Up to $500,000 Education Research Grant

Organization: Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of Education
Type: Grant
Location: United States
Deadline: December 11, 2026
Funding: Fully Funded

The Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, funds teams through its From Seedlings to Scale (S2S) programme to grow new ideas into education solutions that work at scale. This year's competition backs Phase One projects that build AI and technology tools to help school, district and state leaders put evidence about what works into policy and practice for students from prekindergarten to grade 12. Applicants are institutions able to carry out scientific research, including universities, nonprofits and companies. **What you get:** - Up to $500,000 for a one-year Phase One project - R&D training and resources through the IES ATS Hub during the project - A chance to compete for two further years of Phase Two funding, and possibly Phase Three **What you'll do:** - Spend one year sharpening your understanding of the problem and refining your solution's theory of change with education stakeholders - Build an early-stage prototype of an AI or technology-enabled solution for education leaders - Prepare a research and development plan and make the case for Phase Two funding **Key dates:** - Optional letter of intent due October 29, 2026 - Applications close December 11, 2026 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern through Grants.gov - Possible start date June 1, 2027 **More information:** - IES plans to fund up to 12 Phase One projects - The full Request for Applications and the IES Application Submission Guide are linked from the programme page **What you get:** - Up to $500,000 for a one-year Phase One project - R&D training and resources through the IES ATS Hub - Eligibility to compete for two years of Phase Two funding, and possibly Phase Three **What you'll do:** - Clarify the problem and refine the solution's theory of change with stakeholders - Build an early-stage prototype of an AI or technology-enabled solution - Prepare a Phase Two R&D plan and present the case for further funding **Key dates:** - Application package available October 16, 2026 - Optional letter of intent due October 29, 2026 - Applications close December 11, 2026, 11:59:59 pm Eastern - Possible start date June 1, 2027 **More information:** - IES intends to fund up to 12 C-STEP Phase One projects - Program officer: Dr. Akilah Nelson, Akilah.Nelson@ed.gov - Federal Register notice 2026-21427, published October 20, 2026

Apply for Up to $500,000 Education Research Grant

Institute of Education Sciences (IES), U.S. Department of EducationGrant

Up to $500,000 Education Research Grant

Dec 11, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Grant

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Dec 11, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

What you get:

Up to $500,000 for a one-year Phase One project
R&D training and resources through the IES ATS Hub during the project
A chance to compete for two further years of Phase Two funding, and possibly Phase Three

What you'll do:

Spend one year sharpening your understanding of the problem and refining your solution's theory of change with education stakeholders
Build an early-stage prototype of an AI or technology-enabled solution for education leaders
Prepare a research and development plan and make the case for Phase Two funding

Key dates:

Optional letter of intent due October 29, 2026
Applications close December 11, 2026 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern through Grants.gov
Possible start date June 1, 2027

More information:

IES plans to fund up to 12 Phase One projects
The full Request for Applications and the IES Application Submission Guide are linked from the programme page

What you get:

Up to $500,000 for a one-year Phase One project
R&D training and resources through the IES ATS Hub
Eligibility to compete for two years of Phase Two funding, and possibly Phase Three

What you'll do:

Clarify the problem and refine the solution's theory of change with stakeholders
Build an early-stage prototype of an AI or technology-enabled solution
Prepare a Phase Two R&D plan and present the case for further funding

Key dates:

Application package available October 16, 2026
Optional letter of intent due October 29, 2026
Applications close December 11, 2026, 11:59:59 pm Eastern
Possible start date June 1, 2027

More information:

IES intends to fund up to 12 C-STEP Phase One projects
Program officer: Dr. Akilah Nelson, Akilah.Nelson@ed.gov
Federal Register notice 2026-21427, published October 20, 2026

Who can apply

Applicant must be an institution with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research, including institutions of higher education and nonprofit, for-profit, public or private organisations
Individuals cannot apply on their own; the institution designates a Principal Investigator
The solution must be relevant to education in the United States and address factors under the control of U.S. education systems
Phase One applications only, under the C-STEP (Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice) focus area
Submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59:59 pm Eastern on December 11, 2026
Institutions outside the territorial United States may not charge indirect costs

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Good to know

+Up to $500,000 for a one-year project building AI and technology tools for school leaders
+Free to apply
+Run by the Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education
+Universities, nonprofits and companies can all apply
+Funded teams can compete for Phase Two funding

Worth checking yourself

!Institutions apply, not individuals, with a named Principal Investigator
!The work must serve U.S. education, prekindergarten to grade 12
!You need Grants.gov and SAM registration plus research security certifications, so start early
!Applications close at 11:59:59 pm Eastern on 11 December 2026
!Only up to 12 awards will be made

Sources checked

IEies.ed.govApplyIEies.ed.govApplyIEies.ed.govApplyGOgovinfo.govOfficialIEies.ed.govApply

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