Education Design Lab RFP: Credential Transparency, Skills Validation for Workforce Mobility

Education Design Lab RFP: Credential Transparency, Skills Validation for Workforce Mobility is a grant opportunity from Education Design Lab seeking collaborators to advance workforce mobility through improved credential transparency and skills validation systems.

The RFP targets U.S.-based nonprofits and governmental organizations working to help workers — especially those with skills earned outside traditional degree programs — demonstrate their qualifications to employers. The initiative focuses on connecting fragmented education and workforce data systems, scaling learning and employment records, and building interoperable skills validation infrastructure.

Partnerships are strongly encouraged, and a Partner Interest Registry is available for organizations seeking collaborators.

Advancing Workforce Mobility: RFP for Credential Transparency and Skills Validation - Education Design Lab Community College Growth Engine Learning and Employment Records Skills Validation Network Join our Innovator Network Community College Growth Engine Learning and Employment Records Skills Validation Network Join our Innovator Network Advancing Workforce Mobility Request for Proposals to support Credential Transparency and Skills Validation Looking for potential collaborators to apply for the RFP?

Click here to access our Partner Interest Registry + Application deadline is Feb. 20 ( Link to application ) + Informational webinar ( Webinar recording ) Download the Request for Proposals Today’s learn-to-work ecosystem is fragmented and hard to navigate. Millions of workers, especially those who have built skills outside of traditional degree programs, struggle to show what they can do in ways employers trust and understand.

Education and workforce systems often overlook skills gained through non-degree credentials, short-term training, on-the-job learning, and military and community-based experiences. Data about these experiences and credentials is scattered, incomplete, or locked in systems that don’t talk to each other.

From building blocks to working ecosystem Leaders across this field have already built significant tools for the skills ecosystem: richer credentials, shared skills frameworks, common data formats, learning and employment record pilots, and early skills‑based hiring practices.

​ What is missing is an operating model that shows how these elements connect across institutions and platforms in ways STARs (those Skilled Through Alternative Routes) can actually utilize to gain access to employment. This initiative is about: 1. Turning fragmented tools and pilots into an end‑to‑end skills ecosystem that works in real contexts.

​ 2. Making skills and credential data flow across systems so STARs can see options, prove skills, and advance. ​ 3.

Generating proof points that others can replicate and scale. ​ This initiative will invest in a portfolio of projects that make workers’ skills and credentials more visible, trusted, and transferable.

We’re looking for grantees who will use credential transparency and skills validation to expand economic mobility for workers who have been excluded by education and workforce systems which prioritize degrees, especially STARs (individuals Skilled Through Alternative Routes).

We welcome proposals from both large and small organizations, including those whose ideas are early-stage, as long as they are ready to partner, center workers, and learn alongside the cohort, working toward scalable impact. Even at small scale, proposals must show a credible pathway to broader adoption/replication and systems-level impact.

We are especially interested in projects that primarily benefit STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) : Workers without a bachelor’s degree who have developed skills through work, military service, community roles, or other educational routes.

Anticipated grant term: 18 months Target start date: March 30, 2026 Anticipated end date: October 18, 2027 Dates may be adjusted by Education Design Lab to accommodate due diligence, contracting, and cohort coordination. Total Funding & Number of Awards Total fund: $3.

5 million ( USD) Estimated number of awards: 7 to 12 awards, across multiple tiers, subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals In addition to funding, selected projects will receive technical assistance, participation in a national Community of Practice, and support evaluating learning and impact.

Credential Quality & Transparency Strengthening credential quality and transparency, so skills and credential data are clear, connected, and easier for workers and employers to use. Skills Validation in Non-Traditional Pathways Building trusted ways to validate skills workers gain through work, community roles, and other learning besides traditional degrees.

We anticipate making grants at three levels so that projects at different stages of readiness can participate. Projects at all tiers should articulate a plausible pathway to broader adoption/replication.

For early-stage discovery, research, and prototyping to build and test new ideas and solutions Demonstrate [up to $400,000] For pilots or limited implementations that test and refine approaches and generate evidence of what works For projects with a strong foundation that are ready for broader implementation and adoption across sites, systems, or regions Applications will go through an eligibility and alignment screen, an initial “Project Snapshot” review by Education Design Lab and Credential Engine, and a full review by panels that include subject-matter experts and lived-experience reviewers.

