Investing in Innovation (I3): Validation Grants - LA n Sync Funding ForecasterLA n Sync Funding Forecaster

Category/Topic
Education

Level
Federal

Summary
The purpose of this program is to fund the expansion and validation of projects addressing persistent educational challenges that are supported by moderate evidence of effectiveness to the national or regional level. This program supports the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) program’s overall goal of improving education for the neediest of students by generating and validating solutions to persistent educational challenges, as well as expanding effective solutions across the nation to serve a substantially larger student population.

Summary

The purpose of this program is to fund the expansion and validation of projects addressing persistent educational challenges that are supported by moderate evidence of effectiveness to the national or regional level. This program supports the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) program’s overall goal of improving education for the neediest of students by generating and validating solutions to persistent educational challenges, as well as expanding effective solutions across the nation to serve a substantially larger student population.

Eligible Entities
Academic Institutions, K-12 School Districts, Nonprofit Organizations

Eligibility Notes
Eligible applicants are: Local educational agencies (LEAs) Partnerships between a nonprofit organization and one or more LEAs or a consortium of schools Eligible nonprofit organizations are: Entities defined as such in 34 CFR 77.1(c) Institutions of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended

Eligibility Notes

Eligible applicants are:

Local educational agencies (LEAs)
Partnerships between a nonprofit organization and one or more LEAs or a consortium of schools
Eligible nonprofit organizations are:

Entities defined as such in 34 CFR 77.1(c)
Institutions of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended

Priority	High

Due Date
Jun 24, 2014

Due Date Notes
Estimated next release date: 06/05/2015; Estimated next application due date: 08/04/2015.

RFP Release Date
Apr 23, 2014

Max Award
$12,000,000

Total Possible Multi-Year Award
$12,000,000

# of Awards
4-8

Annual or Multi-Year?
Annual

Match Required?
Yes

Match Notes
Applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the award amount via cash and/or in-kind contributions obtained from one or more private-sector organizations. Applicants should provide evidence that 50 percent of the required match is obtained prior to the awarding of funds, and must provide evidence of the remaining 50 percent of the required match six months after the project start date. The matching requirement may be decreased, on a case-by-case basis, in exceptional circumstances. An applicant that anticipates being unable to meet the full amount of the private sector matching requirement must include in its application a request to reduce the matching level requirement, along with a statement of the basis for the request.

Match Notes

Applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the award amount via cash and/or in-kind contributions obtained from one or more private-sector organizations. Applicants should provide evidence that 50 percent of the required match is obtained prior to the awarding of funds, and must provide evidence of the remaining 50 percent of the required match six months after the project start date.

The matching requirement may be decreased, on a case-by-case basis, in exceptional circumstances. An applicant that anticipates being unable to meet the full amount of the private sector matching requirement must include in its application a request to reduce the matching level requirement, along with a statement of the basis for the request.

Funder
U.S. Department of Education; Office of Innovation and Improvement

Competition Notes
For FY 2014, there are also three competitive preference priorities for this program. Applicants can earn additional points in the application review process by addressing these priorities, and they may address more than one of the priorities. These priorities are: Improving cost effectiveness and productivity (1 point) Enabling broad adoption of effective practices (2 points) Supporting novice i3 applicants (1 point) The funding agency also provides an invitational priority for applicants that support high-quality early learning that improves the coordination and alignment between early learning and development systems and elementary education systems in order to improve transitions for children from birth through 3rd grade.

Competition Notes

For FY 2014, there are also three competitive preference priorities for this program. Applicants can earn additional points in the application review process by addressing these priorities, and they may address more than one of the priorities. These priorities are:

Improving cost effectiveness and productivity (1 point)
Enabling broad adoption of effective practices (2 points)
Supporting novice i3 applicants (1 point)
The funding agency also provides an invitational priority for applicants that support high-quality early learning that improves the coordination and alignment between early learning and development systems and elementary education systems in order to improve transitions for children from birth through 3rd grade.

Resources
Kelly Terpak (202) 453-7122 i3@ed.gov Opportunity Posting or Webpage