Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 072920 002
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Early-Phase Grants (CFDA 84.411C) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education intended to help schools and their partners design and test promising new approaches that could improve student achievement and educational attainment for high-need students. The program is rooted in section 4611 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and is built around the idea that the field needs more practical, evidence-based innovations that start small, get studied honestly, and then, if they work, can be replicated and scaled to reach many more students.
A defining feature of EIR is its evidence “tiered” structure, which ties the size and scope of funding to how strong the existing proof is behind the proposed practice. Historically the program included Early-phase, Mid-phase, and Expansion grants, but for FY 2020 the Department focused on Early-phase and Mid-phase awards. Early-phase grants sit at the front end of that pipeline: they support the development, initial implementation, and feasibility testing of an innovation that research suggests has promise but does not yet have strong causal evidence behind it. A key requirement at the Early-phase level is that applicants “demonstrate a rationale,” meaning they must make a credible case, based on prior research or theory, that the approach is likely to improve outcomes for high-need students. At the same time, these grants are not meant to simply spread an already-established program to more sites, nor are they meant for projects that only solve a problem unique to one local setting. The focus is on newer or entrepreneurial practices that, if successful, could be useful to other educators in other contexts.
Another major expectation is evaluation. EIR is designed not just to fund good ideas, but to generate trustworthy information about what actually works, for which students, and under what conditions. All funded projects are expected to produce evidence and learning that can inform both the grantee’s own improvement efforts and the broader education community. The notice emphasizes independent, rigorous evaluation as a core requirement, so the results contribute to the overall quality and quantity of evidence available to practitioners and policymakers. In practical terms, an Early-phase applicant should be planning for careful implementation and measurement from the start, with an evaluation design strong enough to determine whether the innovation is feasible and shows signs of improving student outcomes.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of education entities and partners. The lead applicant can be a local educational agency (LEA), a state educational agency (SEA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), a consortium of SEAs or LEAs, or a nonprofit organization. In addition, an LEA, SEA, BIE, or eligible consortium may apply in partnership with a nonprofit organization, a business, an educational service agency, or an institution of higher education (IHE). IHEs are specifically highlighted as eligible partners when another eligible entity serves as the lead applicant, and the notice also clarifies that certain IHE-affiliated foundations with 501(c)(3) status may apply as nonprofits. For nonprofits, the Department points to the standard federal rule (34 CFR 75.51) for proving nonprofit status, such as IRS 501(c)(3) recognition or comparable state documentation.
The opportunity also includes guidance for applicants seeking to qualify as “rural” under EIR, using the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) urban-centric locale codes. To qualify, the applicant must fit one of the rural-eligible organizational arrangements described in the notice (for example, an LEA or consortium of LEAs with qualifying locale codes, or a nonprofit/ESA partnered with such an LEA), and a majority of the schools served must also have qualifying locale codes (32, 33, 41, 42, or 43). The notice directs applicants to use NCES district and school search tools to confirm locale codes, and it indicates there is additional detail in the application package about meeting rural eligibility.
From the source details provided, this specific posting is identified as Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 072920 002, with a closing date of September 10, 2020, and an award ceiling listed at $12,000,000. The synopsis repeatedly notes that the authoritative requirements and rules live in the official Federal Register application notice, and it directs applicants to the Department’s “Common Instructions” for discretionary grants (published February 13, 2019) for application submission and procedural requirements. In other words, the synopsis lays out the program’s intent and high-level eligibility, but any organization planning to apply would need to rely on the Federal Register notice and the full application package for the specific priorities, required components, performance measures, budget rules, and submission instructions.Apply for ED GRANTS 072920 002
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program: Early-Phase Grants CFDA Number 84.411C" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.411.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-07-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $12,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the EIR Early-Phase Grants program (CFDA 84.411C)?
The Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Early-Phase Grants (CFDA 84.411C) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). It is intended to help schools and their partners design and test promising new approaches that could improve student achievement and educational attainment for high-need students.
2) What is the main purpose of an Early-Phase EIR grant?
Early-Phase grants support the development, initial implementation, and feasibility testing of an innovation that research suggests has promise but does not yet have strong causal evidence behind it. The goal is to start with a practical, evidence-informed idea, study it honestly, and if it works, enable replication and scaling to reach more students.
3) What does the EIR program mean by a “tiered” evidence structure?
