Learn more about NSF’s funding opportunities in education and explore resources to help you in the proposal preparation, submission, and review process.
TOPICS
Part 1: NSF FY2026 Funding Opportunities
Part 2: Key Document PAPPG | NSF Virtual Grants Conferences | Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support | Eligibility for Organizations New to Applying to NSF | The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology | Proposal Submission
Part 3: Advice for Developing a Successful DRK-12 or EHR Proposal | Get to Know What's Been Funded through the DRK-12 Program | Research Design |Project Team, Partners, and Collaborators | Broader Impacts | Dissemination and Sustainability | Evaluation
Part 4: You won the award! Now What?
PART 1: FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
As of September 2025, the Discovery Research in PreK-12 (DRK-12) Program has been archived. Former DRK-12 awardees are encouraged to review the new NSF STEM K-12 Program:
On September 4, 2025, NSF hosted a webinar providing an overview of FY2026 funding opportunities available through the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (EDU/DRL) and introduced the new NSF STEM K-12 Program.
- Webinar Recording (Passcode: KK..xiT7)
- Webinar Presentation Slides
- Q&A (synthesis by CADRE)
Other NSF EDU Funding Opportunities
- Advanced Technological Education (ATE) | ATE Central Proposal Resources
- Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) | STELAR Proposal Resources
- Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning (RETTL) | CIRCLS Proposal Resources
- NSF Blog: Funding opportunities for minority-serving institutions (2022)
- Special Initiatives & Cross-Program Funding:
View All Upcoming NSF STEM Education Directorate (EDU) Funding Opportunities
PART 2: NSF PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS & TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Key Document! Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
- Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) | NSF 23-1 (Effective until May 19, 2024)
- Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) | NSF 24-1 (Effective on May 20, 2024)
NSF Virtual Grants Conferences
NSF's Policy Outreach Resource Center offers webinars on topics including: Proposal Preparation, Merit Review Process, Award Management, NSF Proposal and Award Policy Update, Financial Management Update, Proposal Submission Modernization Update, EHR Funding Opportunities
Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support
- 2022 NSF Policy Outreach Webinar: Current and Pending Support
- FAQs on using SciENcv
- FAQs on using NSF fillable PDF
- NSF-Approved Formats for the Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support Sections of Proposals Webinar: Recording & Slides
- NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support
- NSF Announcement on Proposal Functionality, Website Enhancements, and Updates to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Formats
Eligibility for Organizations New to Applying to NSF
The following resources contain important information for organizations that are new to applying to NSF or have not managed an NSF award in the last three years:
- Organizations must be registered in the SAM.gov system to apply.
- Prospective New Awardee Guide
- Pre-award reviews
- Federal requirements for awards
The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology
NSF issued a Notice to research community: Use of generative artificial intelligence technology in the NSF merit review process.
Proposal Submission
Starting in 2021, the DRK-12 and ITEST programs require the use of Research.gov for the preparation and submission of proposals. Proposals also may continue to be submitted via use of Grants.gov.
- Research.gov | Proposal Preparation and Submission | Proposal Submission Capabilities | Webinar on Migrating NSF Proposal Preparation and Submission from FastLane to Research.gov
- Grants.gov | Application Guide (NSF 24-006) (for proposals submitted on or after May 20, 2024)
PART 3: PROPOSAL COMPONENT GUIDANCE
Advice for Developing a Successful DRK-12 or EHR Proposal
The following resources make reference to the DRK-12 Program but the advice is applicable to other NSF EHR Programs.
