and program requirements?
The synopsis emphasizes that the authoritative requirements are in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants were directed to consult the Federal Register resources because definitions and requirements can be precisely specified there.
Why does the Federal Register notice matter for writing an application?
The synopsis notes that key terms (for example, "high-need students," "student achievement," "student growth," and "graduation rate") are often precisely defined in the Federal Register notice, and those definitions can affect how an application must be written and evaluated.
Who were the listed contacts for this opportunity?
The announcement listed Joyce Mays (Management Analyst) as a contact for difficulty accessing the full announcement, and Kelly Terpak as Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC.
Where could applicants get technical help with Grants.gov submission?
Applicants needing technical assistance were directed to the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
What was the overall goal of the competition in plain terms?
The competition aimed to fund a small set of relatively sizable projects to strengthen the evidence base for promising educational innovations implemented with high-need student populations, with an expectation of measurable improvements and rigorous evaluation.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)Training Program CFDA 84.103A
Previous opportunity: FY 2014 Bank Enterprise Award Program
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for ED GRANTS 042314 002
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ED GRANTS 042314 002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)Training Program CFDA 84.103A Apply for ED GRANTS 042314 003 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 042314 003 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| American Corners in Iraq Apply for DOS BAGHDAD PD 2014 01 Funding Number: DOS BAGHDAD PD 2014 01 Agency: U.S. Mission to Iraq Category: Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Georgian Media Partnership Program Apply for S LMAQM RFA CA 14 06 Funding Number: S LMAQM RFA CA 14 06 Agency: Department of State Category: Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| USAID Partnership for Education LEARNING Apply for RFA 641 14 000004 Funding Number: RFA 641 14 000004 Agency: Ghana USAID Accra Category: Education Funding Amount: $71,000,000 |
| Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Project Prevent Grant Program CFDA Number 84.184M Apply for ED GRANTS 042914 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 042914 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Media Education Program Apply for S GE800 RFA 14 GR 040 Funding Number: S GE800 RFA 14 GR 040 Agency: Department of State Category: Education Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Institute of Education Sciences (IES) National Research Center for The Education of Gifted and Talented Children and Youth CFDA Number 84.305C Apply for ED GRANTS 043014 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 043014 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program CFDA Number 84.358A Apply for ED GRANTS 050114 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050114 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program CFDA Number 84.206A Apply for ED GRANTS 050114 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050114 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Centers for Independent Living CFDA Number 84.132A Apply for ED GRANTS 050514 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050514 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Full Service Community Schools Program CFDA Number 84.215J Apply for ED GRANTS 050614 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050614 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) School Climate Transformation Grant Program State Educational Agency Grants CFDA Number 84.184F Apply for ED GRANTS 050714 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050714 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) School Climate Transformation Grant Program Local Educational Agency Grants CFDA Number 84.184G Apply for ED GRANTS 050714 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050714 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| OSERS/OSEP Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning CFDA Number 84.327Z Apply for ED GRANTS 050914 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 050914 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Public Advocacy to Counter Violence Against Women Apply for NDRFP14 04 Funding Number: NDRFP14 04 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| BLM Conservation Education and Outreach Internship Project Apply for L14AS00102 Funding Number: L14AS00102 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Education Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grants Program CFDA Number 84.282D Apply for ED GRANTS 051414 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 051414 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States Apply for USDA RMA RME 2014 TS Funding Number: USDA RMA RME 2014 TS Agency: Risk Management Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Risk Management Education Partnership Program Apply for USDA RMA RME 2014 PP Funding Number: USDA RMA RME 2014 PP Agency: Risk Management Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $99,999 |
| Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) First in the World Program (FITW) Development CFDA 84.116F Apply for ED GRANTS 051614 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 051614 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "ED GRANTS 042314 002", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.