Since 2004, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has invested in training programs to prepare individuals to conduct rigorous and relevant education research that advances knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners. Through these programs, the National Center for Education Research (NCER) seeks to fund new approaches to train and mentor students and researchers to encourage their entry into and success within education research careers. These efforts seek to improve the quality of education research and encourage new ideas, approaches, and perspectives.
The training programs supported by this grant program include:
Early Career Development and Mentoring in Education Research
IES established the Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Education Research (Early Career Program) to prepare and support early career researchers at academic and non-academic research institutions and organizations to conduct high-quality education research that advances knowledge within the field of education sciences and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.
Methods Training for Education Research
Methods Training for Education Research supports training of current education researchers to expand and upgrade their methodological skills. Education researchers include individuals located in colleges and universities as well as individuals working in state and local education agencies, education-focused organizations, and companies that have developed and deployed education related products and services. Supported training should respond to the ongoing development and adaptation of methods concerning the design of education studies, data collection, data analysis, and practical interpretation of the results of analyses.
Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences
Predoctoral Training Program grants are awarded to institutions of higher education that create cohesive graduate training programs in which fellows receive training in conducting education research while earning their doctorates within a traditional academic discipline. Fellows are trained to develop education interventions (e.g., curricula, professional development) that are grounded in a science of learning; to evaluate education programs, practices, and policies using rigorous and well-implemented experimental and quasi-experimental designs; and/or to employ sophisticated statistical methods to examine large state and local datasets to identify potential solutions to education problems.
Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education Sciences
This program funds groups of faculty research trainers who recruit, hire, and prepare postdoctoral researchers to conduct high-quality education research. IES encourages training programs to recruit fellows from underrepresented demographic groups including minority groups and those with disabilities, those coming from smaller or less well-known institutions, or those with non-traditional backgrounds including former practitioners or institutional researchers.
Pathways to the Education Sciences Research Training Program
The Pathways to the Education Sciences Research Training program was established by IES to develop a pipeline of talented education researchers who bring fresh ideas, approaches, and perspectives to addressing the issues and challenges faced by the nation's diverse students and schools.
Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority Serving Institutions
The Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority Serving Institutions (Early Career MSI Program) supports grants that prepare faculty at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to conduct high-quality education research that advances knowledge within the field of education sciences and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.
Legislation
- 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq., the “Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002,” Title I of Public Law 107-279, November 5, 2002
- Section 10634 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C. § 19234)
- This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372
Regulations
- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) codified at 2 C.F.R. Part 200
- The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 C.F.R. parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86 (part 86 applies only to institutions of higher education), 97, 98, and 99. In addition 34 C.F.R. part 75 is applicable, except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217, 75.219,75.220, 75.221, 75.222, and 75.230.
Applicant Information
Timeline
- Application Available: August 6, 2026
- Letter of Intent: September 3, 2026 (Submit your Letter of Intent online)
- Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time
- Possible Start Dates: July 1 - September 1, 2027
Application
- Review the IES Application Submission Guide
- Review the FY 2026 84.305B Research Training Programs in Education Sciences Application Notice and Instructions
- Complete your submission on Grants.gov
Eligibility
For the Early Career Program, IES provides funds to the institution of the principal investigator (PI) who submitted the application for support of their research and career development. Applicants to the Early Career program must be a research institution (academic or non-academic). Institutions located in the territorial United States that have the ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities.
For the Methods Training Program, applicants located in the territorial United States that have the ability and capacity to conduct training in scientific research methods for education research are eligible to apply. An applying institution may hold more than one Methods Training award and submit multiple applications to the Methods Training Program if they are substantively different from one another and have no overlaps in key personnel.
FY 2024
FY 2023
| Grant Award Number | Grantee | State | Training Program | Project Title | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R305B230008 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | Methods Training | Data Science for Education (DS4EDU) | $799,523 |
| R305B230015 | Morgan State University | MD | Early Career Mentoring for Faculty at MSIs | The Learning and Engaging at a Distance (LEAD) Initiative | $399,747 |
| R305B230007 | University of Pennsylvania | PA | Methods Training | Data Science Methods for Digital Learning Platforms Training Program | $795,312 |
| R305B230002 | University of Washington - Seattle | WA | Methods Training | Innovation Science for Education Analytics (ISEA): A Data Science Training Program to Advance Educational Research and Practice | $799,992 |
FY 2022
| Grant Award Number | Grantee | State | Training Program | Project Title | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R305B220003 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | WI | Postdoctoral Research Training | School Mental Health Collaborative Postdoctoral Research and Training Program | $711,773 |
| R305B220007 | Georgia State University | GA | Methods Training | Meta-Analysis Training Institute | $799,999 |
| R305B220018 | Stanford University | CA | Postdoctoral Research Training | Supporting Equity-Focused, Interdisciplinary, and Responsive Research in Early Childhood Care and Education: The Equity in Early Education (E3) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program | $781,680 |
| R305B220021 | University of California - Santa Barbara | CA | Methods Training | Applied Mixture Modeling Training Workshops and Resources for Education Researchers | $799,964 |
| R305B220014 | University of Iowa | IA | Postdoctoral Research Training | University of Iowa Postdoctoral Training in Culturally Responsive Education Leadership Research | $737,814 |
FY 2021
FY 2020
Since 2004, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has invested in training programs to prepare individuals to conduct rigorous and relevant education research that advances knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners. Through these programs, the National Center for Education Research (NCER) seeks to fund new approaches to train and mentor students and researchers to encourage their entry into and success within education research careers. These efforts seek to improve the quality of education research and encourage new ideas, approaches, and perspectives.
