Institute of Education Sciences (IES): Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305N | ED GRANTS 121021 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 121021 002

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305N titled "Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice." The core aim is to fund coordinated, scientifically rigorous research networks that tackle high-priority, nationally significant education challenges, with a particular emphasis here on education recovery efforts tied to the COVID-19 era. Rather than supporting isolated studies, this program is set up to concentrate people, funding, and infrastructure around a defined problem area so researchers and practitioners can share insights, build cumulative knowledge faster, and strengthen both research quality and dissemination so results are usable by the field.

This opportunity is structured around two separate competitions announced by NCER. The first competition focuses on "Leveraging Evidence to Accelerate Recovery," intended to establish the Leveraging Evidence to Accelerate Recovery Nationwide Network. The second competition focuses on "Improving Pandemic Recovery Activities in Education Agencies," intended to establish two additional research networks: one centered on recovery activities in prekindergarten through grade 12 settings, and another centered on recovery activities in community colleges. Across these competitions, the government is looking for networks that do more than publish findings; they are expected to create a sustained structure and process for collaboration, coordination, and practical communication of evidence to the stakeholders who can act on it.

Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which generally means the funder anticipates substantial involvement in shaping or monitoring the work compared with a typical grant. The posted award ceiling is $3,000,000. The opportunity listing indicates an expected awards field but does not specify a number in the provided excerpt. The original closing date shown for applications is March 10, 2022, and the opportunity was created on December 13, 2021, indicating this is from a specific funding cycle and applicants should rely on the official Federal Register notice and current IES materials for any updated timelines or requirements.

Eligibility is broad as long as applicants have the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education (colleges and universities), nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses, as listed), and various units of government such as state, county, city or township, and special district governments. A key additional requirement applies to the "Improving Pandemic Recovery Activities in Education Agencies" competition: research team applications must include an eligible education agency or a community college system. In this context, eligible education agencies include state and local agencies, including U.S. Territory and Tribal agencies, that oversee preK, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and/or adult education, as well as state and city community college systems that are implementing the recovery programs or policies being studied.

The official source for full requirements is the Federal Register application notice, which governs details such as pre-application steps, application formatting, submission procedures, performance measures, priorities, and contact information. The Department of Education also points applicants to its Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published February 13, 2019, 84 FR 3768) for standardized submission and administrative guidance. In practical terms, anyone considering applying would need to align closely with the specific competition requirements, demonstrate strong research design capacity, and, where required, formalize partnerships with education agencies or community college systems to ensure the network is grounded in real recovery policies and implementation conditions.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institute of Education Sciences (IES): Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305N" 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 2021-12-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-10. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Others.

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