Funding Opportunities

NSF Funding:

• Improving Undergraduate STEM Education
  • Solicitation: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19601/nsf19601.htm
  • The IUSE: EHR is a core NSF STEM education program that seeks to promote novel, creative, and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students.” There are two tracks: Engaged Student Learning, and and Institutional and Community Transformation, and there are 3 levels of funding. Due dates depend on the level. You can also apply for conference funding,
• Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST).
  • Solicitation: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19583/nsf19583.htm
  • This is a solicitation to provide direct experiences to PreK-12 students (PreK-12). The learning opportunities are based on innovative use of technology to strengthen knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.
  • Due date is August
• Advancing Informal Science Learning
  • Solicitation: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21599/nsf21599.htm
  • This NSF funding can be used for the most diverse ideas. – can be for K-12, families, offer programs, build exhibits, etc. as long as it it focuses on informal education. There are 6 project types: (1) Pilots and Feasibility Studies, (2) Research in Service to Practice, (3) Innovations in Development, (4) Broad Implementation, (5) Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-analyses, and (6) Conferences.
  • Due date in January
• Research Coordination Networks
  • Solicitation– kind of strange – this is cross cutting, and I learned about it through the AISL program solicitation- here is info for the RCN in Biology: Research Coordination Networks
  • This funding supports groups of investigators to communicate and coordinate their research, training and educational activities across disciplinary, organizational, geographic and international boundaries
  • Proposals can be submitted any time
• DRK12 (Discovery Research PreK-12)
  • https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20572/nsf20572.htm
  • Funds programs that improve STEM teaching and learning at pre collegiate level, can be focused on assessment, learning or teaching. From the solicitation: interested in projects that seek to transform formal education practices and structures through the use of innovative approaches, materials, technologies, and practices.
  • Proposals due in October.
• INCLUDES:
  • https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20569/nsf20569.htm
  • 1-3 awards for Alliances (long shot– Would need some new PIs, and focus (could be same backbone), such as a Math related Alliance.
  • Letter of intent in October, proposal due in January.
  • 1-2M/year
• Research Experience for Undergraduates, Teachers– by division.
  • https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19582/nsf19582.htm
  • Due end of August
  • variable – not lots of $$

Other Agencies:

• Department of Education: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program
  • https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/innovation-early-learning/education-innovation-and-research-eir/fy-2021-competition/ and also: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/28/2021-16099/applications-for-new-awards-education-innovation-and-research-eir-program-early-phase-grants
  • provides funding to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based (as defined in this notice), field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and rigorously evaluate such innovations. (K-12). Early-phase grantees are encouraged to make continuous and iterative improvements in project design and implementation before conducting a full-scale evaluation of effectiveness. Rural is mentioned. STEM a priority.
  • Early phase: letter of intent due August 17, full proposals due August 27
  • General size = 60 months and $4 million