Colleges and universities with innovative programs for strengthening teaching and teachers in grades 9-12 should refer to the description of the Secondary Education program. The higher and secondary education programs are independent and grant requests from institutions of higher education may be submitted in both programs at the same time. The majority of grants will be made to innovative professional development programs that strengthen teachers and their teaching in grades 9-12. Special consideration will be given to projects in their early stages that address the concerns and problems of secondary education on a national level. Therefore, proposals should strive to develop solutions with potential for wide application or replication.
Evaluation is often an important component.
Requests to support well-established programs should be initiatives that have the potential for significantly improving the program. Proposals that result only in local betterment generally will not be competitive. Proposals may cover a wide range of initiatives intended to improve teaching. Proposals under this program will be accepted from institutions endeavoring to improve secondary education and must be signed by the head of the institution or organization. Institutions eligible for funding in this program area include, but are not limited to, public as well as private universities and colleges, graduate schools of education and free-standing educational research institutes.