Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Proposal Toolkit

Institute of Education Sciences

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the statistics, research, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education. We are independent and non-partisan. Our mission is to provide scientific evidence on which to ground education practice and policy and to share this information in formats that are useful and accessible to educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public.

IES conducts six broad types of work that addresses school readiness and education from infancy through adulthood and includes special populations such as English Learners and students with disabilities.

We provide data that describe how well the United States is educating its students. We collect and analyze official statistics on the condition of education, including adult education and literacy; support international assessments; and carry out the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
We conduct surveys and sponsor research projects to understand where education needs improvement and how these improvements might be made. Our longitudinal surveys provide nationally representative data on how students are progressing through school and into the workforce. Our cross-sectional surveys provide a snapshot of how students and the education system are doing at specific points in time. We fund research that uses these and other data to gain a deeper understanding of the nature and context of needed education improvements.
We fund development and rigorous testing of new approaches for improving education outcomes for all students. We support development of practical solutions for education from the earliest design stages through pilot studies and rigorous testing at scale. With IES support, researchers are learning what works for improving instruction, student behavior, teacher learning, and school and system organization.
We conduct large-scale evaluations of federal education programs and policies. Our evaluations address complex issues of national importance, such as the impact of alternative pathways to teacher preparation, teacher and leader evaluation systems, school improvement initiatives, and school choice programs.
We provide resources to increase use of data and research in education decision making. Through the What Works Clearinghouse, we conduct independent reviews of research on what works in education. The Regional Educational Laboratories offer opportunities to learn what works as well as coaching, training, and other support for research use. Our Statewide Longitudinal Data System grants enable states to more efficiently track education outcomes and provide useful, timely information to decision makers.
We support advancement of statistics and research through specialized training and development of methods and measures. We fund pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training programs, as well as database training and short courses on cutting-edge topics for working statisticians and researchers. Our empirical work on new methods and measures ensures continued advances in the accuracy, usefulness, and cost-effectiveness of education data collections and research.

NOTE: URA recommends the use of the Grants.gov workspace for creation of proposals, as the system-to-system SF424 form packages are unreliable and can cause submission issues. Please contact your pre-award administrator with any questions prior to submission.

Funding Opportunities

Provides information on current and upcoming funding opportunities for research and research training opportunities.

Research and Research Training Programs

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) funds research that contributes to improved education outcomes for all learners, and particularly for those whose education prospects are hindered by inadequate education services and conditions associated with poverty, race/ethnicity, limited English proficiency, disability, and family circumstance. IES supports the following research and research training programs:

Education and Special Education Research Programs

Transformative Research in the Education Sciences

Research Training Programs

Statistical and Research Methodology in Education

Partnerships and Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice or Policy

National Research and Development Centers and Special Education Research and Development Centers

Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education and Special Education Policy and Practice

Low-Cost, Short-Duration Evaluation of Education and Special Education Interventions

Research Grants Focused on Systematic Replications

Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking

Research Grants Focused on NAEP Process Data for Learners with Disabilities

Apply for a Grant

STEPS TO APPLYING FOR IES GRANTS

Identify a current funding opportunity that matches your research interests and identify the relevant letter of intent and application deadlines and sign up for IES newsflashes to stay informed.
View a funding opportunities webinar to learn more about the application process and choosing an appropriate funding opportunity and attend our virtual office hour sessions for general, group discussions.
Download the Application Submission Guide, as well as the appropriate Request for Applications and application package (Search for ALN 84.305 or ALN 84.324).
Submit your Letter of Intent (optional but strongly encouraged).
Submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline.

Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Proposal Toolkit