ies.ed.gov

Connecting Research,Policy and Practice

ELIZABETH R. ALBRO, Ph.D.National Center for Education Research

Institute of Education SciencesU.S. Department of Education

Webinar for Texas A&M FacultyApril 14, 2015

SEEKING FUNDING AT THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES

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What is IES?

• Research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, non-partisan by law.

• We provide rigorous & relevant evidence on which to ground education practice and policy.

• We share this information broadly. • By identifying what works, what doesn't,

and why, we aim to improve educational outcomes for all students, particularly those at risk of failure.

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Organizational Structure

Office of the Director

National Board for Education Sciences

National Center for Education Evaluation

National Center for Education Statistics

National Center for Education Research

CFDA: 84.305

National Center for Special Education Research

CFDA:

84.324

Standards & Review Office

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Grant Writing Is A Process

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Start Your Search For Funding Here

http://ies.ed.gov/funding

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Open FY 2015 CompetitionEvaluation of State Education Programs and Policies (CFDA 84.305E)– College- and Career-Ready Standards and

Assessments– Identification and Improvement of the Lowest-

Performing Schools, and/or Schools with the Greatest Achievement Gaps

– Teacher and Principal Evaluation and Support Systems

Applications DUE June 10, 20157

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FY 2015 Funding Opportunities*Research

Research ProgramsStatistical & Research Methodology Research & Development CentersPartnerships & Collaborations Focused on Problems of Practice & Policy

Research TrainingPredoctoral Research TrainingPostdoctoral Research TrainingMethods Training for Education Research

OtherUnsolicited

*Note, these are CLOSED competitions.

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FY 2016Still to be determined

Want to be the first to know when the RFAs are posted?– Sign up for the IES Newsflash http

://ies.ed.gov/newsflash/ – Follow us on Twitter @IESResearch

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Regular Research Competitions

NCER & NCSER5 Goals10 or 11 Topics

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IES Peer Review Process

Overseen by the Standards & Review Office

Initial review by 2-4 independent reviewers

Most competitive applications are then reviewed by the full panel of ~18-20 reviewers

Final scientific merit scores used to make funding recommendations

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Who Are Our Peer Reviewers?

http://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/reviewers.asp

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Building an Application

Read the RFA carefully

Build a good team

Talk to your Program Officer

Write a well-crafted proposal

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Writing Clearly

Be specific: Reviewers notice overly general significance sections

Add detail: Reviewers want to know HOW you will carry out the proposed research. Especially re intervention, development cycle, or data analysis

Don’t use jargon and assume prior knowledge

Find a good editor: Poor writing (e.g., grammar) & awkward constructions can harm an application

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Remember

You can’t get funded if you don’t submit an application

Revise and resubmit is the rule, not the exception

Persistence (often) pays off

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Help Us Help You

Read the Request for Applications carefully

Send IES program officers a one-page description of your proposed project

Talk with a program officer

Send the program officer your draft, so that s/he can provide feedback as time permits

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Any Questions?

Thanks!

Elizabeth AlbroElizabeth.Albro@ed.gov

@IESResearch

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