Education Innovation and Research

The Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program provides funding to:

• create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and
• rigorously evaluate such innovations.

The EIR program is designed to generate and validate solutions to persistent educational challenges and to support the expansion of effective solutions to serve substantially larger numbers of students.  The EIR is established under section 4611 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

There are three types of grants under this program:

• "Early-phase" grants,
• "Mid-phase" grants, and
• "Expansion" grants.

These grants differ in terms of the level of prior evidence of effectiveness required for consideration for funding, the expectations regarding the kind of evidence and information funded projects should produce, the level of scale funded projects should reach, and, consequently, the amount of funding available to support each type of project.

FY 2024 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Competitions

FY 2024 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Competition Announcement

We are extending the deadline for transmittal of applications for the FY 24 Education Innovation and Research program's Early-phase Grant competition. The application deadline is extended to July 31, 2024, for eligible applicants located in Texas counties that are covered by the major disaster declaration caused by Hurricane Beryl. For eligible entities in this Federally declared disaster area, the revised deadline for Transmittal of Applications is July 31, 2024.The revised deadline for Intergovernmental Review will be September 27, 2024. We are not extending the application period for all applicants. Thus, applications from applicants not affected by the major disaster declaration referenced in the forthcoming notice will not be accepted as part of this limited extension.

Official notice of this Early Phase extension is published in the Federal Register.

On May 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education published in the Federal Register the notice inviting applications for the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program's Early-phase, Mid-Phase, and Expansion competitions.

TIMELINE FOR FY 2024 EARLY-PHASE, MID-PHASE, AND EXPANSION COMPETITIONS

Early-phase

Applications Available: May 6, 2024
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 6, 2024
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 22, 2024
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 20, 2024

Mid-phase

Applications Available: May 6, 2024
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 6, 2024
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 5, 2024
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 3, 2024

Expansion

Applications Available: May 6, 2024
Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: June 6, 2024
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 5, 2024
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 3, 2024

The following competition-specific Notice includes additional details:

• Early Phase
• Mid Phase
• Expansion

Application Materials for Early, Mid, and Expansion Phase Competitions

All applications are carefully reviewed under the competition in which they were submitted through the Grants.gov system. Only those applications that meet the established deadline will be eligible for peer review. To ensure that your application is considered for the intended EIR competition, please download the correct EIR package and submit it accordingly. It is important to take the time to carefully review the application requirements before submitting the application.

• Early-phase Application Package 
• Mid-phase Application Package 
• Expansion Application Package 
• The ED Abstract form
• The Rural Eligibility Checklist

Notice of Intent to Apply

Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the Department of their intent to apply for funding through the Education Innovation and Research Program (EIR). Please note that submitting a notice of intent to apply does not mean that an entity is obligated to apply for an EIR grant, nor is it bound to the information provided in the notice of intent.

FY2024 EIR Grants Competition Notice of Intent to Apply link

POTENTIAL APPLICANT RESOURCES

These following resources are meant to organize key details about the EIR program for preparing an application. If you are planning to apply to EIR, you should read carefully the specific notice inviting applications (NIA) when it is released and application package for the competition to which you are applying. These resources are for information purposes only, and applicants should rely upon the NIA for the official competition requirements.

Applicant Information

• FY 2023 Competition (Historical EIR Competition information)
• FY 2022 Competition (Historical EIR Competition information)
• FY 2021 Competition (Historical EIR Competition information)
• FY 2020 Competition (Historical EIR Competition information)
• FY 2019 Competition (Historical EIR Competition information)

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:

1. A local educational agency (LEA);
2. A State educational agency (SEA);
3. The Bureau of Indian Education;
4. A consortium of State educational agencies or LEAs;
5. A nonprofit organization; and
6. A State educational agency, an LEA, a consortium described in (d), or the Bureau of Indian Education, in partnership with
   1. A nonprofit (as defined in the notice) organization;
   2. A business;
   3. An educational service agency; or
   4. An institution of higher education.

To qualify as a rural applicant under the EIR program, an applicant must meet both of the following requirements:

1. The applicant is:
   1. An LEA with an urban-centric district locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;
   2. A consortium of such LEAs;
   3. An educational service agency or a nonprofit organization in partnership with such an LEA; or
   4. A grantee described in clause (I) or (II) in partnership with a State educational agency; and
2. A majority of the schools to be served by the program are designated with a locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, or a combination of such codes, as determined by the Secretary.

• Prioritizing Teacher Well-Being
  The critical importance of maintaining and valuing teacher well-being manifests in many ways, some of which became especially pronounced in recent years. Implementing initiatives to prioritize teacher well-being is complex, and doing so effectively can positively impact school culture and student learning.

