Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers | 22 585

Opportunity Information: Apply for 22 585

The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity "Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers" (ITEST, Funding Opportunity Number 22-585; CFDA 47.076) supports applied research and development projects that improve how technology and computing are integrated into STEM learning and teaching for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. The program is framed around a national need: long-term economic strength and national security depend on the United States staying competitive in technology-heavy fields, and that competitiveness depends on how well the nation educates and prepares the next generation. In practical terms, ITEST is meant to help schools and communities rethink STEM learning so it better reflects the diversity of students in the U.S., expands the routes students can take to reach high-quality STEM opportunities, and strengthens the pipeline into technology- and computation-rich careers.

ITEST is centered on giving all students stronger foundational preparation in STEM disciplines, with an emphasis on the growing importance of technology use in both education and the workforce. Projects are expected to place students in technology-rich learning experiences that build either discipline-specific or transdisciplinary STEM knowledge. This includes developing skills that are increasingly essential in modern STEM work, such as data literacy and the ability to use evidence to make decisions and reason through problems. The program is also explicit that these experiences should do more than teach skills in isolation; they should connect learning to real pathways that motivate students to continue into further education and training aligned with technology-rich careers.

A major focus of the program is equity and inclusion, with a clear expectation that proposals prioritize the full inclusion of groups that have been historically underrepresented and/or underserved in STEM and in the information and communication technologies (ICT) workforce. The solicitation names examples of these groups, including Black and African American students, Alaska Native students, Hispanic and Latino students, Native American students, Native Hawaiian and Native Pacific Islander students, people with disabilities, neurodiverse students, and women. In other words, ITEST is not just funding general STEM innovation; it is specifically looking for innovations that expand access and outcomes for students who often face systemic barriers to high-quality STEM experiences, advanced coursework, mentoring, or clear career-connected opportunities.

Another core expectation is that projects leverage partnerships to broaden and strengthen education-to-career pathways within communities. NSF signals that meaningful public and private collaborations matter here: school systems, community organizations, informal learning institutions, higher education, employers, and industry partners can be brought together to create more coherent and sustainable pathways. The intention is to move beyond one-off classroom activities and instead build networks that expose students to authentic STEM applications, role models, work-based learning possibilities, and clearer transitions from school to postsecondary programs and the workforce.

The ITEST program funds several project types that represent different stages of innovation and evidence building. "Exploring Theory and Design Principles" (ETD) supports work that clarifies the learning theories, design approaches, and foundational principles behind a proposed innovation. "Developing and Testing Innovations" (DTI) supports the creation of new approaches and their systematic testing in learning settings. "Scaling, Expanding, and Iterating Innovations" (SEI) supports efforts to take promising, evidence-informed innovations and adapt, expand, or scale them to new contexts while continuing to improve and learn from implementation. In addition to these R&D tracks, ITEST accepts Synthesis proposals as well as Conference/Workshop proposals, and it also planned support for one five-year resource center beginning in FY2023, intended to strengthen the broader ITEST community and capacity.

All proposals must directly address the program's three pillars: (1) innovative use of technologies in learning and teaching, (2) partnerships for career and workforce preparation, and (3) strategies for equity in STEM education. Beyond alignment to these pillars, NSF requires strong research design and clear plans for project evaluation and dissemination, meaning applicants need to show how they will generate credible evidence about what works, for whom, and under what conditions, and how they will share findings so that other educators, researchers, and communities can benefit. Proposals are also expected to explicitly address the solicitation-specific review criteria, not just the standard NSF merit review factors, which reinforces that ITEST is looking for rigorous, usable knowledge alongside practical, scalable educational improvements.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program run by NSF. The opportunity listing indicates eligibility as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation). The original posting date was April 13, 2022, with an original closing date of August 12, 2022. The award ceiling listed is $5,000,000, and NSF anticipated approximately 33 awards, reflecting a relatively competitive national program supporting a portfolio of projects rather than a single large initiative.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 13, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 12, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 33 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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