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Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) Proposed Grant Priorities Released

Oct. 6, 2009—On Oct. 6 Secretary Duncan announced the proposed priorities for the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3). Previewed at the America’s Choice Superintendent’s Symposium in August, i3 will provide $650 million in competitive grants to support local efforts to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for students.

Grants are awarded in three main categories: scale-up, validation, and development. All applicants must demonstrate previous success, but the level of previous success and strength of background research depend upon the grant applied for. The largest grants will be awarded to the scale-up recipients. Finally, all grants must be scalable and sustainable.

Requirements

• Scale-up grants: Proposals should show strong evidence that the program will work, the evidence must be statistically significant, and the magnitude of effect should be substantial and important.
• Validation grants: These need to have moderate evidence, the significance must be statistically significant, and they should have the potential to be substantial and important.
• Development grants: The program should be based on a reasonable hypotheses, the current evidence should show that the program warrants further study, and it’s magnitude should be promising.

“We’re making an unprecedented investment in cutting-edge ideas that will produce the next generation of school reforms,” Secretary Duncan said. “The i3 competition will provide seed money for fresh ideas, help grow promising programs with a good track record and scale up programs with proven results to a national level.”

Individual school districts or groups of districts can apply for the i3 grants, and entrepreneurial nonprofits can join with school districts to submit applications. Colleges and universities, companies and other stakeholders can be supporters of the projects.

More information

“U.S. Secretary of Education Announces National Competition to Invest in Innovation”
U.S. Department of Education

Investing in Innovation Fund Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of Education

“Education Agency Will Offer Grants for Innovative Ideas”
The New York Times

“Dept. of Ed Announces Investing in Innovation Fund”
Educational Publishing

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