  During this engaging conversation, the panel discussed opportunities to prioritize teacher well-being and possible strategies for navigating challenges to their approaches. EIR grantees highlighted the ways in which their work emphasizes well-being for teachers and students.

  Recording: Prioritizing Teacher Well Being - YouTube

  Slide Deck: PDF

  EIR White Papers 2024

  All Evidence Is Evidence: What Can We Learn from Studies with Non-Significant Findings?

  Description: Research studies sometimes return findings that are non-significant but may be relevant in unexpected ways. Far from suggesting that the study was a failure, non-significant findings are an opportunity to learn more. This paper explores what the field can learn from studies with non-significant findings. 

  PDF

  Reconnecting with Families: How EIR Grantees Are Reimagining Family Engagement Post COVID–19

  Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the role of family engagement in education as crucial for addressing students’ academic, social-emotional, and cultural needs. Despite the emerging and ongoing challenges faced by educators and families due to the pandemic, it is imperative for educators to reimagine what family engagement entails to meet the evolving needs of their learners. This paper explores effective approaches to family engagement in a post-COVID-19 environment.

  PDF

  Got Results? Moving Up EIR Funding Tiers

  Description: Evidence-based programs have the potential to greatly impact teachers and students, but scaling such programs successfully is a complex process. This paper explores effective strategies for scaling up programs sustainably while addressing common challenges such programs often must manage.

  PDF

  Implementing Out-of-School Time STEM Programs in STEM Ecosystems

  Description: STEM content is increasingly critical in both work and life, and STEM-related learning occurs in both formal and informal environments. This paper describes factors that contribute to the success of out-of-school time STEM programs funded through EIR grants.

  PDF

  Title: How EIR Grantees Recruit Schools and Districts for Research Studies

  Description: Meaningful education research requires strong participation, but recruiting schools and districts to participate in research is challenging and complex. In this paper, the author highlights common challenges to successful recruitment and strategies to counteract those challenges.

  PDF

  Title: Approaches to Teacher Well-Being

  Description: Teacher well-being is linked to positive classroom environments and student educational experiences.  This paper addresses (1) definitions of educator well-being and recent changes in the educational setting that may create challenges for teacher wellness, (2) organization-wide frameworks to address educator well-being, and (3) an array of practices currently in place across schools and districts.

  PDF

• EIR Grantee Interventions Addressing COVID-Related Learning Loss 
  This webinar examined how EIR grantees addressed COVID-related learning loss by developing innovative solutions in response to the needs of teachers and students. Within this interactive conversation, EIR grantees reflected on their implementation of strategies for academic recovery.

  Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShiK8rgwGTk

  Slides: PDF

• Understanding and Disseminating Non-Significant Findings
  This webinar highlights grantees that did not have significant positive impacts and provides an overview of why a study might not have significant results and why it's important to make findings publicly available. You'll hear from EIR program officer, Sonji Jones-Manson and guidance is provided by Dr. Liz Albro (IES).

  Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGnH5rmOOfQ

  Slides: PDF

• Navigating Challenges webinar 

  EIR Grantees have been faced with multiple challenges requiring them to spend time and resources on deciding whether to shift gears or forge ahead. The most prevalent of these challenges include recruitment difficulties, staff turnover, natural disasters, COVID-19 effects, local politics, parental influence and/or data collection burdens. In this webinar, you'll hear from a grantee panel followed by a share out of challenges, solutions and strategies.

  Recording: https://youtu.be/do5f-jXIvOY

  Slides: PDF

• EIR Disseminating Research Webinar

  In this webinar, you'll hear from Dr. Ashley Brizzo, EIR Group Leader, and Dr. Elizabeth Albro, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), who shared the EIR program requirements and a variety of methods for disseminating research findings. EIR grantee panelists shared their successes and challenges in implementing their dissemination strategies and publishing their findings.

  Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFI_XkoLGdw

  Slides: PDF

• Exploring EIR Dissemination Strategies

  This public-facing webinar provides a framework for thinking about the different strategies and purposes of dissemination, how the audience might vary based on the purpose, some methods or avenues for dissemination and the relationship with the EIR open licensing requirements. After outlining an overarching framework, a panel of EIR grantees provided targeted examples from their projects.

  Recording: https://youtu.be/wJN7hyjgSh4

  Slides: PDF

• EIR Disseminating Tools and Resources

  Dissemination is a major part of the investment in the Department of Education's Education, Innovation and Research (EIR) projects. All grantees participate in dissemination and also are consumers of work disseminated by others. In this webinar, you'll hear from experienced grantees who shared successes and challenges in implementing their strategies disseminating tools and resources.

