Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12)

Grants to USA nonprofits, for-profits, IHEs, government agencies, and individuals for research to enhance the quality of PreK-12 STEM education. Projects should build on fundamental research in STEM education and existing research and development. All research proposals must have a theoretical and empirical justification.
Projects should result in research-informed and field-tested outcomes and products that inform teaching and learning. Teachers and students who participate in DRK-12 studies are expected to enhance their understanding and use of STEM content, practices and skills.The DRK-12 program has three major research and development strands: (1) Assessment; (2) Learning; and (3) Teaching. The program recognizes the synergy among the three strands and that there is some overlap and interdependence among them. However, proposals should identify a clear focus of the proposed research efforts (i.e., assessment, learning, or teaching) consistent with the proposal’s main objectives and research questions.The program supports six types of projects: (1) Exploratory, (2) Design and Development, (3) Impact, (4) Implementation and Improvement, (5) Syntheses, and (6) Conferences. All six types of projects apply to each of the three DRK-12 program strands.Further information on the Program Strands:https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20572/nsf20572.pdf#page=4Further information on the Project Types: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20572/nsf20572.pdf#page=6