Learn more about NSF’s funding opportunities in education and explore resources to help you in the proposal preparation, submission, and review process.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, proposal deadlines may change. We recommend that you periodically check the program’s funding page for the latest information. More guidance related to the impact of COVID-19 on NSF grant management and funding can be found on NSF's Coronavirus Information page.
PART 1: FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
DRK-12 Program & Solicitation
- Program Description
- Solicitation 20-572 (Due October 6, 2021)
- DRK-12 Portfolio by Topic
- Portfolio Analyses: General (2013) | Assessment (2009) | Engineering (2013) | English Language Learners (2011, 2016) | Games & Simulations (2014)
- Spotlights on STEM Topics
- STEM for All Video Showcase Entries
Other NSF Funding Opportunities
- All Upcoming NSF EHR Opportunities
- Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) | Solicitation | Proposal Resources
- Advanced Technological Education (ATE) | Solicitation | Proposal Resources
- Cyberlearning | Solicitation | Proposal Resources
- Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) | Solicitation | Proposal Resources
Special Initiatives & Cross-Program Funding
- Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) | Solicitation | Resources | Dear Colleague Letter | Four tips for applying to NSF’s CAREER program
- Dear Colleague Letters
PART 2: PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT, SUBMISSION, AND REVIEW
General Proposal Development
- Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) NSF 20-1 (Effective on or after June 1, 2020)
- PAPPG 20-1 Webinar: Recording | Slides
- FAQs on PAPPG (NSF 20-1)
- NSF-Approved Formats for the Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support Sections of Proposals Webinar: Recording | Slides
- NOTE: Due to the challenges caused by COVID-19, NSF is delaying the requirement to use NSF-approved formats for proposal biographical sketches and current and pending support forms until October 1, 2020. NSF will continue to implement all other changes to the PAPPG beginning June 1, 2020, including the requirement for proposing organizations to submit government-wide representations and certifications in the System for Award Management (SAM) and for providing e-mail documentation of program officer approval for the submission of RAPID and EAGER proposals, as well as clarifications to current and pending support coverage.
- NSF Policy Outreach Resource Center
- Proposal Development Timeline
- Tips for Developing NSF Proposals
Research Design
- Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development
- Methodologies
- AIR Methodology Webinar Series Designed for the DRK-12 Program
- The Use of Theory in Research on Broadening Participation in PreK–12 STEM Education
- Instrumentation
- Teacher Practices, PCK, and Content Knowledge
- Students' Content Knowledge, Reasoning Skills, and Psychological Attributes
- Human Subjects | FAQs
- Data Management
Project Team, Partners, and Collaborators
- Mentoring Resources
- Resources for Early Career Researchers and Developers in STEM Education
- Brief on R&D Partnerships with Districts and Schools
- Partnership Building as a Broadening Participation Strategy
- Research-Practice Partnership Toolkit
Broader Impacts, Dissemination, and Sustainability
- Broader Impacts Guiding Principles and Questions for National Science Foundation Proposals
- Dissemination Toolkit
- From Dissemination to Knowledge Use: Options for DRK-12
- Writing Effective Evaluation and Dissemination/Diffusion Plans
- From Pilots to Products
- Research and Product Dissemination and Sustainability
Evaluation
- Adapting Evaluations in the Era of Social Distancing
- Evaluation in DRK-12 Projects: Options
- Evaluation Resource Collections:
- Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE)
- Department of Education
- Technical Evaluation Assistance in Mathematics and Science (TEAMS)
- Evaluation Planning Checklist for ATE Proposals
- Key Resources by Evaluation Topic
- List of DRK-12 Project Evaluators
- Managing Evaluation in Informal STEM Projects
- Promoting Research and Innovations in Methodologies for Evaluation (PRIME) Project Summaries
Proposal Submission
The PAPPG notes that "unless specified in an NSF program solicitation, proposals submitted to NSF must be submitted via use of either the NSF FastLane System, Research.gov or Grants.gov." Please refer to the Guide and your specific program solicitation for more information.
Proposal Review