Curry IDEAs (Innovative, Developmental, Exploratory Awards):

Curry School Faculty Research and Development Fund

Call for Proposals for Spring2017: Due April 3, 2017

The Curry School Research and Development (R&D) Fund was established and funded by donors who want to provide the Dean of the Curry School with a funding source to be used to support early stage research efforts of the faculty. The projects to be supported will be those that have significant potential impact on the field of education and possibly have a longer-term economic value.

Each award provides up to $10,000 in total costs for pilot or small-scale formative studies that show clear promise to yield significant knowledge or that have potential for well-defined future research. IDEAs are intended for faculty interested in furthering a career path in research or to initiate a new line of programmatic research. Curry intends to hold oneaward competition cycle in 2017 and fund up to 5 awards.

Global Priority: We intend to prioritize 1 of the 5 awards for a high quality submission related to “global” research. This may include international research or projects which have an international or global connection; the research does not need to be conducted abroad to be considered “global”. Please be sure to appropriately indicate the global relevance in your application materials.

New this year: We have also secured additional funds for the Robert Lynn Canady Research Award, which was established and funded by Dr. Robert Lynn Canady, a former Curry faculty member to provide early stage support for research using the CanRead Framework. The award provides up to $10,000 for a pilot or small-scale study which would identify factors which might demonstrate the validity of the CanRead Framework in increasing the percentage of proficient readers in schools. The CanRead Framework is a model Dr. Canady has implemented with school leaders to accelerate reading achievement in their schools. For additional information, see the Appendix.

Criteria for Evaluation

Reviewers will evaluate IDEA applications based on the following:

  • The extent to which the proposed research is pilot or formative in nature
  • Significance and potential for advancing the field of study
  • Potential for leveraging external funding to advance the research
  • Innovation in approach, methods and concept
  • Well-specified research problem
  • Feasibility of the conceptual framework, plan, and methodology
  • Experience and potential of the PI to conduct the proposed research
  • Dissemination plans for outcomes and findings
Eligibility and Restrictions
  • All full-time Curry faculty members are eligible to apply. Teaching and research faculty are eligible, but postdoctoral fellows are ineligible to serve as the PI.
  • Faculty salary coverage is not an allowable cost.
  • Applicants are required to consult with their supervisor/department chair prior to submission of the application to ensure that if the proposal is funded, it will not affect their pre-negotiated load. Therefore, faculty awarded an IDEAs grant should not expect or request a reduction in pre-negotiated load to perform the proposed work.
  • Faculty members may not receive anIDEAsaward as a PI two years in a row.
  • Awards may not exceed 12 months without prior approval from the Curry Office of Research.
  • Proposals for the Spring2017competition are due April 3, 2016, with a July1, 2017start date.
  • Up to 4 awards will be made through the Spring 2017 competition, with one award prioritized for “global” research projects.
  • Resubmissions of previously reviewed but unfunded applications are encouraged. See details below on instructions for resubmissions.

Reporting Requirements

  • A brief 6-month progress report must be submitted to the Curry Associate Deanfor Research using the template to be provided. A section of this report may be shared with the donors who have contributed to the fund.
  • Funding will occur in two phases: the first phase allows for the initial release of 50% of the award funds at the start of the grant, and 50% after the progress report is approved, if the project is on track with achieving its goals.
  • Financial reporting will also be required to ensure appropriate use of funds.
  • Documentation of IRB approval will be required if human subjects are involved.
Submission Process
  • The complete application packet is due to the Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Development (Catherine Bradshaw) via email ()with a cc to Maria Jones(mj8db@ virginia.edu) by 11:59 PM on April 3, 2017 in order to be considered eligible for the Spring2017competition.
  • Please submit a single PDF which contains all elements of the application as a single attachment (rather than multiple attachments).
  • A revised application (i.e., those previously reviewed under a prior IDEAs competition) mustclearly indicate that it is a revision and include a one-page summary of the revisions made in response to the previous reviews.

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IDEAs Proposal Packet
A: Project Narrative

The IDEAs Project Narrative should not exceed 5 pages (Times11pt font, ½ inch margins, single spaced) including any pictures, graphs, and tables. An appendix is not allowed. Please include the following fivesections in the body of the proposal and address all issues:

1.Project Abstract (200 words maximum, in addition to a project title)
2.Background & Significance

Describe the present state of knowledge in the area of study. Provide a rationale for this pilot study and describe the impact/significance of the proposed project on the state of knowledge in its field. Describe the “global” relevance of the research, if applicable.