  Recording: https://youtu.be/a_X_46-TPtQ

  Slides: PDF

• Rural Career Pathways White Paper
  The United States Department of Education's Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant program supports several grantees exploring innovative rural career pathways for students, navigating complex approaches to employment opportunities. This area warrants additional attention. Rural career pathways offer students a clear progression from an area of interest to exact coursework requirements for high school graduation and then to subsequent employment or postsecondary enrollment. enrollment. These students are provided with an opportunity to obtain a set of skills, experiences, or credentials that can result in employment in their current rural area if they choose. This paper addresses three areas related to rural career pathways: (1) components of successful career pathways, (2) factors that set rural schools apart and support a place-based approach, and (3) current promising interventions for rural career pathways.
  • High-Need Student Resources
    The EIR program makes serving high-need students a priority for all projects. The projects are multifaceted, serving somewhat different populations and ages.
    • EIR Grantees Serving High-Need Students panel discussion 
      View this conversation with EIR grantees serving high-need students. During this webinar, the panelists describe how they designed their programs to meet the needs of different student populations and how their program might work in other settings or with other students.
      Recording
      Slides
    • Implementing Innovations for Students with Disabilities webinar
      This webinar offers a resource combining the knowledge of high-leverage practices, expert panelists' experiences and understanding of current EIR program offerings, along with a brief review of completed EIR-funded projects. The webinar will shine a light on the ways that EIR can serve to connect students with disabilities to innovation with appropriate adaptations and modifications.
      Recording
      Slides
    • Findings from Projects with a Focus on Serving Students With Disabilities cross-project summary
      This cross-project summary presents four case studies of completed Investing in Innovation (i3) projects that utilize high-leverage practices for working with students with disabilities. i3 and EIR grantees have developed innovative programs designed or adapted to serve students with disabilities by addressing student challenges. Examining the successes and possibilities from these programs can help researchers and practitioners better understand how to impact student outcomes with increased precision. PDF
  • From Planning to Piloting: Setting Up Your EIR Grant for Success
    Hear from a panel of EIR grantees who discussed the successes and challenges of their planning and/or pilot years and how they overcame challenges such as recruitment issues, hiring implementation staff, data collection, project management, and pivoting when necessary. Slides
  • Covid-19: A Look at How EIR-Funded Projects Are Supporting SEL Needs of Students and Teachers and Mediating Learning Gaps
    Covid-19 has significantly impacted our world in numerous ways. In 2021, two EIR competitive preference priorities were issued to address the impact of Covid and promote equity in Pre-K-12 education. This webinar is a first look at what a few of these grantees have been working on over the past year. Presentations and conversation with the grantees focus on how they are conceptualizing their work, how they are addressing Covid recovery, and how they believe their innovation will make an impact. Addressing Covid recovery can include a focus on learning gaps in student education or the social and emotional needs of students and teachers. Both areas of interest have been substantially impacted by routine changes related to Covid safety procedures. Slides
  • Connecting Theory to SEL Practice: A Conversation to Understand How Practitioners Tailor Local SEL Initiatives and Interventions | Presentation 
    In this interactive conservation, we bring together a panel of SEL experts, current EIR grantees who are leading innovation in the SEL domain, and attendees to explore existing SEL theoretical frameworks and whether they provide the flexibility necessary to contextualize SEL interventions and programs so researchers and practitioners can equitably assess what works for whom, why, and in what context in education. By engaging in a peer discussion about how SEL-related theories connect with SEL practices, attendees will share the role of theory in their work, learn about the challenges their counterparts face when determining how practitioners utilize SEL theoretical frameworks in their practice, and deepen their understanding of how to leverage theory in practice to improve implementation strategies and measurement tools in the field.
  • EIR 2023 Cross-Project Summaries (these essays explore lessons learned from some EIR projects that address similar topics):
    • How EIR Grants Serve High-need Students Cross-project Summary
    • Data and Partnerships Drive Continuous Improvement in EIR Projects
    • Connecting Theory to SEL Practice: Five Key Insights from Innovative, Community-Driven SEL Initiatives and Programs
  • EIR 2022 Cross-Project Summaries (these essays explore lessons learned from some EIR projects that address similar topics):
    • Using Micro-credentials to Improve Teacher Skills in Computer Science
    • Approaches to Build and Maintain High-Quality, Effective Partnerships
    • Teacher-Directed Professional Learning: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions
    • Innovations and Adaptations Inspired through COVID-19 Constraints: A Rural Cross-Project Summary
  • Understanding the EIR Open Licensing Requirement Webinar (6/21/2022)
    In this webinar, Jessica Ch'ng, U.S. Department of Education's Office of Education Technology Fellow, presents an overview of the open licensing requirement that applies to all EIR grants made since 2017. The overview is followed by a Q&A with EIR Program Officers and Ms. Ch'ng. This webinar is designed to help grantees:
    • understand the open licensing rule
    • understand what is and isn't covered in the rule
    • learn how to acquire and apply an open license
    • distinguish between different types of open licenses
    • understand expectations for the dissemination plan required by the rule
    • PPT | Supplemental Quick Facts Sheet | EIR Open Licensing FAQ
    • Plan Overview
  • Promoting Teacher Autonomy, Practice and Knowledge: Lessons Learned from Teacher-Directed Professional Learning Programs 
    In this webinar, Frederick Brown, Chief Learning Officer/Deputy with Learning Forward, shares promising practices, key research and emerging trends for teacher directed professional development (TDPD), citing international studies and reports from the field. Afterward, we hear from EIR grantees who are implementing TDPD in their EIR projects and learn about the logistics of offering TDPD (recruitment, applications, tracking activity), verifying the quality of the PD, where PD can be most successful and any roadblocks states or districts might need to consider. Through this facilitated discussion, participants learn more about the range in variation and complexities of offering teachers autonomy in their professional learning. Slides
  • FY 2020 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Competitions Frequently Asked Questions 
    This FAQ document covers questions related to all three of the EIR competitions and also includes general EIR program information. Please note that the Department may post additional FAQs at a later date. MS Word (59 KB).
  • FY 2022 EIR Monitoring Webinar 
    This is a recording from January 19, 2022 that serves as an overview for monitoring activities of the EIR program. PowerPoint | Recording
  • Aligning the Measures: Looking in Depth at Your Performance Measures and Annual Performance Targets
    The Aligning the Measures: Looking In-Depth at Your Performance Measures and Annual Performance Targets webinar was developed to help EIR grantees gain knowledge about the EIR grant management and reporting process in relation to their evaluation. In this webinar, EIR staff explain the terminology and process for refining and improving objectives and measures from your project's application. Following the overview of the performance measures requirements and submission process, EIR grantees share suggestions and tips when developing and refining their own measures.
    • Measurement Plan Template | Slides
  • Designing and Implementing Social Emotional Learning Programs to Promote Equity
    In our white paper, Designing and Implementing SEL Programs to Promote Equity, we illustrate how and why designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality SEL programs with a lens of equity and inclusion is imperative to realizing the promise of SEL programs in supporting students' social, emotional, and academic well-being. The Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education has made significant investments in funding equity-focused SEL programs. We highlight five EIR-funded projects and provide resources and approaches for other researchers and practitioners who aim to develop, implement, and evaluate equity-focused SEL programs. Note: Equitable SEL programs are those which aim to promote students' SEL capacities and skills while advancing educational equity.
    • Webinar: Designing and Implementing SEL Programs to Promote Equity | Slides 
      This webinar illustrates how and why designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality SEL programs with a lens of equity and inclusion is imperative to realizing the promise of SEL programs in supporting students' social, emotional, and academic well-being, and how this lens of equity can help mitigate some of the inequities experienced within the educational system. After sharing findings from the white paper Designing and Implementing Social Emotional Learning Programs to Promote Equity, two EIR grantees share their projects and describe how they designed equity-focused SEL programs. Dr. Kirkland then addresses the core components of equity-centered SEL programs and the need for collaborative practices that frame diversity as an asset.
  • Webinar: Rediscovering Professional Learning: Creating Engaging and Meaningful Professional Learning in Virtual Settings | Slides
    One challenge of the COVID pandemic was shifting in-person professional learning for teachers to an online or virtual setting as many programs were developed for in-person learning. This webinar shares promising practices from two EIR grantee projects which successfully transitioned professional learning to an online format. The facilitator and grantees engage in a discussion on what online/virtual PD can look like, format considerations, and when virtual PD is most effective. The conversation focuses on the core elements of successful and engaging online professional development, the most effective on-line learning formats, such as shifting from full in-person to asynchronous and hybrid learning option, and the unintended positive outcomes of shifting to virtual PD."
  • Pressing Pause: How one nonprofit and a lead funder tackled a crisis head-on and what they learned about scale, decision-making, and communication
  • Interventions for Equity in College Access and Success
  • Connecting Solutions - Technology Interventions in Economically Disadvantaged Communities: Program Adaptation Lessons from the i3/EIR Program
  • Financial Sustainability: Earned, not Given
  • Scaling Up Evidence-Based Practices: Strategies from Investing in Innovation (i3)
  • Walking the Tightrope Part I: Fidelity and Fit When Scaling - Program Adaptation Lessons from the i3/EIR Program
  • Walking the Tightrope Part II: Fidelity and Fit for Emerging Programs - Program Adaptation Lessons from the i3/EIR Program

Included in the chart below is the amount of funding per fiscal year.

LEGISLATION

Section 4611 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). PDF (45 KB)