- Insights into the NSF Proposal Review Process:
- Slides: Mock NSF Proposal Review | NSF (2023)
- Video: Mock NSF Proposal Review | NSF (2016)
- Volunteering to Serve as an NSF Reviewer | NSF
- Survey to be considered as a DRK-12 Reviewer | NSF (2023)
- Video Podcast Series: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum of DRK-12
- Post Panel Pop-off | CADRE (2022)
- Responding to Rejection | CADRE (2022)
- If I Knew Then, What I Know Now | CADRE (2023)
- Developing and Managing a Budget | CADRE (2024)
- Proposal Development Timeline | CADRE (updated 2022)
- Tips for Developing NSF Proposals | CADRE (2019)
- Budgets for Beginners | CADRE (2023)
- Video: Developing Proposal Budgets | NSF AISL (2022)
- Preparing and Justifying a Proposal Budget | CADRE (2021)
If you have questions about a proposal idea, contact a DRK-12 program officer (Call 703-292-8620; Email: DRLDRK12@nsf.gov)
Get to Know What's Been Funded through the DRK-12 Program
- Active DRK-12 Awards | NSF.org
- All Past and Present DRK-12 Awards | cadrek12.org
- DRK-12 Portfolio by Topic
- Portfolio Analyses:
- Mathematical & Scientific Argumentation (AIR, 2022), Modeling in Science Education (AIR, 2022), Teachers’ PCK in Mathematics & Science (AIR, 2022), English Language Learners (CADRE, 2016, 2011), Games & Simulations (CADRE, 2014), Engineering (CADRE, 2013), Assessment (CADRE, 2009)
- Report: Classroom-Based STEM Assessment: Contemporary Issues and Perspectives (CADRE 2023)
- Spotlights on STEM Topics | CADRE
- STEM for All Video Showcase Entries | STEM For All Multiplex
- Portfolio Analyses:
Research Design
- Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development | IES and NSF (2013)
- Companion Guidelines on Replication & Reproducibility | IES and NSF (2018)
- FAQs | NSF
- Checklists for the Common Guidelines | EvaluATE
- Spotlights on Project Design & Implementation | CADRE
- Methodologies
- AIR Methodology Webinar Series Designed for the DRK-12 Program | AIR (2019-20)
- Instrumentation
- Teacher Practices, PCK, and Content Knowledge | CADRE (updated 2013)
- Students' Content Knowledge, Reasoning Skills, and Psychological Attributes | CADRE (updated 2013)
- Human Subjects | FAQs | NSF
- Data Management
- Data Management for NSF EHR Directorate Proposals | NSF
- Data Management Planning | ATE Central
Find these and additional resources in the Research Toolkit.
Project Team, Partners, and Collaborators
- Mentoring Resources: Advice and Example Mentoring Plans | CADRE
- Resources for Early Career Researchers and Developers in STEM Education | CADRE
- Brief on R&D Partnerships with Districts and Schools | CADRE (2010)
- Partnership Building as a Broadening Participation Strategy | CADRE (2016)
- Research-Practice Partnership Toolkit | Research + Practice Collaboratory
Broader Impacts
- Broader Impacts | NSF
- What are Broader Impacts? | ARIS
- Broader Impacts Guiding Principles and Questions for National Science Foundation Proposals | ARIS
Dissemination and Sustainability
- Dissemination Toolkit | CADRE (updated 2022)
- From Dissemination to Knowledge Use: Options for DRK-12 | CADRE (2012)
- Writing Effective Evaluation and Dissemination/Diffusion Plans | Article by Tom Litzinger et al. (2011)
- From Pilots to Products | CADRE (2019)
- Research and Product Dissemination and Sustainability | CADRE (2019)
Evaluation
- Evaluation in DRK-12 Projects: Options | CADRE (2011)
- Evaluation Resource Collections:
- Design Evaluation | CAISE
- External Review of Education Research | CADRE (2022)
- Technical Evaluation Assistance in Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) | MSPnet
- Evaluation Planning Checklist for ATE Proposals | EvaluATE
- Key Resources by Evaluation Topic | EvaluATE (2021)
- List of DRK-12 Project Evaluators | CADRE (2019)
- Managing Evaluation in Informal STEM Projects | CAISE (2011)
- Promoting Research and Innovations in Methodologies for Evaluation (PRIME) Project Summaries | MSPnet (2016)
- Video: Adapting Evaluations in the Era of Social Distancing | EvaluATE (2020)
PART 4: YOU WON THE AWARD! NOW WHAT?
- NSF Prospective New Awardee Guide | NSF (2020)
- Project Management & Implementation Toolkit | CADRE
- Video Podcast: Managing Your NSF Project | CADRE (2024)
- Dissemination Toolkit | CADRE
- Designing Communication and Engagement Plans | EQR Hub (2022)
- How to Create a High-Quality Engagement Plan to Disseminate STEM Research and Innovations: Webinar Recording & Slides
- Outreach List to Support Dissemination and Engagement for DRK-12 STEM Education Research
- Resources to Support Engagement for DRK-12 STEM Education Research
- Slides: CoP Session 1
- Slides: CoP Session 2
- Slides: CoP Session 3
- Engagement Plan for DRK-12 STEM Research Projects