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PreK-3^rd Research and Evaluation Small Grants Program
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Deadline November 2, 2009

1. PURPOSE
2. BACKGROUND
3. ELIGIBILITY
4. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
5. GRANT REQUIREMENTS
6. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
7. DEADLINE

1. PURPOSE
   The Foundation for Child Development (FCD) announces a small grants program to be funded through its PreK-3^rd Research and Evaluation Forum. A maximum of two awards of up to $50,000 each will be provided to researchers proposing to use one or more datasets from the PreK-3^rd Data Resource Center: The First Six Years of Schooling and Beyond. All funds are to be used over a period from one to two years.

   The small grants program has three major goals:

   • To stimulate research that spans early education and early elementary education to inform PreK-3^rd efforts across the country;
      
   • To foster multidisciplinary perspectives to build a field of research that examines how children's education and home contexts influence developmental outcomes from PreK through at least Third Grade; and
      
   • To increase the use of datasets that can inform FCD's PreK-3^rd initiative: Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 Cohort (NLSY-79); Panel Survey of Income Dynamics, Child Development Supplement (PSID-CDS); Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K); National Head Start/Public School Early Childhood Transition Demonstration Study; and Chicago Longitudinal Study, 1986-1989.
      
2. BACKGROUND
   PreK-3^rd is the first level of an integrated PK-16 educational system for all children that begins with PreK and extends into postsecondary education. What children experience as they move from PreK programs to Kindergarten, and then through Grades 1, 2 and 3 - the "PreK-3^rd Continuum"—is based on standards that respect children's developmental needs and capacity to learn. PreK-3^rd education integrates the subject-matter focus of K-3 with the child development focus of early education. PreK-3^rd research aims to inform approaches to education that view children's learning as an accumulation of experiences over time.

   A framework PreK-3^rd research includes:

   • School Organization/Principal Leadership: Principal leadership emphasizes academic, social, emotional outcomes, and implements a strategic plan with teachers to achieve goals by Third Grade; principal supports frequent common planning time for teachers within and across grade levels.
      
   • Qualified Teachers: All teachers in PreK through Third Grade have at minimum a BA degree with specialized training; certified teachers are qualified to teach at any grade level, PreK through Third Grade. Assistant teachers play a clearly defined role in maximizing the quality of the learning environment in the classroom.
      
   • Classrooms as Learning Environments: All classrooms across PreK through Third Grade support children's emotional and social development as well as their academic needs.
      
   • Alignment: Standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessment are mapped out in school documents that indicate seamless learning experiences from PreK through Third Grade; and teachers continually work toward coordinating instruction with standards and assessments within and across grade levels.
      
   • Assessment and Accountability: Ongoing assessments of children's learning inform instruction and intervention; and assessments from PreK through Third Grade are connected to tests and other measures that are used for accountability in Third and Fourth Grade.
      
   • Family and Community Engagement: Clearly articulated and implemented activities engage and support families in their children's education; community outreach and partnerships are prevalent.
      

   Further discussion about PreK-3^rd research is available in "What is PreK-3^rd Research?".

   To assist in this research, FCD has supported the creation of user resource guides for each dataset. The user resource guides provide step-by-step instructions to creating a dataset with specific variables to be analyzed; and it is recommended that applicants review these guides prior to preparing a proposal.

3. ELIGIBILITY
    
   • Researchers must use one or more datasets included in the PreK-3^rd Data Resource Center: The First Six Years of Schooling and Beyond.
      
   • Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. or its equivalent in one of the behavioral and social sciences or in an allied professional field (e.g., public policy, public health, education, social work, nursing, medicine.)
      
   • Applicants must be United States citizens, legal permanent residents, or those who have employment authorization from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services for the duration of the grant.
      
   • Only one proposal per applicant will be accepted.
      
   • Proposals that include a co-PI are ineligible.
      
   • Individuals currently receiving funding from FCD are not eligible to apply.
      
   • Junior scholars are encouraged to apply.
      
   • Applicants must show demonstrated experience (e.g., paper presentation or publication) with the selected dataset(s) OR provide a letter of support from a mentor who has experience with the dataset and has agreed to assist the applicant with data analyses.
      
4. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
    
   • Topics should inform PreK-3^rd research, by answering an important question with appropriate and rigorous methods.
      
   • The degree to which the proposal demonstrates a conceptual understanding of PreK-3^rd research and the related literature.
      
   • A good fit between the research question(s) and proposed dataset(s) to be employed in the study.
      
   • Potential of the analyses to make a significant contribution to the existing literature on PreK-3^rd.
      
   • The relevance of the proposed work to current and future public policy discussions regarding the education of children 3-8 years old.
      
   • The ability of the research to inform practice and policy for underserved populations.
      
   • Evidence that the researcher is capable of carrying out the proposed analyses.
      
   • If the applicant has no documented experience with the selected dataset(s), applicant provides evidence of a mentoring relationship with an individual who has such experience and will be able to assist and support the proposed research.
      