RFP release: January 8, 2026 Information webinar: Webinar recording from Jan.

14 Session 1: January 23, 2026 | Full Session 1 Q&A Session 2: February 4, 2026 | Full Session 2 Q&A Session 3: February 13, 2026 | Full Session 3 Q&A Application deadline : February 20, 2026 | 11:59pm EST Notification of awards : March 13, 2026 Anticipated grant start date : March 30, 2026 Anticipated grant end date: October 18, 2027 We welcome applications from U.S.-based nonprofit or governmental organizations that are ready to advance credential transparency and skills validation.

Multi-organization partnerships and collaboratives are encouraged. One eligible organization must serve as the lead applicant. Additional guidance to support your application These materials are provided as optional supports for applicants who want additional detail or context.

You do not need to read these resources to apply. The Call for Proposals contains all information needed to complete the application. You are encouraged to use only what is helpful for your project.

Different applicants will find different resources useful. Applicant Self-Assessment Tool (Optional) Stage 2 and 3 Scoring Rubrics Responsible and Ethical Use of AI and Technology Human-Centered Design 101 Learning & Impact Framework Want to get a sense of what we’re looking for? This preview lets you explore the full application—including every question in Parts 1, 2, and 3—before applying.

We recommend reviewing it to help you assess fit, coordinate with partners, and plan your responses. Download Application Form Preview Click here to access the online application form The password to access is: mobility Applications must be submitted online by February 20, 2026, 11:59pm ET About the initiative and partners What is “Advancing Workforce Mobility: An RFP for Credential Transparency and Skills Validation”?

It is an 18‑month initiative led by Education Design Lab to fund a portfolio of projects that make workers’ skills and credentials more visible, trusted, and transferable, with a specific focus on workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). Who is leading, funding, and supporting this initiative?

Education Design Lab is the program lead and intermediary, responsible for designing and running the RFP, selecting and supporting grantees, facilitating the Community of Practice, coordinating learning, and leading communications. Walmart provides the foundational funding and serves as a strategic partner on the vision and learning agenda, especially related to workforce mobility for frontline and STAR workers.

Credential Engine is the technical assistance partner on credential transparency and open data. What problem is this initiative trying to address? The initiative addresses a fragmented learn‑to‑work ecosystem where skills and credential data are scattered, non‑comparable, and often invisible, especially for workers without bachelor’s degrees.

Many STARs cannot clearly signal their skills, and employers struggle to see and trust those skills in hiring, promotion, and upskilling decisions. What is the long‑term vision for this work? The vision is a more connected, open, and fair talent marketplace where workers’ skills are visible, portable, and valued no matter where they were developed.

In this future, STARs can demonstrate their skills through high‑quality validation and credentialing, employers can see and trust skills evidence, systems share data in common formats, and communities can use better data to design pathways and track mobility and growth. Focus on STARs and equity Who are STARs and why are they central to this RFP?

STARs are working adults who have developed valuable skills through routes other than a bachelor’s degree, such as work experience, community college, military service, bootcamps, or self‑directed learning. They are central because current education and workforce systems often overlook or undervalue these skills, limiting STARs’ access to quality jobs and advancement. How should proposals center STARs?

Competitive proposals clearly define the STAR population they aim to serve, demonstrate an evidence‑based understanding of STARs’ needs and barriers, and show how STARs will be involved through co‑design and testing, with attention to reducing barriers such as cost, time, digital access, and trust. How are equity and inclusion considered in the selection process? Equity is a core lens across all criteria.

Reviewers look at which workers are being served, how STARs are engaged as co‑designers and testers, how structural barriers are addressed, and how data and tools will be used in ways that reduce rather than reinforce inequities. Does my work involve STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes)?

You can answer yes if your project directly benefits working adults without bachelor’s degrees who have developed skills through work experience, military service, community roles, boot camps, self-directed learning, or other non-traditional pathways. These are the STARs this RFP is designed to serve by making their skills and credentials more visible, trusted, and transferable.

Yes — with partnership or additional focus Even if your organization’s core work doesn’t currently center STARs, you might still have alignment if you partner with community organizations, employers, workforce boards, training providers, or similar stakeholders who serve STAR populations. Partnerships that clearly show how STARs are engaged, co-designed with, or benefit from your solution can demonstrate fit.

