The U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) program published the Notices Inviting Applications (NIA) for the 2014 Scale-up and Validation competitions. In its fifth round of competition, the i3 program continues its aim to develop and expand practices that accelerate student achievement and prepare every student to succeed in college and their careers.
Similar to last year, this competition continues to use broad priorities that target specific needs. This structure allows the i3 program to build a portfolio of solutions and corresponding evidence for different approaches to addressing key challenges in public education.
This year's priorities for the Scale-up grant category are: Improving the Effectiveness of Teachers or Principals; Improving Low-Performing Schools; Improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education; Implementing Internationally Benchmarked, College- and Career-Ready Elementary and Secondary Academic Standards; and Serving Rural Communities.
This year’s priorities for the Validation grant category are: Improving the Effectiveness of Teachers or Principals; Implementing Internationally Benchmarked, College- and Career-Ready Elementary and Secondary Academic Standards; Improving Academic Outcomes for Students with Disabilities; and Serving Rural Communities.
The deadline for Scale-up and Validation applications is June 24, 2014. To learn more about the i3 grant program and the Scale-up and Validation application processes, please visit the i3 website: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html.
Please direct all questions to the i3 inbox: i3@ed.gov.
Additionally, the i3 program is interested in individuals to serve as peer reviewers for future Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competitions. NOTE: Even if you registered to be a peer reviewer in prior years, we ask that you check your registration to ensure we have current information. The i3 program is interested in peer reviewers from various backgrounds and professions including: PK-12 teachers and principals, college and university educators, educational evaluators, social entrepreneurs, strategy consultants, grant makers, and others with education expertise. Reviewers must have expertise in at least one of the program's priority areas or in educational evaluation. Requirements and registration instructions can be found on the i3 website on the Call for Peer Reviewers page: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/peerreviewcall.html.
2014 Scale-up Absolute Priorities:
Absolute Priority 1--Improving the Effectiveness of Teachers or Principals.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects addressing pressing needs related to improving teacher or principal effectiveness.
Absolute Priority 2--Improving Low-Performing Schools.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects addressing pressing needs related to improving low-performing schools.
Absolute Priority 3--Improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects addressing pressing needs for improving STEM education.
Absolute Priority 4--Implementing Internationally Benchmarked, College- and Career-Ready Elementary and Secondary Academic Standards.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are designed to support the implementation of internationally benchmarked, college- and career-ready academic standards held in common by multiple States and to improve instruction and learning, including strategies that translate the standards into classroom practice.
Absolute Priority 5--Serving Rural Communities.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects addressing one of the absolute priorities established for the 2014 Scale-up i3 competition and under which the majority of students to be served are enrolled in rural local educational agencies.
2014 Validation Absolute Priorities:
Absolute Priority 1--Improving the Effectiveness of Teachers or Principals.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that address one of the following priority areas:
(a) Developing and implementing models of induction and support for improving the knowledge and skills of novice teachers or novice principals to accelerate student performance, including but not limited to strategies designed to increase teacher retention or improve teacher or principal effectiveness.
(b) Extending highly effective teachers’ reach to serve more students, including strategies such as new course designs, staffing models, technology platforms, or new opportunities for collaboration that allow highly effective teachers to reach more students, or approaches or tools that reduce administrative and other burden while maintaining or improving effectiveness.
Absolute Priority 2—-Implementing Internationally Benchmarked, College- and Career-Ready Elementary and Secondary Academic Standards.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that are designed to support the implementation of internationally benchmarked, college- and career-ready academic standards held in common by multiple States and to improve instruction and learning, including strategies that translate the standards into classroom practice.
Absolute Priority 3--Improving Academic Outcomes for Students with Disabilities.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects that address the following priority area:
Designing and implementing strategies that improve student achievement (as defined in this notice) for students with disabilities in inclusive settings, including strategies that improve learning and developmental outcomes (i.e., academic, social, emotional, or behavioral) and the appropriate transition from restrictive settings to inclusive settings or general education classes or programs, and appropriate strategies to prevent unnecessary suspensions and expulsions.
Absolute Priority 4--Serving Rural Communities.
Under this priority, we provide funding to projects addressing one of the absolute priorities established for the 2014 Validation i3 competition and under which the majority of students to be served are enrolled in rural local educational agencies.