Greetings Colleagues,
 
This update addresses concerns about funding stability from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and other federal agencies for COEHD faculty with pending applications, current grants, or plans for future proposals.
 
Though specific changes to USDE under the new administration remain unclear, here’s what we know so far:
  1. Current and recent applications will proceed through review and scoring.
  2. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) continue as planned; for instance, the Institute for Education Sciences just released an RFP with a March deadline (details below).
  3. Ongoing projects should be carried out with the expectation that they will reach their completion dates (with deliverables and reports submitted as required).
While there is no direct information from USDE or other federal funders, several recent articles offer insights:
- Council for Exceptional Children notes that dismantling a federal agency like USDE requires an act of Congress. (https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/president-elect-trump-pushes-school-choice-shuttering-department-education).
- Education Week highlights that shifting Title I or IDEA funds to block grants would require transferring administration to another federal agency. (https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/can-trump-really-dismantle-the-department-of-education/2024/11).
- Inside Higher Ed discusses that moving Federal Student Aid to the U.S. Department of Treasury may not alter the FSA office’s operations. (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/11/04/what-abolishing-education-department-could-mean).
 
Aside from the Council for Exceptional Children, most professional associations and lobbying groups (such as those listed below) have not yet issued statements on potential USDE changes.
 
  1. American Educational Research Association (AERA) https://www.aera.net/
  2. National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) https://nabe.org/
  3. Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) https://exceptionalchildren.org/
  4. TESOL International Association https://www.tesol.org/
  5. American Council on Education (ACE) https://www.acenet.edu/
  6. National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) https://www.nassp.org/
  7. National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) https://www.naesp.org/
  8. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) https://aacte.org/
  9. National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) https://www.nasbe.org/
  10. National School Boards Association (NSBA) https://www.nsba.org/
  11. National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) https://www.pta.org/
  12. National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) https://www.nasponline.org/
  13. National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) https://www.nacacnet.org/
  14. National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) https://www.edpartnerships.org/
  15. Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) https://coenet.org/
We will keep monitoring and engaging with such organizations to stay updated on any changes from their perspectives.
 
Here is the new RFP from the USDE Institute for Education Sciences:
 
Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences Assistance Listing Number: 84.305B.
 
The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) invites applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences Grant Program. This program supports initiatives designed to advance rigorous education research that informs policies and practices in the education field. The grants provide opportunities for professional development in educational research across four distinct program areas:
 
  1. Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Education Research
    This program provides early-career researchers with mentorship and support to help them conduct impactful education research.
  2. Pathways to the Education Sciences Training Program
    Designed for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) or partnerships that include MSIs, this program aims to increase diversity in the field of education research by preparing underrepresented students to pursue advanced degrees in education sciences.
  3. Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in the Education Sciences
    This initiative supports institutions that confer doctoral degrees in education-related fields, fostering interdisciplinary research that enhances the scholarly foundations of education science.
  4. Methods Training for Education Researchers
    This program offers methodological training for education researchers to enhance their research skills and contribute to high-quality, scientifically valid education research.
Key Dates and Submission Guidelines
Estimated Funding and Project Periods
Funding for FY 2025 is contingent on Congressional appropriations, and IES may adjust award allocations accordingly. The number of anticipated awards ranges from 3-10 per program, depending on the program’s scope and the quality of applications.
 
This funding opportunity advances education sciences by building capacity for quality research across diverse research communities. For more information, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/12/2024-26104/applications-for-new-awards-research-training-programs-in-the-education-sciences As mentioned, it is anticipated that the actual application package will be released 11/14/2024.
 
If you are interested in this or any other grant opportunity and would like support, please get in touch with me.
 
Thank you,
Iwan



Mr. Iwan Notowidigdo 

Senior Grant Development Manager

The University of Texas at San Antonio

College of Education & Human Development (COEHD)

iwan.notowidigdo@utsa.edu 

Mobile: 347-231-5931