The training programs supported by this grant program include:
Early Career Development and Mentoring in Education Research
IES established the Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Education Research (Early Career Program) to prepare and support early career researchers at academic and non-academic research institutions and organizations to conduct high-quality education research that advances knowledge within the field of education sciences and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.
Methods Training for Education Research
Methods Training for Education Research supports training of current education researchers to expand and upgrade their methodological skills. Education researchers include individuals located in colleges and universities as well as individuals working in state and local education agencies, education-focused organizations, and companies that have developed and deployed education related products and services. Supported training should respond to the ongoing development and adaptation of methods concerning the design of education studies, data collection, data analysis, and practical interpretation of the results of analyses.
Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences
Predoctoral Training Program grants are awarded to institutions of higher education that create cohesive graduate training programs in which fellows receive training in conducting education research while earning their doctorates within a traditional academic discipline. Fellows are trained to develop education interventions (e.g., curricula, professional development) that are grounded in a science of learning; to evaluate education programs, practices, and policies using rigorous and well-implemented experimental and quasi-experimental designs; and/or to employ sophisticated statistical methods to examine large state and local datasets to identify potential solutions to education problems.
Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education Sciences
This program funds groups of faculty research trainers who recruit, hire, and prepare postdoctoral researchers to conduct high-quality education research. IES encourages training programs to recruit fellows from underrepresented demographic groups including minority groups and those with disabilities, those coming from smaller or less well-known institutions, or those with non-traditional backgrounds including former practitioners or institutional researchers.
Pathways to the Education Sciences Research Training Program
The Pathways to the Education Sciences Research Training program was established by IES to develop a pipeline of talented education researchers who bring fresh ideas, approaches, and perspectives to addressing the issues and challenges faced by the nation's diverse students and schools.
Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority Serving Institutions
The Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority Serving Institutions (Early Career MSI Program) supports grants that prepare faculty at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to conduct high-quality education research that advances knowledge within the field of education sciences and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.
Legislation
- 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq., the “Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002,” Title I of Public Law 107-279, November 5, 2002
- Section 10634 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C. § 19234)
- This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372
Regulations
- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) codified at 2 C.F.R. Part 200
- The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 C.F.R. parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86 (part 86 applies only to institutions of higher education), 97, 98, and 99. In addition 34 C.F.R. part 75 is applicable, except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103, 75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217, 75.219,75.220, 75.221, 75.222, and 75.230.
Applicant Information
Timeline
- Application Available: August 6, 2026
- Letter of Intent: September 3, 2026 (Submit your Letter of Intent online)
- Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time
- Possible Start Dates: July 1 - September 1, 2027
Application
- Review the IES Application Submission Guide
- Review the FY 2026 84.305B Research Training Programs in Education Sciences Application Notice and Instructions
- Complete your submission on Grants.gov
Eligibility
For the Early Career Program, IES provides funds to the institution of the principal investigator (PI) who submitted the application for support of their research and career development. Applicants to the Early Career program must be a research institution (academic or non-academic). Institutions located in the territorial United States that have the ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities.
For the Methods Training Program, applicants located in the territorial United States that have the ability and capacity to conduct training in scientific research methods for education research are eligible to apply. An applying institution may hold more than one Methods Training award and submit multiple applications to the Methods Training Program if they are substantively different from one another and have no overlaps in key personnel.
FY 2024
FY 2023
| Grant Award Number | Grantee | State | Training Program | Project Title | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R305B230008 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | Methods Training | Data Science for Education (DS4EDU) | $799,523 |
| R305B230015 | Morgan State University | MD | Early Career Mentoring for Faculty at MSIs | The Learning and Engaging at a Distance (LEAD) Initiative | $399,747 |
| R305B230007 | University of Pennsylvania | PA | Methods Training | Data Science Methods for Digital Learning Platforms Training Program | $795,312 |
| R305B230002 | University of Washington - Seattle | WA | Methods Training | Innovation Science for Education Analytics (ISEA): A Data Science Training Program to Advance Educational Research and Practice | $799,992 |
FY 2022
| Grant Award Number | Grantee | State | Training Program | Project Title | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R305B220003 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | WI | Postdoctoral Research Training | School Mental Health Collaborative Postdoctoral Research and Training Program | $711,773 |
| R305B220007 | Georgia State University | GA | Methods Training | Meta-Analysis Training Institute | $799,999 |
| R305B220018 | Stanford University | CA | Postdoctoral Research Training | Supporting Equity-Focused, Interdisciplinary, and Responsive Research in Early Childhood Care and Education: The Equity in Early Education (E3) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program | $781,680 |
| R305B220021 | University of California - Santa Barbara | CA | Methods Training | Applied Mixture Modeling Training Workshops and Resources for Education Researchers | $799,964 |
| R305B220014 | University of Iowa | IA | Postdoctoral Research Training | University of Iowa Postdoctoral Training in Culturally Responsive Education Leadership Research | $737,814 |