Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 032520 001
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER), offered this discretionary grant opportunity (CFDA 84.305D) to fund work that strengthens the statistical and research-methodology foundation of education science. The basic idea behind the program is that many important questions in education depend on strong methods: better study designs, better measurement, better analytic strategies, and better ways to draw credible conclusions from complex real-world school settings. NCER positions this competition as part of its broader mission to support research in areas of national need and to produce reliable, valid evidence about education practices that improve learning, academic achievement, and access to opportunities for all learners.
This specific grant line, titled Statistical and Research Methodology in Education, is focused less on testing a particular curriculum or intervention and more on building the tools that make applied education research more rigorous and informative. In practice, that means funding the development and refinement of methodological and statistical approaches that education researchers can use to plan studies, collect higher-quality data, and analyze results in ways that better reflect how education actually works. The opportunity emphasizes creating a wide range of tools that enable applied education scientists to conduct stronger research, which can include new statistical techniques, improved research designs, enhanced measurement approaches, or other methodological innovations that help the field generate clearer and more trustworthy findings.
Eligibility is intentionally broad, reflecting the fact that methodological innovation can come from many corners of the research ecosystem. Applicants include organizations with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research, spanning public and private institutions of higher education (colleges and universities), nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and a variety of government entities. The eligible applicant list also includes state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, alongside public agencies and other qualified entities. In other words, proposals could come from academic research centers, research firms, school districts with strong research offices, state education agencies, or partnerships among these groups, as long as they can credibly carry out rigorous scientific work.
The synopsis notes that the public-facing description is only a summary and that the authoritative requirements live in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants were directed to consult that official notice for the full set of expectations, including any pre-application steps, detailed application content and formatting rules, submission procedures, performance measures, priorities, and agency contact information. The notice also points applicants to the Department of Education "Common Instructions" for discretionary grant programs (published February 13, 2019; 84 FR 3768), which typically govern shared submission and administrative requirements across many Department of Education competitions, including where and how to submit applications.
Administrative details in the listing identify it as a Department of Education grant competition with funding activity in education, labeled under funding opportunity number ED GRANTS 032520 001. The original closing date shown is July 30, 2020, and the posting indicates a creation date of March 26, 2020. The award ceiling and the expected number of awards are not specified in the provided synopsis, which is another reason applicants are pushed to rely on the Federal Register notice for complete, official parameters.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as an investment in the research infrastructure of education: methods, statistics, and tools that make future studies more credible, more efficient, and more applicable to real educational decisions. Instead of funding a single program implementation, it aims to strengthen the way education research is designed and analyzed so that the evidence produced across the field is more reliable and useful to educators, policymakers, and the public.Apply for ED GRANTS 032520 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institute of Education Sciences (IES): Statistical and Research Methodology in Education CFDA Number 84.305D" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.305.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, 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, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: Statistical and Research Methodology in Education (IES/NCER) - CFDA 84.305D
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER), under CFDA 84.305D. It is titled "Statistical and Research Methodology in Education" and is intended to fund work that strengthens the statistical and research-methodology foundation of education science.
What is the main purpose of the Statistical and Research Methodology in Education grant line?
The main purpose is to support the development and refinement of methodological and statistical approaches that help education researchers conduct stronger, more rigorous applied research. The focus is on improving the tools and methods used to design studies, measure outcomes, analyze data, and draw credible conclusions in real-world education settings.
Is this funding meant to test a specific curriculum or intervention?
No. Based on the synopsis, this grant line is focused less on evaluating a particular curriculum or intervention and more on building and improving the methods and tools that make applied education research more rigorous and informative overall.
What kinds of projects does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes creating tools and innovations that enable applied education scientists to conduct stronger research. Examples named in the synopsis include new statistical techniques, improved research designs, enhanced measurement approaches, and other methodological innovations that lead to clearer and more trustworthy findings.
Why does NCER consider this type of work important?
NCER positions this competition as part of its broader mission to support research in areas of national need and to produce reliable, valid evidence about education practices that improve learning, academic achievement, and access to opportunities for all learners. The synopsis highlights that many important education questions depend on strong methods, including better study designs, measurement, analytic strategies, and ways to draw credible conclusions from complex school settings.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as intentionally broad. Eligible applicants include organizations with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education (colleges and universities)
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public agencies and other qualified entities
Can a school district or state education agency apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant list explicitly includes independent school districts and various government entities. The synopsis also notes that proposals could come from school districts with strong research offices or state education agencies, as long as they can credibly carry out rigorous scientific work.
Are partnerships or collaborations allowed?
The synopsis indicates proposals could come from partnerships among eligible entities (for example, academic centers, research firms, districts, or state agencies), provided the applicant(s) can credibly conduct scientifically valid research. Specific partnership rules are not detailed in the synopsis and would be governed by the official Federal Register notice and common instructions.
What is the funding opportunity number for this competition?
The funding opportunity number listed is ED GRANTS 032520 001.
Which federal agency is offering the grant?
This is a U.S. Department of Education grant competition administered through IES/NCER.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The posting indicates a creation date of March 26, 2020, and an original closing date of July 30, 2020.
What is the award ceiling and how many awards were expected?
The synopsis does not specify the award ceiling or the expected number of awards. It explicitly signals that applicants should rely on the official Federal Register notice for complete, authoritative parameters.
Where are the official rules and application requirements?
The synopsis states that the public-facing description is only a summary and that the authoritative requirements are in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants were directed to consult that notice for full expectations, including pre-application steps (if any), detailed application content and formatting rules, submission procedures, performance measures, priorities, and agency contact information.
What are the Department of Education "Common Instructions" and why do they matter here?
The synopsis points applicants to the Department of Education "Common Instructions" for discretionary grant programs (published February 13, 2019; 84 FR 3768). These common instructions typically set shared submission and administrative requirements across Department of Education competitions, including where and how to submit applications.
What is the broader goal of funding methodological work instead of program implementation?
The opportunity is described as an investment in the research infrastructure of education. Rather than funding a single program implementation, it aims to strengthen how education research is designed and analyzed so that evidence produced across the field is more reliable, more efficient, and more useful to educators, policymakers, and the public.
What kind of impact is NCER trying to achieve with this competition?
Based on the synopsis, the intended impact is to improve the rigor and informativeness of applied education research by advancing the methods used to plan studies, collect higher-quality data, analyze results, and make credible inferences in complex, real-world school contexts.
Does the synopsis provide detailed priorities or performance measures?
No. The synopsis notes that priorities, performance measures, and other detailed expectations are contained in the official Federal Register notice rather than in the summary description.
What topic area does the funding activity fall under?
The listing identifies the funding activity as education and frames it specifically around statistics and research methodology in education science.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Emergency Awards: Rapid Investigation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Previous opportunity: Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for ED GRANTS 032520 001
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (ED GRANTS 032520 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Institute of Education Sciences (IES): Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking Grantmaking Programs CFDA Number 84.305S Apply for ED GRANTS 032520 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 032520 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| YouthPower 2 (YP2) Annual Program Statement (APS) Apply for 7200AA20APS00007 Funding Number: 7200AA20APS00007 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000,000 |
| 2020 TV CO-OP Program Apply for DOS GEO 20 CA 001 040220 Funding Number: DOS GEO 20 CA 001 040220 Agency: U.S. Mission to Georgia Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Bridging Cultures Through Hip-Hop Apply for ND NOFO 20 110 Funding Number: ND NOFO 20 110 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Higher Education for Leadership, Innovation, and Exchange (HELIX), A New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) Apply for 7200AA20APS00009 Funding Number: 7200AA20APS00009 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Education Funding Amount: $60,000,000 |
| HELIX APS: Supporting Holistic and Actionable Research in Education (SHARE) Addendum Apply for 7200AA20APS00010 Funding Number: 7200AA20APS00010 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Education Funding Amount: $40,000,000 |
| Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Education and Innovation Research (EIR): Mid-Phase Grants CFDA Number 84.411B Apply for ED GRANTS 041020 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 041020 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $8,000,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund – IHEs 84.425E Apply for ED GRANTS 041020 003 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 041020 003 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Institution 84.425F Apply for ED GRANTS 042120 004 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 042120 004 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| COVID-19 Small Grants Program Apply for ND NOFO 20 111 Funding Number: ND NOFO 20 111 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-FIPSE CFDA Number 84.425N Apply for ED GRANTS 043020 005 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 043020 005 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-Historically Black Colleges and Universities CFDA Number 84.425J Apply for ED GRANTS 043020 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 043020 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-Minority Serving Institutions CFDA Number 84.425L Apply for ED GRANTS 043020 003 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 043020 003 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-Strengthening Institutions Program CFDA Number 84.425M Apply for ED GRANTS 043020 004 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 043020 004 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Office of Postsecondary Education: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-Tribally Control Colleges and Universities CFDA Number 84.425K Apply for ED GRANTS 043020 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 043020 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Foundational Literacy for Improved Educational Resilience (FLIER) Apply for 72066020APS00002 Funding Number: 72066020APS00002 Agency: Democratic Republic of the Congo USAID-Kinshasa Category: Education Funding Amount: $38,000,000 |
| University Research Program for Georgian PhD Professors Apply for DOS GEO 20 CA 008 051920 Funding Number: DOS GEO 20 CA 008 051920 Agency: U.S. Mission to Georgia Category: Education Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| U.S. Embassy New Delhi North India Office PAS Annual Program Statemen Apply for ND NOFO 20 115 Funding Number: ND NOFO 20 115 Agency: U.S. Mission to India Category: Education Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Sustainable U.S. and Palestinian Higher Education Partnerships Apply for PAUPDFY20006 Funding Number: PAUPDFY20006 Agency: U.S. Mission to Jerusalem Category: Education Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH AND CULTURE CONVERSATION COURSE FOR ADULTS Apply for PAUPDFY20009 Funding Number: PAUPDFY20009 Agency: U.S. Mission to Jerusalem Category: Education Funding Amount: $80,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "ED GRANTS 032520 001", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.