Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center on Education Research (NCER): From Seedlings to Scale, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305J
Open Posted
- Opportunity number
- ED-GRANTS-101526-001
- Agency
-
Department of Education
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $500,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Education
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Dr. Akilah Nelson akilah.nelson@ed.gov
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences is soliciting applications for Phase One projects under the From Seedlings to Scale program's Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP) focus area, with applications due December 11, 2026. IES intends to fund up to 12 Phase One projects at a maximum award of $500,000 each for a one-year period.
Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and nonprofit, for-profit, public, or private organizations with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. No cost share is required.
C-STEP seeks AI- and technology-enabled solutions that help preK-12 education systems integrate evidence-based products, processes, and policies to improve student outcomes. Applicants must demonstrate deep understanding of education systems, enabling leaders to align resources, anticipate impacts, and overcome implementation barriers. Phase One projects must deliver three outputs: a Proof-of-Concept Report documenting user needs and solution-market fit; an Early-Stage Prototype presented at a Demo Day in early 2028; and an R&D Plan detailing Phase Two activities.
Project narratives are limited to eight pages and must address three required sections: Breakthrough Potential, Research and Development Strategy, and Team Capacity. Applicants must include a project summary (two pages maximum), bibliography, human subjects narrative if applicable, biographical sketches for key personnel with persistent identifiers (ORCID), and Appendix F demonstrating alignment with Standards for Excellence in Education Research (SEER 27). All key personnel must complete research security training within 12 months prior to application submission and certify non-participation in malign foreign talent recruitment programs. Grant budgets must include costs for attending annual IES PI meetings and participating in ATS Hub activities. Project start date is June 1, 2027. A Letter of Intent is strongly encouraged by October 29, 2026. Assistance Listing Number: 84.305J.
Synopsis
Through the From Seedlings to Scale (S2S) Grants program, IES will invest in innovative ideas within an identified focus area through three phases of increasing funding and duration to support ideas as they grow from seedlings to scalable solutions. Projects will incorporate high-quality research, robust solution development, and attention to sustainability and scaling throughout all phases.
For the FY 2027 S2S program, IES invites applications for Phase One projects under the Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP) focus area. C-STEP seeks to develop and rigorously test innovative AI- and technology-enabled solutions that help education systems intentionally integrate evidence-based products, processes, and policies to improve outcomes for prekindergarten through grade 12 students. Proposed solutions should reflect a deep understanding of the systems in which they operate and enable education leaders to align resources, anticipate impacts, and overcome implementation barriers, thereby strengthening the connection between research, policy, and practice.
Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.305J
Eligibility
Institutions that have the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, institutions of higher education and non-profit, for-profit, public, or private organizations and entities.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294413.pdf | ||
| FY2027_305J.pdf |
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