EDU Core Research

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for STEM Education, administers the EDU Core Research program, known as ECR:Core. This program is designed to support fundamental research that advances general, explanatory knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. It emphasizes both curiosity-driven basic research and use-inspired basic research. The focus areas are threefold: research on STEM learning and learning environments, research on broadening participation in STEM, and research on STEM workforce development. The program’s aim is to generate foundational insights that can inform future innovations, policies, and practices in STEM education, even if their impact may be indirect or long-term. ECR:Core is structured to support multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, encouraging proposals that integrate perspectives across fields to build robust theoretical and empirical knowledge. Research is expected to be theoretically grounded, methodologically sound, and analytically rigorous. Project designs may use qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, and can involve new data collection, secondary analysis, or synthesis of existing work. Importantly, ECR also funds projects that advance methods, measures, and conceptual frameworks, as well as studies that investigate learning across diverse settings and populations—from early childhood through adulthood and across formal, informal, and workplace learning environments. The program accepts several types of proposals. Standard research projects are categorized by scale: Level I projects may request up to $500,000, Level II up to $1,500,000, and Level III up to $2,500,000, all with durations of three to five years. Pilot studies, which are exploratory and help determine feasibility for larger projects, are treated as Level I proposals. Synthesis projects, intended to consolidate knowledge across bodies of research, may be budgeted at Level I or II. Conference proposals, supporting convenings that advance the program’s goals, are generally funded at $25,000 to $99,000. The program anticipates approximately 40 awards per cycle, subject to available funds, with an estimated total program budget of $35 million. Applications must adhere to NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Submissions can be made through Research.gov or Grants.gov. Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Full proposals must include a project summary specifying the funding level, research area, and topic cluster, as well as a detailed project description that covers research questions, methods, justification for funding level and duration, broader impacts, and prior NSF support if applicable. Proposals should also include a budget and justification, data management plan, and a mentoring plan for postdoctoral researchers when relevant. All projects involving human subjects must secure Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or exemption before award. Proposals will be evaluated on intellectual merit and broader impacts, the two National Science Board–approved criteria. Reviewers will consider the potential to advance knowledge, the quality of the research plan, the qualifications of the investigators, and the adequacy of resources. Broader impacts may include improvements in STEM education, broadening participation of underrepresented groups, enhancing workforce competitiveness, or increasing public engagement with science. Successful projects are expected to make contributions that extend beyond the immediate scope of the research, advancing the nation’s capacity for STEM learning and innovation. The solicitation operates on an annual deadline. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. local time on the first Thursday in October each year. For example, deadlines have included October 12, 2021, and October 6, 2022, with the annual cadence continuing thereafter. Awards are issued as standard or continuing grants, depending on the project’s scope and progress. Reporting requirements include annual progress reports, a final project report, and a public project outcomes report submitted through Research.gov. Contact for program questions is available via the dedicated email address ECR@nsf.gov, with additional support provided by NSF’s Research.gov and Grants.gov help desks.