The US Department of Education has announced the third round of Investing in Innovation (i3) grants. This is a competitive grant program designed for local education agencies, groups of schools and non-profits that are seeking funds to improve student results through innovative practices.
The grant competition has been structured slightly differently this round than previously. Rather than submitting a full grant proposal up front, interested parties must submit a pre-application. The pre-application shortens the full grant proposal narrative and supporting documentation. The short, introductory narratives in the pre-application will be scored by peer reviewers against an abbreviated set of selection criteria. Only the applicants with the “most promising projects…will be invited to submit full applications.” The change was made due to the sheer number of applications received in the first two rounds, particularly in the “Development” category.
The new round also has a new “Absolute Priority,” in addition to the absolute priorities from previous rounds:
1. Parent and Family Engagement (new)
2. Teachers and Principals (revised)
3. Promoting STEM Education
4. Low-Performing Schools
5. Improving Rural Achievement
The “Teachers and Principals” priority was revised to reflect language that would allow applicants to develop projects that focus on a single stage in the teacher or principal recruitment, training, and retention process. All projects must address at least one of the absolute priorities, and competitive preference will be given to grantees submitting a full application that focuses on improving early learning outcomes, increasing college access and success, addressing the unique needs of students with disabilities and limited English proficient students, improving productivity, or using technology.
As in previous rounds, winning applicants will be required to obtain matching funds from the private sector, at either 5%, 10%, or 15% of the award (depending on the grant category) in order for the grant funds to be dispersed.
So far, only the pre-application for “Development” grants is available. Interested entities are encouraged to send the Department an intent to submit by March 15, 2012; pre-applications for Development grants are due on April 9, 2012. Separate announcements/application materials and information for the “Validation” and “Scale Up” categories will be posted within the coming weeks on the Department’s website.
For more information, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html
