Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER): Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking in Special Education, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.324S

The U.S. Department of Education, through the Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Special Education Research, is seeking applications under Assistance Listing Number 84.324S to support state agencies in leveraging their Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDSs) to generate evidence that informs education policy and program decisions for learners with or at risk for disabilities. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by October 1, 2026, with an optional letter of intent due by September 3, 2026. The solicitation targets institutions capable of conducting rigorous research using existing SLDS data, potentially augmented by primary data collection, to produce actionable findings that improve learner and educator outcomes in areas such as literacy, STEM, and social-emotional development. Proposals must align with the Standards for Excellence in Education Research (SEER 27), including domains on objectivity, relevance, open science, and intervention research, and must comply with 2 CFR 200, the Uniform Guidance, and federal civil rights regulations. The maximum award amount is $1,200,000, with an anticipated award period starting between July and September 2027. Applicants must provide a project narrative limited to 15 pages and include mandatory appendices covering the Data Sharing and Management Plan, alignment with SEER standards, and Letters of Agreement with data providers, all submitted in a single PDF with adherence to formatting rules such as 12-point font, single spacing, and 1-inch margins. Key personnel must have persistent identifiers (e.g., ORCID), complete research security training within the prior year, and certify non-participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs and absence of Confucius Institute affiliations, as mandated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Financial and research compliance will be monitored through audits, public access to publications via ERIC, and data sharing requirements, with data to be publicly archived no later than five years after the grant end date or upon publication, whichever comes first. Evaluation is based on scientific merit determined through peer review, alignment with IES research priorities, past performance on federal awards, and adherence to all federal requirements including data management, research security, and public access policies. The award is not based on cost competitiveness but on technical excellence and programmatic relevance, and the Department retains authority to impose conditions or withhold funds due to non-compliance, inadequate data access, financial instability, or prior poor performance.