Institute of Education Sciences (IES): National Center on Education Research (NCER): From Seedlings to Scale, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.305J
For FY 2027, the Institute of Education Sciences funds Phase One projects developing and testing AI- and technology-enabled solutions to integrate evidence into prekindergarten–grade 12 education systems.
Funder: Department of Education
Due Dates: October 29, 2026 (Optional letter of intent) | December 11, 2026 (Application, 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500,000 for up to one year
Summary: Supports early-stage AI- and technology-enabled solutions that help PreK–12 education systems translate evidence into policy and practice.
Key Information: The FY 2027 competition accepts only C-STEP Phase One projects relevant to U.S. education systems.
Description
The Institute of Education Sciences’ National Center for Education Research administers From Seedlings to Scale through its Accelerate, Transform, and Scale initiative. The FY 2027 focus, Coordinating Systems to Translate Evidence into Policy and Practice (C-STEP), supports AI- and technology-enabled solutions that help education leaders integrate evidence-based products, processes, and policies to improve prekindergarten through grade 12 outcomes.
Phase One supports stakeholder engagement, user and market research, refinement of a theory of change, and an early-stage prototype—not a fully functioning solution. IES seeks comprehensive approaches to root causes of implementation failure, grounded in research on complex systems and organizational change. Solutions should help leaders align resources, anticipate impacts, and overcome implementation barriers, with attention to sustainability and scaling from the outset.