No — not aligned to STARs If your work primarily serves individuals with bachelor’s degrees or higher, or focuses exclusively on traditional academic pathways without addressing the needs or barriers of STARs, then your work may not directly align with this initiative’s focus. Consider revising your approach or forming partnerships that expand impact to STAR populations. Is there a minimum number of STARs our project must serve?

There is no set minimum number of participants. However, your scale should align with your funding tier. For example, a Scale tier proposal should demonstrate system-level or regional impact, whereas an Explore project may focus on a smaller, targeted pilot group.

How much funding is available and how many awards will be made? The total fund is approximately $3. 5 million (USD), with an estimated 7–12 awards across multiple funding tiers.

What are the funding tiers and typical award sizes? Explore (up to $250,000) for early discovery and prototyping Demonstrate (up to $400,000) for pilots or limited implementations that generate evidence Scale (up to $600,000) for projects ready for broader implementation across sites, systems, or regions Final award size and tier will be determined during selection and negotiation. Why is there a 15% cap on indirect costs?

We recognize that indirect costs are a real and important part of operating effective programs. For this RFP, indirect costs are capped at 15% of total direct costs to ensure consistency across applicants and to maximize the amount of funding that can be directed toward project activities, learning, and impact.

If your organization has a federally negotiated or board-approved indirect cost rate, you may apply that rate up to the 15% cap. Organizations without a formal rate may also include indirect costs, up to the same limit. This approach is intended to balance organizational sustainability with equitable and transparent use of funds across a diverse set of grantees.

Are matching funds or leveraged resources required? Matching funds are not required . While including leveraged resources (cash or in-kind) can demonstrate project sustainability, applications will not be penalized for lacking a match.

We want this opportunity to be accessible to organizations of all resource levels. What are the allowable uses of grant funds? Funds may be used for staff time, technical development, and stipends for STARs or stakeholders who participate in the co-design or testing of your solution.

What is the grant period? Grants will run for approximately 18 months, with an expected start date of March 30, 2026 and end date of October 18, 2027. What are the two main tracks for this RFP?

Projects must align with one or both of two tracks: Track 1: Credential Quality & Transparency – making credentials and skills data clearer, more connected, and easier to use Track 2: Skills Validation in Non‑Traditional Pathways – building trusted ways to validate skills gained through work, community roles, and other non‑degree learning Can a proposal span both tracks? Yes. Proposals can focus on Track 1, Track 2, or both.

Track 1 itself has sub‑tracks for credential transparency and credential quality, allowing applicants to indicate whether their work focuses on one or spans multiple focus areas. My project involves degree attainment; is that a fit? The focus of this RFP is credential transparency and skills validation .

While a project may lead toward a degree, it must demonstrate how skills are made visible and portable. Proposals focused solely on traditional degree program expansion without an innovative focus on non-degree validation are not a strong fit. Is the RFP limited to “trade work” or specific industries?

No. We are open to various industries, including healthcare, education, tech, and the trades. The priority is whether the project advances transparency and makes a worker’s skills more visible and transferable across systems. Will technical assistance be provided for data alignment?

Yes. Awarded projects will have access to technical assistance from Credential Engine to help align their work with broader credential transparency and data standards. Eligibility and who should apply Who is eligible to apply?

The RFP welcomes applications from U.S.-based organizations that are ready to advance credential transparency and/or skills validation. Partnerships and multi‑organization collaboratives are encouraged, but one eligible organization must serve as the lead applicant. Are specific sectors or institution types prioritized?

The initiative is open to both large and small organizations, including those at early stages of an idea, as long as they can center workers, partner effectively, and pursue learning. Sector‑specific priorities, if any, will be clarified in the full RFP, but the core focus is on work that advances the two tracks and benefits STARs. What kinds of projects are a good fit?

Good candidates are projects that: Address clear problems facing STARs Meaningfully advance credential transparency, credential quality, or skills validation Fit one of the three tiers in terms of readiness Contribute to a broader ecosystem vision for transparent, interconnected skills and credential data Are early‑stage ideas welcome? Yes.