5. GRANT REQUIREMENTS
    
   • Grant recipients are expected to produce two documents: (1) an article suitable for publication, and (2) a 5-page brief that describes the relevance of the research to education policy and/or practice.
      
   • Attend meetings and network with other PreK-3^rd researchers; the expenses will be underwritten separately by FCD and should not be included in the budget.
      
6. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

   The application should consist of the following components, which are described in more detail below:

   1. Cover letter
   2. Proposal
   3. Timeline and work plan
   4. Itemized budget
   5. Examples of prior completed research
   6. CV and statement of current research projects
   7. Letter from a mentor (if required)

   1. Cover letter (one-page limit, single-spaced)
      Applicants must provide a cover letter on institutional letterhead with the following information in this order:
      • Full name of the applicant.
      • Current home address, telephone, and fax number. Note when the information will no longer be valid.
      • Current office address, telephone, and fax number. Note when the information will no longer be valid.
      • Permanent home address, telephone, and fax number.
      • Permanent office address, telephone, and fax number.
      • Email addresses for all locations.
      • Current job title, departmental, and institutional affiliation.
       
   2. Proposal (10-page limit, please note the minimum page limits for each of the following sections)

      The research design should be based on funding up to a maximum amount of $50,000 (inclusive of overhead, which is limited to 15% of direct costs). The award may be used for research expenses and salaries.

      • Describe the specific research questions and hypotheses clearly (1-page minimum).
      • Discuss the significance of the research in relation to the current state of knowledge. Provide references to the existing literature (2-page minimum).
      • [The list of references should not be included as part of the 2-page minimum.]
      • A figural model depicting hypothesized relationships in the study.
      • Describe the proposed sample and measures in detail (2-page minimum).
      • Describe your plans for the data analysis in detail with attention to explaining how the chosen techniques will answer the proposed research question (2-page minimum).
      • Explain the significance of the project for informing both practice and policy (1-page minimum).

      The Foundation for Child Development does not have the capacity to share reviews of proposals with applicants once the selection process is completed.

   3. Timeline and work plan: Provide a monthly project timeline and work plan
       
   4. Itemized Project Budget
      • The research design should be based on funding up to a maximum amount of $50,000 (inclusive of overhead which is limited to 15% of direct costs). The award may be used for research expenses and salaries.
      • Submit a project budget using the following template for each project year and a budget that is a total of all of the project years. Please specify the project time frame (month/day/year through month/day/year).
      • Provide itemized descriptions of each line item for each year as corresponding budget notes.
       

   5. Budget Template

      Budget Item	Total	Requested from FCD
      1.    Personnel (for each person include job title, annual salary, and the percentage of time to be spent on the project
      2.    Fringe benefits (note the underlying calculation, e.g., 20% of total salaries)
      3.    Travel
      4.    Project-related equipment and supplies
      5.    Data processing
      6.    Other (please specify)
      7.    Total direct costs (sum of the above line items)
      8.    Total indirect costs (FCD limits overhead to 15% of direct costs
      9.    Sub-contractors
      10. Total

      
       
   6. Examples of prior completed research
      • A maximum of two journal articles, published chapters, and/or paper presentations by the applicant that are relevant to the proposed research.
       
   7. Current curriculum vitae of the applicant and description of current research
      • Please include a copy of your current CV
      • In addition, please include a separate statement describing your role in other current research projects. This description should include an explanation of whether there is any overlap with the proposed project, the percentages of time devoted to all other research and teaching, and the percentage of time that can be devoted to the proposed project. These percentages should total 100% and represent the applicant's paid, full-time position. The statement should report separately for the academic year and the summer.
       
   8. Letter from a mentor (if required)
      • If the applicant does not have experience with the selected dataset(s) he/she should provide a letter of support from a mentor who has worked with the dataset. The mentor should write a letter expressing their willingness to support the applicant in his/her work. This letter should be addressed to Ruby Takanishi, President, and sent directly to the Foundation for Child Development on or before the deadline, November 2, 2009.
       
   9. Finally, please adhere to the following formatting requirements for the proposal:
      • Proposal should be double-spaced with a 12-pt font and one-inch margins on all four edges of the page.
      • A total of five copies are required. Each copy of the proposal package should be clipped or stapled together. Please do not use binders or folders.
       
7. DEADLINE
   Completed proposals must be received in the Foundation for Child Development's office on or before Monday, November 2, 2009. Announcement of awards will be made in mid-February 2010.

   Please mail your proposal package to:

   Foundation for Child Development
   PreK-3^rd Research and Evaluation Small Grants Program
   145 East 32nd Street, 14th Floor
   New York, NY 10016

   The PreK-3^rd Research and Evaluation Forum advisors will serve as reviewers for the small grants program. FCD does not have the capacity to share reviews with applicants.

   Please submit your questions via email to: research@fcd-us.org. Foundation staff will not accept telephone inquiries. We appreciate your cooperation.