EIR is designed around evidence tiers that connect the size and scope of funding to the strength of existing evidence behind a proposed practice. Early-Phase sits at the beginning of this pipeline and focuses on innovations that are promising but not yet backed by strong causal evidence.
4) What does “demonstrate a rationale” mean for Early-Phase applicants?
“Demonstrate a rationale” means the applicant must make a credible case, grounded in prior research or theory, that the proposed approach is likely to improve outcomes for high-need students. It is an Early-Phase requirement because the intervention is not expected to already have strong causal evidence, but it must still be justified by research or theory.
5) Who is the intended student population for this opportunity?
The opportunity is intended to support improvements in student achievement and educational attainment for high-need students.
6) Are Early-Phase grants meant to expand an already established program to more sites?
No. The notice explains that Early-Phase grants are not intended to simply spread an already-established program to more sites. They are meant to support newer or entrepreneurial practices that are still being developed and tested for feasibility and early signs of effectiveness.
7) Are projects focused on a single local problem eligible?
The program is not intended for projects that only solve a problem unique to one local setting. The focus is on innovations that, if successful, could be useful to other educators in other contexts and potentially be replicated and scaled.
8) How important is evaluation in the EIR Early-Phase program?
Evaluation is a core expectation. EIR is designed to generate trustworthy information about what works, for which students, and under what conditions. The notice emphasizes independent, rigorous evaluation so results can contribute to the broader evidence base, not just a single project’s internal learning.
9) What kind of evaluation is expected for Early-Phase projects?
An Early-Phase applicant should plan for careful implementation and measurement from the start, with an evaluation design strong enough to determine whether the innovation is feasible and shows signs of improving student outcomes. The notice highlights independent, rigorous evaluation as a requirement.
10) Who can apply as the lead applicant?
Eligible lead applicants include: a local educational agency (LEA), a state educational agency (SEA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), a consortium of SEAs or LEAs, or a nonprofit organization.
11) Can an applicant apply in partnership, and who can be a partner?
Yes. An LEA, SEA, BIE, or eligible consortium may apply in partnership with a nonprofit organization, a business, an educational service agency, or an institution of higher education (IHE).
12) Can an institution of higher education (IHE) be the lead applicant?
The information provided highlights IHEs as eligible partners when another eligible entity serves as the lead applicant. Lead applicants listed include LEAs, SEAs, BIE, consortia of SEAs or LEAs, or nonprofit organizations.
13) Can an IHE-affiliated foundation apply?
The notice clarifies that certain IHE-affiliated foundations with 501(c)(3) status may apply as nonprofit organizations.
14) How does a nonprofit prove its nonprofit status for this opportunity?
The Department points to the standard federal rule at 34 CFR 75.51 for proving nonprofit status. Examples include IRS 501(c)(3) recognition or comparable state documentation.
15) How does rural eligibility work for EIR, and what locale codes are used?
Rural eligibility is based on National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) urban-centric locale codes. To qualify, the applicant must fit a rural-eligible organizational arrangement described in the notice (for example, an LEA or consortium of LEAs with qualifying locale codes, or a nonprofit/ESA partnered with such an LEA). In addition, a majority of the schools served must also have qualifying locale codes: 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43.
16) Where do applicants check NCES locale codes for rural eligibility?
The notice directs applicants to use NCES district and school search tools to confirm locale codes. It also notes that additional detail about meeting rural eligibility appears in the application package.
17) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?
This posting is identified as Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 072920 002.
18) What is the application closing date listed in the posting?
The closing date listed is September 10, 2020.
19) What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $12,000,000.
20) Where are the official requirements and application rules located?
The synopsis states that authoritative requirements and rules are in the official Federal Register application notice. It also directs applicants to the Department’s “Common Instructions” for discretionary grants (published February 13, 2019) for application submission and procedural requirements. The synopsis is high-level; applicants are expected to rely on the Federal Register notice and the full application package for specific priorities, required components, performance measures, budget rules, and submission instructions.
21) Does the synopsis contain all priorities, required components, and budget rules?
No. The synopsis explains program intent and high-level eligibility, but it indicates that the Federal Register notice and the full application package contain the specific priorities, required components, performance measures, budget rules, and submission instructions.
22) What law is the EIR program based on?
The program is rooted in section 4611 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
23) What is the overall philosophy behind EIR Early-Phase funding?
The program is built around the idea that the education field needs more practical, evidence-based innovations that start small, are evaluated rigorously, and can be replicated and scaled if they prove effective for high-need students.
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