The Explore tier is specifically designed for early‑stage discovery, research, and prototyping, as long as teams show a plausible path toward impact for STARs and alignment to the tracks and learning agenda. Who is eligible to serve as a “Lead Applicant”?

U.S.-based nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations and their affiliates) and governmental agencies (including public community colleges and state universities) are eligible to lead. While for-profit entities and international organizations cannot lead, they are highly encouraged to participate as project partners. Do you allow fiscal sponsorship for this grant?

Yes. Organizations operating under a fiscal sponsor are welcome to apply. If selected, the fiscal sponsor would serve as the legal grantee and signatory for the project.

Does the project need to be national or can it be regional? Projects can be local, regional, or national. There is no geographic preference, provided the lead applicant is U.S.-based and the primary activities occur within the United States.

Can an emerging “accreditor” or specialized agency apply? Yes, provided the entity is a U.S.-based nonprofit or governmental body. We welcome applications from organizations whose work advances the validation and transparency of skills for STARs.

Benefits for selected grantees What do selected grantees receive beyond funding? All selected projects will receive grant funding plus structured support including participation in a national Community of Practice, technical assistance, and light‑touch evaluation support to help them learn, improve, and share insights. What technical assistance will be available?

Credential Engine will provide guidance on credential transparency and open data, including how to describe credentials, skills, and outcomes in clear structured ways, how to use standards such as CTDL and the Credential Registry, and how to publish and connect data in machine‑readable, interoperable formats.

Education Design Lab will provide facilitation, design, learning, and implementation support, and coordinate trainings, office hours, and resources. What is expected from grantees around learning and evidence?

Grantees are expected to: Articulate a small set of learning questions Collect light‑touch evidence appropriate to their tier Contribute to shared core metrics where applicable Produce assets such as models, guidance, technical documentation, or other outputs that others can reuse Responsible use of data and AI How does the initiative view AI and emerging technologies?

The initiative recognizes that AI and other tools can support skills assessment, validation, and credential transparency, but expects projects to use these tools in ways that are ethical, responsible, and equitable, including attention to bias, privacy, transparency, and human oversight. Are projects required to use CTDL, the Credential Registry, or other open standards?

Not every project has to be “about” credential transparency as its primary goal, but all funded projects are expected to consider how they contribute to more transparent, connected credential and skills data and may be asked to use open, machine‑readable formats like CTDL, with support from Credential Engine to build capacity. Application process and review What are the key dates in the application process?

RFP release on January 8, 2026 Information webinar and group office hours during the application window Application deadline on February 20, 2026 at 11:59 p. m. EST Award notifications around March 13, 2026 Grant start date of March 30, 2026 How will applications be reviewed?

Applications will first go through an eligibility and alignment screen, then an alignment review by Education Design Lab and Credential Engine, followed by panel review that includes subject‑matter experts and reviewers with lived experience, using a shared rubric. What are the main selection criteria?

The rubric includes criteria such as: Alignment with the strategic focus and tracks Technical merit and innovation (including data and AI practices) Human‑centered design and human‑in‑the‑loop Organizational capacity and partnerships Contribution to the shared learning agenda and field impact Are there portfolio‑level considerations beyond scores? Yes.

Non‑scored considerations may inform final selection, such as cross‑track or cross‑system integration, high‑leverage partnerships, sustainability or open‑source potential, portfolio balance (for example, geography, sector, populations, tracks, tiers, methodology), and unique contributions not present in other proposals. What financial documentation will selected grantees be required to submit?

Selected grantees will be asked for a 990 form + IRS verification. Audits will be only be performed under under unique/special circumstances, if needed. Can an organization submit more than one application?

Yes. An organization may serve as the lead on multiple submissions if the project concepts are distinct. You may also be named as a partner on an unlimited number of applications led by other entities.

Do we need to provide financial audits at the time of submission? No. We do not require a formal audit at the initial application stage. However, additional financial documentation may be requested during the due diligence or vetting process for finalists.

Are Letters of Commitment required for the initial application? No. Please clearly identify your partners and their roles within the narrative, but formal letters of commitment are not required for this initial stage. Can the Lab provide feedback on our project idea before we submit?

To ensure a fair and equitable process, we cannot provide individual feedback or guidance on specific project concepts. We strongly recommend reviewing the Scoring Rubrics to ensure your idea aligns with the evaluation criteria.

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