Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 101526 001
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), through its National Center for Education Research (NCER), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305J called "From Seedlings to Scale" (S2S). The central idea of S2S is to fund promising, innovative concepts and help them mature into solutions that can be sustained and expanded across real education settings. IES structures this program as a set of three phases, where both the funding level and the project duration increase as an idea demonstrates progress and potential. Across all phases, applicants are expected to blend rigorous, scientifically valid research with strong solution development practices, while also planning from the start for sustainability and scaling rather than treating them as afterthoughts.
For the FY 2027 competition, IES is specifically inviting applications for Phase One projects within a focus area titled Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP). C-STEP is aimed at closing the common gap between research and what schools, districts, and states actually implement. The program is looking for AI- and technology-enabled approaches that can help education systems more intentionally and effectively use evidence-based products, processes, and policies to improve outcomes for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. In practical terms, this means the proposed work should not just generate new evidence, but also make it easier for decision-makers to find, interpret, select, and implement what already works, and to do so in a way that fits local constraints and realities.
A strong S2S Phase One proposal under C-STEP is expected to show a deep understanding of how education systems operate, including the real decision pathways, incentives, capacity limits, data constraints, and implementation barriers that can cause proven practices to stall. IES is emphasizing solutions that help leaders align resources (such as staffing, time, budgets, professional learning, and technology infrastructure), anticipate downstream impacts of policy or program changes, and proactively address barriers that typically undermine adoption and fidelity. The overall goal is to strengthen the connection between research, policy, and practice so that evidence is not simply produced, but translated into coordinated action and measurable improvement in student outcomes.
In terms of eligibility, this opportunity is open to institutions with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes, but is not limited to, institutions of higher education as well as nonprofit, for-profit, public, or private organizations and other entities. The funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The opportunity number is ED GRANTS 101526 001, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is education. The listed award ceiling for this posting is $500,000. The original application closing date is December 11, 2026, and the posting creation date is October 16, 2026.Apply for ED GRANTS 101526 001
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center on Education Research (NCER): From Seedlings to Scale, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305J" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.305.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-10-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-11. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is called "From Seedlings to Scale" (S2S). It is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) through its National Center for Education Research (NCER).
2. What is the Assistance Listing Number (ALN) for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing Number (ALN) is 84.305J.
3. Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
4. What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number listed is ED GRANTS 101526 001.
5. What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
6. What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is education.
7. What is the overall purpose of the S2S program?
S2S is designed to fund promising, innovative concepts and help them mature into solutions that can be sustained and expanded across real education settings. The program emphasizes combining rigorous, scientifically valid research with strong solution development practices, while planning from the beginning for sustainability and scaling.
8. How is the S2S program structured?
IES structures S2S as a set of three phases. As an idea demonstrates progress and potential, both the funding level and the project duration increase across phases.
9. Which S2S phase is being solicited for the FY 2027 competition?
For FY 2027, IES is specifically inviting applications for Phase One projects.
10. What is the focus area for the FY 2027 Phase One competition?
The focus area is titled Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP).
11. What does C-STEP aim to address?
C-STEP aims to close the common gap between research and what schools, districts, and states actually implement by supporting approaches that help education systems use evidence more intentionally and effectively.
12. What kinds of approaches is C-STEP looking for?
C-STEP is looking for AI- and technology-enabled approaches that help education systems use evidence-based products, processes, and policies to improve outcomes for students in prekindergarten through grade 12.
13. What grade levels are targeted by this opportunity?
The opportunity targets student outcomes in prekindergarten through grade 12 (preK-12).
14. Is the goal to create new evidence, or to help implement what already works?
Based on the description, the proposed work should not only generate new evidence, but also make it easier for decision-makers to find, interpret, select, and implement what already works, in ways that fit local constraints and realities.
15. What is IES emphasizing for a strong Phase One S2S proposal under C-STEP?
A strong Phase One proposal is expected to demonstrate a deep understanding of how education systems operate, including decision pathways, incentives, capacity limits, data constraints, and implementation barriers that can prevent proven practices from being adopted or implemented with fidelity.
16. What types of system constraints and resources should proposed solutions consider?
IES highlights alignment of resources such as staffing, time, budgets, professional learning, and technology infrastructure. Proposed solutions are also expected to anticipate downstream impacts of policy or program changes and proactively address barriers that undermine adoption and fidelity.
17. What is the intended end result of C-STEP projects?
The goal is to strengthen the connection between research, policy, and practice so that evidence is translated into coordinated action and measurable improvement in student outcomes.
18. Who is eligible to apply?
This opportunity is open to institutions with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, institutions of higher education and nonprofit, for-profit, public, or private organizations and other entities.
19. What is the maximum award amount listed for this posting?
The listed award ceiling is $500,000.
20. When is the application due?
The original application closing date is December 11, 2026.
21. When was this posting created?
The posting creation date is October 16, 2026.
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