3.ProjectOverview, Design & Procedures

Describe the project aims and goals and how they relate to the present state of knowledge. Describe the methodology and the procedures, which will be employed, including a detailed description of study participants, measures to be utilized, analytic plan, and the roles the investigator(s) will play in undertaking this study. Provide a detailed procedure for executing the work, the individuals who will be involved in the project. If human subjects are used, provide a description of how participant rights will be protected based on IRB procedures; confirm your intent to apply for IRB approval as needed. Describe the role that students will play in this project. Issues of feasibility should be considered.

4.Dissemination Plan

Provide a detailed explanation of how findings will be utilized and disseminated to academic and community audiences. Be specific about how findings from this work will be of benefit to the communities with whom you are working.

5.Leverage

Provide a description of the extent to which this project would advance your research program (e.g., serve as a pivot point for a program of research, help you move into a new or novel area of research, potentially help leverage external funding which will be sought based on the findings of this study). If you are requesting the purchase of materials (e.g., equipment, software, instruments), please highlight the potential for those materials to also benefit others within the unit (e.g., program, department, center, lab).

B: Other Elements of Application Packet(this section does not count toward the 5-page limit for the project narrative)
1.CurriculaVitae of PI and Co-PI (no page limit)

Provide a full CV for the PI and any Co-PIs on the project. CVs are not required of staff, students, or other Co-Investigators.

2.Timeline(1 page limit)

Provide a 1-page timeline for completing the study.

3.Need for Award in Light of Other Funding(1 page limit)

Please provide a full list of external and internal funding received in the past 3 years. Please include start-up funds, University Grants, Center pilot funds, and external grants received. If applicants currently have access to funds, a strong case is needed to justify the request through the IDEAs Program.

4.Budget(IDEAs budget template + 1 page budget justification)

List necessary costs utilizing the provided budget template. Costs may include items such as stipend for student research assistants (which must include fringe benefits, if applicable), travel necessary to the project, fieldwork expenses, equipment, materials, training, and consultation. Funding cannot be used for PI or faculty salary. Include a one-page budget justification explaining the purpose of each line item.

5.Summary of Revisions in Response to Previous Review (1 page summary of revisions for resubmissions only)

This section is required if you are resubmitting an application or are submitting an application that is similar to an application you submitted previously. If you are resubmitting an application, you must provide a description (up to 1 page in length) of how the revision is responsive to prior reviewer comments. A revised application should be noted as a resubmission on the budget template (see box to check under item 6).

Curry IDEAs (Innovative, Developmental, Exploratory Awards):

Curry School Research and Development Fund

Budget Template

Applicants should budget in two six-month phases, beginning with the proposed start-date of the project.

1. Principal Investigator:

2. Department/Center:

3. Project Title:

4. Is this project to be considered for the “global priority”?:YES or NO

5. Is this project to be considered for the “Canady Award CanRead”?: YES or NO

6. This Budget Request is for the Period: to (Max award period is 12 months)

7. Total amount requested: (Max award amount is $10,000)

8. Is this a new submission to IDEAs? Yes, NEW submission No, resubmission

9. IRB Status (mark one of the following in reference to the proposed project):

Not applicable/no human subjects research proposed

New IRB proposal to be submitted for this project

Amendment to existing IRB approved protocol

BUDGET CATEGORIES
/ 1st 6 months
Start:
End: / 2nd 6 months
Start:
End: / Project Total
Personnel (cannot be used to cover faculty salary)
Salaries/Stipend
Other Direct Costs
Equipment
Travel
Consultants
Other
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED
/ $ / $ / $

Note: Funding will occur in two phases: the first phase allows for the initial release of 50% of the award funds at the start of the grant, and 50% after the progress report is approved, if the project is on track with achieving its goals.

Appendix
Canady Award:CanRead Framework Summary

CanRead Framework’s ultimate goal is to implement measures to accelerate reading achievement in grades PreK-3 to improve a variety of societal outcomes. The measureable goal is to ensure all 4th graders are proficient readers up from 34% of proficient readers according to a 2015 NAEP finding.

The CanRead Framework provides a roadmap for school leaders to accelerate reading achievement.Primary components of the CanRead Framework include:

  • Working with school leaders to promote literacy as a primary value and objective of PreK-3 education.
  • Working with school leaders to make changes within their schools to demonstrate that literacy is valued. These changes include:
  • Adjusting scheduling to increase amount and type of time students spend in reading instruction;
  • Adjusting staffing to incorporate instruction by Literacy Teams, which would include reading specialists, which stabilizes the “teacher variable,” or the quality of reading instruction from the classroom teacher;
  • Creating a positive organizational culture that promotes teacher retention;
  • Promoting site-based professional development opportunities;
  • Implementing evidence-based reading curriculum methods.

If research is completed showing that the CanRead Framework achieves the goal of increasing the number of proficient readers, steps could be taken to move towards recommending the policy changes outlined in article.

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