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 | ED GRANTS 050324 001

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.

• 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.

Apply for ED GRANTS 050324 001

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: