Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants Assistance Listing Number 84.411A
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- ED-GRANTS-091225-001
- Agency
-
Department of Education
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $15,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Education
- Eligible applicants
-
- Independent School Districts
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Dr. Sonji Jones-Manson eir@ed.gov (202) 987-1753
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking applications for the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants, which aim to create, develop, implement, and scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based innovations to improve student achievement for high-need students. This competitive grant opportunity is specifically focused on supporting field-initiated educational innovations with strong prior evidence that can be implemented at a national level. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal governments, and other educational entities. Applicants will be evaluated based on their proposed innovation's potential to improve student outcomes, with a rigorous independent evaluation required as part of the grant requirements. The application deadline is October 14, 2025, with the notice published on September 12, 2025, and applicants must demonstrate a commitment to expanding educational opportunities for high-need student populations.
The grant program will award up to $15 million for 4-8 projects with a 60-month project period, requiring a 10% matching fund contribution from recipients. Grantees must allocate at least 25% of funds to serve rural areas and conduct annual performance reports measuring student reach, evaluation effectiveness, and cost-per-student metrics. The total funding available is approximately $253 million for fiscal year 2025, with a focus on two competitive preference priorities: returning education to the states and expanding education choice through high-impact tutoring. Projects will be implemented nationwide, with an emphasis on scalable, evidence-based educational innovations that can demonstrate significant improvements in student achievement.
Synopsis
Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information.
For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234), and available https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16571/common-instructions-and-information-for-applicants-todepartment-of-education-discretionary-grantams.
Purpose of Program: The EIR program, established under section 4611 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), provides funding to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based (as defined in this notice), field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and to rigorously evaluate such innovations. This notice invites applications for Expansion grants only. The notice inviting applications for Mid-phase grants within the EIR program is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. The Department does not intend to offer an Early-phase competition, yet may fund high-scoring, unfunded applicants from any of the FY 2024 EIR Competitions.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.411A.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-17671.pdf | ||
| 2025-16571.pdf |
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