Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center for Education Research (NCER): Statistical and Research Methodology in Education

The Institute of Education Sciences, through the National Center for Education Research, invites applications to the Statistical and Research Methodology in Education grants program under Assistance Listing Number 84.305D. The Institute of Education Sciences provides scientific evidence intended to improve education practice and policy and to make that evidence useful to educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public. The National Center for Education Research supports field initiated research designed to build knowledge and understanding of education practice and policy. The Methods program specifically supports statistical and methodological products that enable education scientists to conduct rigorous education research. All funded work is expected to align with applicable Standards for Excellence in Education Research requirements. The competition contains two topics. Core Grants support development of new or improved statistical and research methods for education researchers, including end user testing, revision based on feedback, and broad dissemination. Toolkits, Guidelines, Compendia, Review Papers, and Curated Data Resources Grants support products that compile existing research, information, methods, or data into usable resources for education researchers. Areas identified as particularly relevant include artificial intelligence in education, core components research, assessment item parameter estimation with small samples, alternative approaches to analyzing and modeling National Assessment of Educational Progress data, curated data resources, and reviews of the use of methods. Applicants are not limited to the methodological areas specifically identified in the request for applications. Core Grants may have a maximum duration of three years and a maximum grant award of 900000 dollars. Toolkits projects may have a maximum duration of two years and a maximum grant award of 350000 dollars. Budgets should reflect the actual time and funding necessary to complete the proposed work rather than automatically requesting the maximum. Applicants must provide a detailed budget justification showing that costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and appropriate to the proposed scope. Institutions generally should use their federally negotiated unrestricted indirect cost rate, while eligible institutions without a negotiated rate may generally use a 15 percent de minimis rate on modified total direct costs. Institutions outside the territorial United States may not charge indirect costs. Federal grant funds may not pay for alcoholic beverages or entertainment, and food expenses for meetings are restricted unless necessary to accomplish legitimate meeting or conference business. Institutions with the ability and capacity to conduct scientific research are eligible to apply. Examples include nonprofit organizations, for profit organizations, public and private agencies and institutions, and public and private colleges and universities. Each application must select one of the two Methods topics and meet that topic's requirements. The project narrative is limited to 15 pages and must contain Significance, Research Plan, Personnel, and Resources sections. Required appendices include Appendix A, Engagement and Dissemination Plan, and Appendix F, Alignment with SEER Standards. Appendix B, Response to Reviewers, is required for resubmissions. Other application materials include a separate project summary or abstract, bibliography and references cited, human subjects narrative, and biographical sketches for key personnel. Additional optional appendices may be used as permitted by the request for applications. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and must be received and validated no later than 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 1, 2026. The application package became available August 6, 2026. A letter of intent may be submitted through the IES Peer Review system by September 3, 2026, but the letter is nonbinding and optional, although strongly recommended. Applicants should use both the request for applications and the companion IES Application Submission Guide when preparing their submissions. Possible project start dates are July 1, 2027 through September 1, 2027. The program officer is Emily Weaver, who may be contacted at Emily.Weaver@ed.gov. Only timely, compliant, and responsive applications are forwarded for scientific peer review. At least two primary reviewers prepare written evaluations and independently score applications. Review criteria include Significance, Research Plan, Personnel, Resources, and Engagement and Dissemination. Award decisions also consider alignment with SEER Standards, contribution to the program of research, scientific merit, compliance with research security requirements, prior federal award performance, ability to conduct the work within award and duration limits, compliance with applicable public access requirements, persistent identifiers for key personnel, and availability of funds. Awards are contingent on available funding and receipt of meritorious applications. Recipients must also comply with applicable public access, research security, and other federal requirements, and the principal investigator is required to attend an annual IES Principal Investigators Meeting for up to three days in Washington, DC.

Clearly establish the practical education research problem and why existing methods or products are insufficient; describe development, testing, and end-user usability in sufficient detail; engage potential users during development and dissemination; demonstrate appropriate personnel expertise and sufficient institutional resources; tailor dissemination to education researchers across multiple sectors; align the project with applicable SEER Standards; stay within the maximum award and duration for the selected topic; strictly follow formatting, page limits, responsiveness requirements, and Grants.gov submission procedures because only timely, compliant, and responsive applications advance to scientific peer review