IES-NCER: Lead of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Network under the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice Grant Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305N-2 | ED GRANTS 081922 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 081922 003

This funding opportunity comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), specifically the National Center for Education Research (NCER), under Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305N-2. It sits within the FY 2023 "Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice" grant program, which is designed to concentrate national research capacity on a small set of high-priority education issues. The basic idea behind these networks is not just to fund individual studies, but to create an organized, collaborative structure where researchers can coordinate, share methods and findings, identify gaps in evidence, and strengthen both research quality and the reach of results to policy and practice audiences.

The particular competition described here is narrow in scope: NCER is inviting applications only for Topic #183, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Research Network, and only for the Network Lead role. In other words, applicants are not proposing a stand-alone CTE research study through this notice. Instead, they are applying to lead and coordinate a national research network focused on CTE. The CTE Network's research portfolio is expected to be carried out through projects that are funded by other IES grant competitions, with the Network Lead providing the connective tissue that aligns those projects, supports collaboration, and helps translate emerging evidence into usable knowledge for the field. This makes the award more about field-building and infrastructure than about a single research question.

The overarching purpose of the IES/NCER research grants applies here as well: to produce reliable and valid evidence about education practices that support learning, improve academic achievement, and expand access to education opportunities for all learners. For this network program, that purpose is pursued by focusing resources and attention on issues of national importance and by formalizing processes for researchers to work together over time. In practice, a Network Lead would be expected to convene and coordinate researchers working on CTE topics, encourage shared approaches and common measures where appropriate, create opportunities for cross-project learning, and bolster dissemination so that findings reach decision-makers and practitioners in forms they can use.

In terms of administrative details, this is a discretionary grant opportunity with allowable funding instruments listed as a cooperative agreement and/or a grant. Only one award is expected. The public posting date was August 19, 2022, applications were made available October 20, 2022, and the deadline for transmitting applications was February 23, 2023. The listing notes an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that applicants must rely on the official Federal Register notice for the actual budget parameters and any constraints, rather than using the synopsis as a definitive source.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education); and other entities as clarified in the official notice. Because this synopsis repeatedly emphasizes that it is not the authoritative source, applicants are directed to consult the official Federal Register application notice for the definitive eligibility rules, required components, priorities, performance measures, and submission requirements. Applicants are also referred to the Department of Education's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 27, 2021) for addresses and standard submission procedures.

For questions about the opportunity, the listed program contact is Dr. Corinne Alfeld at IES (Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20202), reachable by email at Corinne.Alfeld@ed.gov and by phone at (202) 245-8203. The synopsis also notes that information about a separate network (the Digital Learning Platforms Network) is published elsewhere in the same Federal Register issue, signaling that this notice is specific to the CTE Network Lead competition and should be read alongside the broader network program materials only as needed.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IES-NCER: Lead of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Network under the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice Grant Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305N-2" 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 Aug 19, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 23, 2023 Posting Date August 19, 2022. Applications Available October 20, 2022. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications February 23, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Dr. Corinne Alfeld, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20202. Email Corinne.Alfeld@ed.gov. Telephone (202) 245-8203.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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