Grants / Department of Health and Human Services / Administration for Children and Families - OPRE

HHS-2023-ACF-OPRE-YR-0153: Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants

Closed Closed May 17, 2024 Opportunity HHS-2023-ACF-OPRE-YR-0153 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is forecast: Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Grants in Multiple States (HHS-2027-ACF-OHS-CH-0125). Status: Expected deadline December 15, 2026. It is in our archive of Administration for Children and Families - OPRE notices from 2023.

• Award ceiling$25,000
• Award floor$20,000
• Total funding$150,000
• Expected awards6
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.

Applicant eligibility is unrestricted except as noted in this section. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Head Start awards averaged $10.3 million; this notice allows up to $25,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (75% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) plans to solicit applications for Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Dissertation Grants. Funds support dissertation research by advanced graduate students working in partnership with Head Start programs and with faculty mentors. These grants focus on building capacity in the research field by:(1) addressing questions relevant to early childhood programs that serve children and families with low-income,(2) supporting applied experience with collaboration with participating program partners, and(3) fostering mentoring relationships between faculty members and doctoral students.OPRE is interested in research that directly informs local, state, or federal policies and is relevant to multiple early care and education settings. Applicants must demonstrate an established partnership with their Head Start program partner(s) (and other early care and education program partners if applicable) that should be apparent throughout the research plan, from development and refinement of the research questions through the proposed data collection or secondary analyses of data, interpretation, and dissemination of findings. Eligible Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and faith-based institutions of higher education are encouraged to apply. The applicant organization must have a history of research and federal funding oversight and must have appropriate research support resources to support the student. The faculty mentor who will serve as principal investigator must have a Ph.D. or equivalent in the respective field and conduct research as a primary professional responsibility. Faculty mentors with doctoral training and research expertise must be able to provide proper supervision and quality control over the project and interactions with participating programs to help ensure successful completion of sound dissertation research that addresses critical questions of interest to program(s) and ACF. To be eligible for award, the graduate student must provide evidence of an approved dissertation proposal with their application. This is a change from previous years when applicants were given additional time to submit evidence of an approved dissertation proposal after the application due date.

Category: Income Security and Social Services.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, HHS-2027-ACF-OHS-CH-0125, which is forecast.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.