The Department of Education (DOE) has issued a notice inviting applications for new awards under the Education Research and Development Center Program for fiscal year 2025. This program, managed by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), aims to fund Research and Development (R&D) centers to address specific education problems, generate new knowledge, and provide national leadership, research training, capacity building, and outreach in their respective topic areas.

For fiscal year 2025, the competition focuses on two key topics: improving gifted education and using generative artificial intelligence to improve instruction in postsecondary education. The DOE expects to fund one award per topic, with potential additional awards under the second topic if resources permit. The improving gifted education center has an estimated funding of five million dollars, while the generative artificial intelligence center has an estimated funding range of eight million to ten million dollars. The maximum project period for both topics is five years.

Eligible applicants for improving gifted education must include partnerships involving at least one institution of higher education and at least two state educational agencies. Additional partners may include local education agencies, public agencies, research institutions, and nonprofit or for-profit organizations. For using generative artificial intelligence to improve instruction in postsecondary education, eligible applicants include entities capable of rigorous research, including colleges, universities, public and private agencies, and for-profit or nonprofit organizations.

Applications must comply with the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs and must be submitted through the IES online application system. The application deadline is March 14, 2025. The competition is exempt from Executive Order 12372 and does not require cost sharing or matching funds.

Applications will be evaluated based on the significance of the research, quality of the research plan, training plans, capacity-building strategies, institutional resources, and qualifications of personnel. Final awards will also consider risk assessments and compliance with federal grant regulations.

For more details, including specific requirements and submission guidelines, applicants can refer to the Request for Applications (RFA) available on the IES website starting December 20, 2024.