Institute of Education Sciences Announces Postsecondary and Adult Education Research Grant Competition

                Applications Due Aug. 7, 2014  

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education, recently announced a grant competition under its Education Research Grants program. Entities providing and coordinating services for postsecondary education students and adult learners may wish to submit a research proposal under this funding opportunity. 

The Education Research Grants program supports a range of researcher efforts to develop, improve, and evaluate education policies and programs.  Research in postsecondary and adult education seeks to support better student education outcomes at the college level (students working on certificates, associate, or bachelor's degrees), and in adult education programs (adult English language programs; adult literacy programs, including adult basic education, adult secondary education; and GED preparation programs). 

Under this research opportunity, IES is interested in “increasing student access to, persistence in, progress through, and completion of postsecondary and adult education programs as well as improving specific academic outcomes for students in developmental education, adult education, gateway science and math courses, and introductory composition courses.” Products under this program will offer tools and strategies, including practices, assessments, programs, and policies, that have been documented to improve education outcomes of adult learners and students. 

According to the announcement, the primary outcomes for adult education learners are “student achievement in reading, writing, English language proficiency, and mathematics … as well as access to, persistence in, progress through, and completion of adult education courses and programs.”   

For postsecondary education, the primary outcomes for students are “access to, persistence in, progress through, and completion of postsecondary education, which includes programs for students in developmental and bridge programs as well as programs that lead to occupational certificates, associate or bachelor’s degrees.” 

Please access the funding announcement for detailed information on this grant competition, including research information, student criteria, how to apply and key deadlines.

Grant applications are due Aug. 7, 2014, by 4:30 p.m., ET.