Simpler Grants.gov #ED-GRANTS-101526-001

IES Phase One Grants for AI- and Technology-Enabled PreK–12 Education Solutions

The U.S. Department of Education is offering Phase One research and development grants to advance evidence-informed, technology-enabled solutions for U.S. PreK–12 education. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), National Center for Education Research (NCER). - Program: From Seedlings to Scale (S2S) Grants, Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP), Phase One; ALN 84.305J. - Funding: Awards are limited to $500,000 per project, with up to 12 projects intended for funding, subject to available resources. - Requested work: Develop and refine an AI- and/or technology-enabled solution that helps U.S. PreK–12 education systems integrate evidence-based products, processes, or policies and improve student outcomes. Projects should investigate the education-system problem, engage stakeholders, and develop a solution and theory of change. - Required Phase One outputs: A proof-of-concept report, an early-stage prototype for demonstration, and an R&D plan for potential Phase Two work. - Notable requirements: Solutions must address factors within the control of U.S. education systems, be relevant to U.S. education, and align with applicable Standards for Excellence in Education Research (SEER 27). Applicants must be capable of conducting scientifically valid research. - Other phases: Phase Two may be funded separately for up to two years; Phase Three support may be provided at IES’s discretion. - OEMs, vendors, and specific products: No manufacturers, vendors, named commercial products, product part numbers, or product quantities are identified.

Description

The Department of Education, through the Institute of Education Sciences, is seeking applications for FY 2027 Phase One projects under the From Seedlings to Scale Grants program’s C-STEP focus area. Projects should develop and rigorously test innovative AI- and technology-enabled solutions that help education systems integrate evidence-based products, processes, and policies to improve outcomes for prekindergarten through grade 12 students. The work is intended to strengthen connections between research, policy, and practice, with attention to implementation and scaling. The maximum award is $500,000, and the application deadline is December 11, 2026.

View original listing