Learn more about NSF’s funding opportunities in education and explore resources to help you in the proposal preparation, submission, and review process.
IMPORTANT NOTICES:
- The DRK-12 deadline has been extended until October 8, 2021.
- The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) and Discovery Research pre-K—12 (DRK-12) programs now 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. Watch the informational webinar.
- 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 8, 2021)
- Informational Webinars: July 7 Recording | July 22 Recording | Slides
- 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
- Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) | Solicitation | Proposal Resources
- Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning (RETTL) | 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 22-1 (Effective starting October 4, 2021 e.g. for DRK-12 proposals)
- FAQs on PAPPG 22-1
PAPPG 22-1 Webinar: Recording - Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support:
- NEW! FAQs on using SciENcv
- NEW! 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
- NSF Policy Outreach Resource Center
- Preparing and Justifying a Proposal Budget
- Proposal Development Timeline
- Tips for Developing NSF Proposals
If you have questions about a proposal idea, contact a DRK-12 program officer (Call 703-292-8620; Email: DRLDRK12@nsf.gov)
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
Starting in 2021, the ITEST and DRK-12 programs now 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 1021 (for proposals submitted on or after October 4, 2021)
Proposal Review