Research in Special Education
Active
- Assistance listing
- 84.324
- Agency
-
Institute of Education Sciences
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 1,355 $1,306,374,326 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 91-1100-0-1-503
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences funds scientifically rigorous research addressing early intervention and education challenges for children with disabilities, CFDA 84.324, with the most recent grant awarded August 1, 2026.
The program has sustained activity across its 25-year history since 2001, with 1,355 awards totaling $1.31 billion in federal dollars obligated. Recent award volume shows accelerating momentum: 22 awards in 2022, 31 in 2023, and 35 in 2024, though 2025 and 2026 data reflect partial-year reporting (5 and 6 awards respectively through August). All 1,355 awards are Project Grants, indicating a purely competitive, merit-based structure with no formula or cooperative agreement component.
Funded research spans intervention development and validation across the disability spectrum. Representative recent awards include studies developing narrative language and reading comprehension programs for emergent bilinguals with reading disabilities ($1.44 million, October 2024), exploring extended time eligibility and use in assessment ($702 thousand, August 2024), building teacher capacity for early language learning in infants and toddlers with or at-risk-for disabilities ($2.49 million, July 2024), and investigating special educator workforce sustainability and working conditions ($2.92 million, August 2024). Projects also address implementation science, meta-analyses of intervention efficacy, parental training in intervention delivery, and longitudinal outcome tracking for students with autism, ADHD, emotional-behavioral disorders, and specific learning disabilities.
The Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences dominates the portfolio with 1,343 awards and $1.28 billion in federal dollars. A secondary funder, the broader Department of Education, contributed 12 awards and $22.6 million. Combined federal and non-federal obligations total $1.35 billion, indicating minimal matching requirements from recipients.
Award magnitudes range from under $200 thousand to over $3 million, with typical awards in the $1–2.5 million range for multi-year studies and research development centers. Funded projects generally span one to five years on a 12-month basis.
Multiple active opportunities are currently open. The Transformative Research in Special Education Grants (ALN 84.324T, due December 11, 2026) solicits Phase 1 research to develop transformative solutions for improving preservice teacher education systems. Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking in Special Education (ALN 84.324S, due October 1, 2026) supports state longitudinal data system use for special education policy decisions. Research Training Programs in Special Education (ALN 84.324B, due October 1, 2026) funds early-career development and methods training, with FY 2027 focus on analyzing large administrative datasets for special education research questions. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and public and private agencies with demonstrated research capacity.
Objective and description
- Objective
To support scientifically rigorous research contributing to the solution of specific early intervention and education problems associated with children with disabilities.
- Description
The Research, Development, and Dissemination (RDD) program funds core activities of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which is authorized by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA). IES activities help expand knowledge and understanding of education from early childhood through the postsecondary education level, as well as career and technical and adult education. IES's programs and products provide parents, caregivers, educators, students, researchers, policymakers, and communities with reliable information about the condition and performance of our education system, educational practices that support learning, increase educational opportunities, and improve academic achievement, and the effectiveness of Federal education programs and related interventions.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Applicants that have the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities or at risk for disabilities benefit from this research.
- Uses of assistance
Funds may be used for research on children with or at risk for disabilities and training in special education research.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Projects generally may be supported for 1 to 5 years. Funds are granted on a 12 month basis. All grantee obligations shall be liquidated within 90 days following the end of the award period. Payments may be made according to a predetermined schedule or by way of reimbursement.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The criteria for selecting applications are contained in the Request for Applications that announces the competition. Each Request for Applications is posted on the Funding Opportunities home page of the Institute web site: http://ies.ed.gov/funding/.
- Award procedure
Grant applications that are responsive and compliant to the Requests for Applications are evaluated by expert reviewers for scientific and technical merit. Scientific reviews are conducted in accordance with the review criteria stated in the Request for Applications and the review procedures posted on the IES website, http://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/application_review.asp, by a panel of scientists who have substantive and methodological expertise appropriate to the program of research and Request for Applications. Awards are competitive, with the following criteria considered in making award decisions for responsive and compliant applications: Scientific merit as determined by peer review, performance and use of funds under a previous federal award, contribution to the overall program of research described in the Request for Applications, and availability of funds.
- Time to approval or disapproval
240 days - 330 days.
- Renewals
Renewals are based on the review of annual performance reports and the recommendation of the project officer. All renewals are subject to the availability of funds.
Grant opportunities
Show all 38
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,355 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Kansas Center For Research Inc. | $96,339,425 | 7% |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University | $77,272,157 | 6% |
| 3 | University Of Oregon | $67,681,822 | 5% |
| 4 | University Of Texas At Austin | $43,993,604 | 3% |
| 5 | University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill | $39,602,042 | 3% |
| 6 | University Of Florida | $37,816,756 | 3% |
| 7 | Board Of Regents Of The University Of Nebraska | $32,563,957 | 2% |
| 8 | University Of Oregon | $26,860,736 | 2% |
| 9 | Georgia State University Research Foundation Inc. | $25,136,616 | 2% |
| 10 | Sri International | $23,410,144 | 2% |
10 of 145 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $27,180,569 |
| FY2025 | $48,412,101 |
| FY2024 | $67,045,971 |
| FY2023 | $72,303,029 |
| FY2022 | $59,215,702 |
| FY2021 | $57,614,452 |
| FY2020 | $57,426,004 |
| FY2019 | $54,043,763 |
| FY2018 | $57,733,159 |
| FY2017 | $50,098,564 |
| FY2016 | $43,034,552 |
| FY2015 | $52,319,332 |
| FY2014 | $52,031,614 |
| FY2013 | $45,541,123 |
| FY2012 | $43,617,761 |
| FY2011 | $53,167,736 |
| FY2010 | $74,008,797 |
| FY2009 | $69,584,108 |
| FY2008 | $64,059,842 |
| FY2007 | $64,429,291 |
| FY2006 | $36,622,180 |
| FY2005 | $14,809,559 |
| FY2004 | $29,803,262 |
| FY2003 | $23,158,716 |
| FY2002 | $25,960,176 |
| FY2001 | $63,152,962 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.324?
Assistance Listing 84.324 is Research in Special Education, a federal grant program run by Institute of Education Sciences (Department of Education).
What is the CFDA number for Research in Special Education?
Its CFDA number is 84.324: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.324 awarded?
1,355 grant awards under 84.324 have obligated $1,306,374,326 in federal funds to 145 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.324?
The recipients obligated the most under Research in Special Education are University Of Kansas Center For Research Inc. ($96,339,425), Vanderbilt University ($77,272,157) and University Of Oregon ($67,681,822).
How much did 84.324 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 84.324 obligated $48,412,101 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 84.324?
1 listed opportunity under 84.324 is open or forecasted. The latest, Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER): Transformative Research in Special Education, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.324T, was posted on October 16, 2026.
On GovTribe
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