Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants

Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants is sponsored by U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Supports the expansion of innovative educational practices to improve student outcomes.

Opportunity Listing - Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants Assistance Listing Number 84. 411A Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants Assistance Listing Number 84.

411A Agency: Department of Education Assistance Listings: 84. 411 -- Education Innovation and Research (formerly Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund) Last Updated: May 13, 2026 View version history on Grants. gov Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice.

For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information.

For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234), and available https://www. federalregister. gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16571/common-instructions-and-information-for-applicants-to department-of-education-discretionary-grantams.

Purpose of Program: The EIR program, established under section 4611 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), provides funding to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based (as defined in this notice), field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and to rigorously evaluate such innovations.

This notice invites applications for Expansion grants only. The notice inviting applications for Mid-phase grants within the EIR program is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. The Department does not intend to offer an Early-phase competition, yet may fund high-scoring, unfunded applicants from any of the FY 2024 EIR Competitions.

Assistance Listing Number: 84. 411A. Independent school districts Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3) Federally recognized Native American tribal governments 1.

Eligible Applicants: (a) An LEA;(b) An SEA;(c) The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE);(d) A consortium of SEAs or LEAs;(e) A nonprofit organization; and(f) An LEA, an SEA, the BIE, or a consortium described in clause (d), in partnership with—(1) A nonprofit (as defined in this notice) organization;(2) A business;(3) An educational service agency; or(4) An IHE.

To qualify as a rural applicant under the EIR program, an applicant must meet both of the following requirements:(a) The applicant is—(1) An LEA with an urban-centric district locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;(2) A consortium of such LEAs;(3) An educational service agency or a nonprofit organization in partnership with such an LEA; or(4) A grantee described in clause (1) or (2) in partnership with an SEA; and (b) A majority of the schools to be served by the program are designated with a locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, or a combination of such codes, as determined by the Secretary.

Note: An applicant that is a nonprofit organization may, under 34 CFR 75.

51, demonstrate its nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant’s certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

In addition, with respect to IHEs and their affiliates, the following entities may apply for a grant under this competition: (1) As noted above, any IHE that is a partner in an application submitted by an LEA, SEA, BIE, consortium of SEAs or LEAs, or a nonprofit organization; (2) A private IHE that is a nonprofit organization; (3) A nonprofit organization, such as a development foundation, that is affiliated with a public IHE; and (4) A public IHE with 501(c)(3) status.

A public IHE without 501(c)(3) status (even if that entity is tax exempt under Section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code or any other State or Federal provision), or that could not provide any other documentation of nonprofit status described above, however, would not qualify as a nonprofit organization, and therefore would not be eligible to apply for and receive an EIR grant.

Grantor contact information U.S. Department of Education Washington, DC 20202-5900 File name Description Last updated 2025-16571. pdf Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education of Discretionary Grant Programs Sep 12, 2025 12:06 PM UTC 2025-17671.

pdf Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants Assistance Listing Number 84.

411A FY25 NIA Sep 12, 2025 11:48 AM UTC Link to additional information Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovation and Early Learning Programs: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program Expansion Grants Assistance Listing Number 84.

411A FY25 NIA Archived: November 13, 2025 Funding opportunity number : Cost sharing or matching requirement : Funding instrument type : Opportunity Category Explanation : Category of Funding Activity : Your account requires additional identity verification.