As part of the Bush administration's goal to ensure that teaching methods used in America's classrooms have a solid scientific base, the U.S. Department of Education is requesting applications to conduct research on basic and higher order thinking skills and their links to improved student learning and higher academic achievement.

"One of our goals is to focus on what works to improve education," U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said. "This program is another example of our efforts to produce quality research on teaching and learning and share it with educators and the public."

"We're looking for projects that will connect basic cognitive and brain sciences to schools and school settings," said Grover "Russ" Whitehurst, U.S. assistant secretary for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. "There is a rich and vast base of knowledge and expertise in these sciences that we need to bring to bear on education. This new program will further that goal."

The notice for applications for the 2002 Cognition and Student Learning Research Grant Program was published in the December 21, 2001 Federal Register.

Eligible applicants include public and private organizations, institutions of higher education, state and local educational agencies, and regional educational laboratories.

The department expects to make approximately 10 awards, ranging from $75,000 to $500,000 per year for each project. Projects will be funded for up to three years and up to $3 million is available for the first year of the program. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2002.

For further information on the request for applications for the 2002 Cognition and Student Learning Research Grant Program, visit the Department of Education's Web site at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2001-4/122101c.html .

###

Top

Back to January 2002