CFDA / Assistance Listing · Reference

CFDA 84.215: Education Innovation and Research (EIR)

ED's primary mechanism for evidence-based educational innovation grants. Three tiers (Early-phase, Mid-phase, Expansion) reflecting evidence levels per ESEA Tier 1-4.

Agency

U.S. Department of Education (ED) — Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Typical award

Early-phase: $4M over 5 years. Mid-phase: $8M over 5 years. Expansion: up to $20M over 5 years.

Eligible applicants

Local Educational Agencies (LEAs / school districts)
Charter management organizations
Public and private nonprofit IHEs
501(c)(3) education-focused nonprofits
Consortia of any of the above

What this CFDA funds

Development, validation, and scaling of evidence-based interventions improving student academic achievement, especially for high-need students. Each tier requires progressively stronger evidence (Early-phase: rationale; Mid-phase: moderate evidence; Expansion: strong evidence). Recent priorities: STEM, computer science, well-rounded education, post-pandemic recovery.

What winning applicants look like

501(c)(3) ed-tech research orgs (MDRC, AIR, RAND), university research centers, and large urban LEAs with research-practice partnerships. Strong logic models, high-quality evaluation plans (ideally RCT-ready), and absolute-priority alignment are decisive.

Common pitfalls + things to know

EIR competitions specify absolute, competitive-preference, and invitational priorities each cycle — applications must align explicitly to score competitively. Evidence requirements are tier-specific and ED reviewers grade strictly. Match is required for all tiers (10%, 10%, 25% by tier).

Related CFDAs to also explore

CFDA 84.367 — Title II Improving Teacher Quality
CFDA 84.116 — Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)
CFDA 84.305A — Education Research, Development, and Dissemination (IES)

Reference guides

Evergreen explainers for nonprofit grant offices and federal grant seekers.

Federal Grants for Nonprofits: A 2026 Guide for 501(c)(3) Organizations — CFDA prefixes, applicant-type code 12, forecasts, the deadline trap.
The Grants.gov Search Guide: How to Actually Find Federal Grants in 2026 — practical filter walkthrough, native-vs-paid tool comparison.
→ All Grant Wire articles

Audiences who use this CFDA

If you fall into one of these audience groups, the audience guide gives you the broader picture of all federal funding streams you qualify for — not just CFDA 84.215.

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Always verify in the official source. CFDA program details, eligibility, and award ranges change with each annual NOFO cycle. Confirm at sam.gov/content/assistance-listings or the agency's program office before you build an application strategy. This page is editorial reference, not an official agency notice.