Program Announcement: Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education Sciences CFDA 84.305B

Program Officer:
Dr. Edward Metz
Edward.Metz@ed.gov
(202) 208-1983

Purpose

The Institute has established the Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education Sciences (Postdoctoral) to increase the supply of scientists and researchers in education who are prepared to conduct rigorous and relevant education research addressing issues that are important to education leaders and practitioners and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and theory in education. The specific intent of this program is to prepare researchers to be able to conduct the type of research that the Institute funds, prepare competitive proposals that address relevant education topics, and meet the methodological requirements specified for the Institute's research grant competitions.

The Institute's research grant competitions are designed to produce research that contributes to the solution of education problems identified by education decision-makers and practitioners. These research grant programs target key student outcomes and the types of research questions posed by education decision-makers and practitioners.¹ In early childhood, the primary outcomes of interest are school readiness and developmental outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities. From kindergarten through Grade 12, the core academic outcomes of reading, writing, mathematics, and science are the central outcomes of interest, as well as social and behavioral skills that support academic learning in school, and successful transitions to employment, independent living, and postsecondary education. At the postsecondary level, the Institute focuses on improving access to and completion of postsecondary education. Finally, for adults with low levels of education, the Institute supports research to improve the acquisition of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills.