Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER): Research Training Programs in Special Education, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.324B

Key facts

Funder

Department of Education

Application deadline

October 1, 2026

Award range

Award amount not published

Eligibility

For the Early Career program, IES provides funds to the institution of the PI who submitted the application for their research and career development. Applicants to the Early Career program must be a research institution (academic or non-academic). Institutions located in the territorial United States that have the ability and capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as colleges and universities. For the Methods Training Program, applicants located in the territorial United States that have the ability and capacity to conduct training in scientific research methods are eligible to apply. An applying institution may hold more than one Methods Training award and submit multiple applications to the Methods Training Program if they are substantively different from one another and have no overlaps in key personnel.

Geography

United States

Focus areas

Education

Opportunity number

ED-GRANTS-080626-002

Program overview

NCSER training programs prepare individuals to conduct special education and early intervention research that advances knowledge within the field and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners. Under this competition, NCSER will consider only applications that address one of the following topics: (1) Early Career Development and Mentoring or (2) Methods Training for Special Education Research. The Early Career program provides support for an integrated research and career development plan for early career investigators at institutions of higher education or non-academic research organizations who have established an interest in special education research and are developing research careers focused on learners with or at risk for disabilities. The Methods Training program funds training to help current education researchers, including state and local education agency research staff, maintain and enhance their research and analysis skills in order to conduct rigorous and relevant research focused on learners with or at risk for disabilities. For FY 2027, NCSER is only accepting applications for Methods Training focused on analyzing large administrative datasets to address research questions related to learners with or at risk for disabilities. Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.324B.

How to apply

1. Confirm your organization meets the eligibility criteria above.
2. Read the full funding opportunity announcement from Department of Education.
3. Draft your narrative against the funder's stated priorities and review criteria.
4. Submit before October 1, 2026, allowing time for registration and validation.

View the official funding announcement

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