Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 050324 001
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER), is offering a discretionary research grant opportunity focused on helping states use their own longitudinal education data to guide education recovery and policy decisions. Listed as ALN 84.305S, "Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Recovery Policymaking" is positioned as part of IES broader mission to build strong, credible evidence about what improves education outcomes from early childhood through K-12, postsecondary, and adult education. When relevant, that also includes understanding longer-run outcomes like employment and wages, especially in areas such as career and technical education and postsecondary pathways. The overall aim is to generate reliable, valid information that parents, educators, learners, researchers, and policymakers can use to improve learning, academic achievement, and equitable access to opportunity.
For ALN 84.305S specifically, NCER is limiting consideration to projects that directly address how state agencies use statewide longitudinal data systems to identify and reduce opportunity and achievement gaps across the education pipeline, from prekindergarten through adult education. In practical terms, this competition is about turning existing state data infrastructure into decision-support for policy: using linked, longitudinal records to examine how students progress over time, where inequities emerge or widen, and what policies or programs might help close those gaps. The emphasis is not simply on describing trends, but on producing analysis that is usable for state policymaking and recovery efforts, with a clear line of sight between the data work and actions a state can take.
Eligibility is tightly tied to state ownership and responsibility for the education area being studied. Applications must include an eligible state agency (or a state postsecondary system) that is responsible for the education issue, program, or policy under examination. Eligible agencies include a State Educational Agency (SEA) for K-12, as well as other state agencies that oversee sectors such as prekindergarten, career and technical education, postsecondary education, and adult education. The state entity can apply on its own or partner with external research organizations like universities or research firms, and can also involve other relevant partners (for example, additional state agencies or local educational agencies) when that strengthens the work. The key requirement is that the responsible state agency or system is part of the applicant team, reflecting the program focus on state-led, state-relevant use of longitudinal data.
This notice also explains how it fits into NCER broader FY 2025 research grant landscape. NCER is announcing two separate competitions in the Federal Register notice: this longitudinal data competition (84.305S) and a separate program, "Transformative Research in the Education Sciences" (84.305T), which is aimed at high-reward, potentially breakthrough research and, for FY 2025, emphasizes technology-enabled solutions grounded in learning sciences to accelerate learning and reduce persistent inequities. Even though they appear together in the notice, they are distinct competitions with different aims and expectations. Applicants can submit to more than one Department of Education research grant program, including multiple IES programs, as long as each application is meaningfully different in the issue, program, or policy it addresses.
The multiple-submission rules are important for planning. An applicant may submit multiple applications to the IES programs described, including multiple applications within this grant program, but only if they address different key issues, programs, or policies. Submitting the same or very similar applications across IES programs, across topics, or multiple times within the same topic is not allowed. If multiple similar submissions occur, IES may decide which (if any) will be accepted for review or considered eligible for funding. There is also a coordination requirement if an applicant submits the same or similar proposal to IES and another funder (inside or outside the Department) and receives that other funding before IES peer review is completed: in that situation, the applicant must withdraw the overlapping IES submission or risk being deemed ineligible for an IES award. If reviews are running at the same time, IES staff may coordinate with the other funder to assess overlap and determine who would fund if both are considering support.
Administratively, the notice stresses that the synopsis is not a substitute for the official Federal Register application notice, which controls details such as submission requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact information. Applicants are directed to the Department of Education Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standard federal submission and formatting rules, including where and how to obtain and submit an application. The underlying legal authority for the program is 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq., and IES notes that it is exempt from certain proposed rulemaking and public comment requirements under section 191 of the Education Sciences Reform Act (20 U.S.C. 9581).
Key identifiers from the opportunity listing include the Department of Education as the sponsoring agency, grant instrument type, education as the funding activity category, and an original closing date of August 15, 2024. The eligible applicant category is primarily state governments, with the important caveat that the application must include the relevant eligible state agency or state postsecondary system, even when partnerships with universities, research firms, or other organizations are part of the project team.Apply for ED GRANTS 050324 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center for Education Research (NCER)): Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Recovery Policymaking, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305S" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.305.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary research grant opportunity from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER). It is listed as ALN 84.305S and is titled "Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Recovery Policymaking."
2) What is the main purpose of ALN 84.305S?
The purpose is to support projects that help states use their own statewide longitudinal education data systems to guide education recovery and policy decisions. The focus is on producing analysis that is directly usable for state policymaking and recovery efforts, not just describing trends.
3) What types of questions or problems is this competition trying to address?
Projects must directly address how state agencies use linked, longitudinal records to identify and reduce opportunity and achievement gaps across the education pipeline. This includes examining how students progress over time, where inequities emerge or widen, and what policies or programs might help close those gaps.
4) What education sectors can be included in a project?
The competition is framed around the education pipeline from prekindergarten through adult education. The notice also references sectors such as K-12, career and technical education, postsecondary education, and adult education, depending on which state agency or state postsecondary system is responsible for the policy area being studied.
5) Is the grant only about K-12 education?
No. While State Educational Agencies (SEAs) for K-12 are explicitly included as eligible agencies, the notice also includes other state agencies that oversee prekindergarten, career and technical education, postsecondary education, and adult education, as well as eligible state postsecondary systems.
6) Does the project have to focus on equity gaps?
Yes. NCER is limiting consideration to projects that directly address identifying and reducing opportunity and achievement gaps across the pipeline using statewide longitudinal data systems.
7) What makes a project responsive to this competition (84.305S)?
A responsive project is state-led and state-relevant, uses the state's longitudinal data infrastructure, and produces analysis with a clear line of sight to actions the state can take for recovery and policymaking. The emphasis is on decision-support for policy, not purely descriptive research.
8) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is tightly tied to state ownership and responsibility for the education area being studied. Applications must include an eligible state agency (or a state postsecondary system) that is responsible for the education issue, program, or policy under examination.
9) Which state entities are specifically mentioned as eligible participants?
The notice specifically mentions State Educational Agencies (SEAs) for K-12 and other state agencies overseeing areas such as prekindergarten, career and technical education, postsecondary education, and adult education. A state postsecondary system may also be included as the eligible state entity when it is responsible for the policy area being studied.
10) Can a university or research firm apply without a state agency?
No. Even if universities, research firms, or other external organizations are partners, the application must include the eligible state agency or state postsecondary system responsible for the education issue, program, or policy being studied.
11) Can the state agency apply alone, or is a research partner required?
The state entity can apply on its own or partner with external research organizations such as universities or research firms. The key requirement is that the responsible state agency or system is part of the applicant team.
12) Can additional partners be included?
Yes. The notice indicates that other relevant partners (for example, additional state agencies or local educational agencies) may be involved when that strengthens the work.
13) What is the sponsoring federal agency?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Education, through IES and NCER.
14) What is the ALN number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed as ALN 84.305S.
15) How does this opportunity relate to IES's broader mission?
The notice frames this opportunity as part of IES's broader mission to build strong, credible evidence about what improves education outcomes from early childhood through K-12, postsecondary, and adult education. When relevant, it also includes understanding longer-run outcomes like employment and wages, particularly in areas such as career and technical education and postsecondary pathways.
16) Is this the only competition announced in the notice?
No. The Federal Register notice announces two separate competitions: ALN 84.305S (this longitudinal data competition) and ALN 84.305T, "Transformative Research in the Education Sciences."
17) How is 84.305S different from 84.305T?
They are distinct competitions with different aims and expectations. ALN 84.305S focuses on state use of statewide longitudinal data systems for education recovery policymaking and reducing gaps. ALN 84.305T is aimed at high-reward, potentially breakthrough research and, for FY 2025, emphasizes technology-enabled solutions grounded in the learning sciences to accelerate learning and reduce persistent inequities.
18) Can an applicant submit applications to both 84.305S and other IES programs?
Yes. Applicants can submit to more than one Department of Education research grant program, including multiple IES programs, as long as each application is meaningfully different in the issue, program, or policy it addresses.
19) Are multiple applications allowed within this same grant program?
Yes, multiple applications may be submitted within this grant program, but only if they address different key issues, programs, or policies.
20) What is not allowed regarding multiple submissions?
Submitting the same or very similar applications across IES programs, across topics, or multiple times within the same topic is not allowed. If multiple similar submissions occur, IES may decide which (if any) will be accepted for review or considered eligible for funding.
21) What happens if a similar proposal is submitted to IES and another funder?
If an applicant submits the same or similar proposal to IES and another funder (inside or outside the Department of Education) and receives the other funding before IES peer review is completed, the applicant must withdraw the overlapping IES submission or risk being deemed ineligible for an IES award.
22) What if peer review timelines overlap across funders?
The notice states that if reviews are running at the same time, IES staff may coordinate with the other funder to assess overlap and determine who would fund if both are considering support.
23) Is the synopsis sufficient to apply?
No. The notice emphasizes that the synopsis is not a substitute for the official Federal Register application notice, which controls details such as submission requirements, performance measures, priorities, and contact information.
24) Where do applicants find the standard federal submission and formatting rules?
Applicants are directed to the Department of Education Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for standard submission and formatting rules, including where and how to obtain and submit an application.
25) What is the legal authority for this program?
The underlying legal authority cited is 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.
26) Does IES note any special rulemaking status for this program?
Yes. IES notes that the program is exempt from certain proposed rulemaking and public comment requirements under section 191 of the Education Sciences Reform Act (20 U.S.C. 9581).
27) What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category listed is education.
28) What is the instrument type?
The opportunity is described as a grant instrument type.
29) What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity listing includes an original closing date of August 15, 2024.
30) What applicant category is highlighted in the listing?
The eligible applicant category is primarily state governments, with the important caveat that the application must include the relevant eligible state agency or state postsecondary system responsible for the policy area, even when partnerships are part of the project team.
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