Improving Student Success Through Innovation and Research

How do you turn innovative ideas into real, measurable improvements for students? One of the major tools available to support these efforts is the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant program, a federal initiative designed to help educators and organizations create, develop, and expand evidence-based innovations. The EIR program does not just fund good ideas—it challenges applicants to show how those ideas can work, how they can be scaled, and how they can, ultimately, make a meaningful difference in student achievement and attainment.

We know that with opportunity comes complexity. Whether grantees are applying for an early-phase, mid-phase, or expansion grant, each stage brings its own set of challenges—from demonstrating a sufficient evidence base, to designing rigorous evaluations, to managing growth without losing impact. These are not easy hurdles to clear. Here, Jessica Brown, PhD, a Westat Principal Research Associate for Education Studies, explores what it takes not just to secure EIR funding through proven expertise and exceptional performance, but to make the most of it—to generate insights, demonstrate impact, and, ultimately, serve more students in more effective ways.

Q. What are the most common challenges organizations face in securing an EIR grant, and how does Westat’s evaluation expertise address those challenges?

A. EIR grants are very competitive, so organizations must have an innovative idea and also a strong proposal that meets the grant criteria. This includes having a rigorous evaluation plan that adheres to the What Works Clearinghouse standards and measures the intervention’s effectiveness and its implementation. Westat’s experienced evaluators assist partners from the early stages of a program’s development and implementation, guiding them toward future funding opportunities. We partner to combine our evaluation expertise with your content knowledge, continuously improving the program to strengthen its impact on teaching and learning.

Q. Can you elaborate on best practices for designing evaluation plans that align with the goals and requirements of the EIR program?

A. We are deeply familiar with the EIR program, including each type of grant: early-phase, mid-phase, or expansion, and we have evaluation experience in each of those categories. We use a collaborative and iterative approach when partnering with program developers on a proposal. The intervention must be conceptualized in a way that can be studied to show its effectiveness, and in turn, the evaluation must be designed to both meet the EIR requirements and be feasible to undertake. Our knowledge of the EIR program benefits our partners in collaboratively putting forward highly competitive proposals that, when funded, are realistic to implement and have a high likelihood of seeing positive program effects, which sets the program up for future funding opportunities.

Q. How does one ensure that EIR-funded projects are both implemented effectively and yield impactful results?

A. It all starts with the program design. It is important for the evaluators to collaborate with program developers during the initial program design to ensure the program will meet the needs of the evaluation. For example, evaluations need to have a large enough sample size to show whether or not there is a meaningful impact on outcomes. This means that the program developers need to plan for enough resources to reach that sample size and also recruit that sample. Once the grant has been awarded, it is key to closely monitor the fidelity of implementation as part of the evaluation. Westat works with program developers to define the program components and what fidelity means so that it can be measured.

Q. What sets Westat apart from other evaluation partners in terms of collaborative partnering and thought leadership?

A. Westat works to understand the main ideas behind a program and what the developers hope to achieve over time. This helps us go beyond just linking the evaluation to the program’s activities and results. In addition, what sets us apart is that our experts have strong evaluation qualifications as well as deep content expertise. Many of our experts include former educators and education policymakers. This helps us support program developers in sharing their findings with policymakers and exploring options for publishing or presenting their work.

Q. Can you share success stories or examples where Westat has helped organizations achieve long-term impact?

A. Westat works across a broad range of social science sectors to support organizations in achieving meaningful, long-term impacts. Within the EIR framework, our staff of independent evaluators have worked with program developers across a 15-year period. During this time, Westat worked with program developers to carry out initial studies that directly translated into opportunities to pursue mid- and expansion-phase projects. Also, as independent evaluators, we have helped program developers explain why their work matters to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

Q. How does this work impact everyday Americans?

A. The EIR program helps improve the lives of everyday Americans by funding innovative ideas that enhance student learning and success. Since its launch in 2017, the program has awarded around 250 grants to districts, states, and other education organizations, primarily focusing on innovations to improve student achievement and attainment in K-12 settings, with some projects having a direct impact on college and career readiness and persistence. These grants support promising approaches that help students thrive and accelerate the scaling of those methods that show evidence of success. As a result, EIR-funded innovations have likely reached and positively impacted millions of students and their families nationwide.

Q. What advice would you give to organizations with big ideas for education innovation but limited experience with securing federal grants?

A. For organizations with bold ideas for education innovation but limited experience securing federal grants, the best advice is to approach the process strategically and collaboratively. First, focus on clearly articulating your vision and the problem you are aiming to solve—strong, compelling narratives are at the heart of successful proposals. From there, build a team or find partners who bring complementary expertise, especially in areas like research, evaluation, and grant management.

Federal grants, like those in the EIR program, can be complex, but they are also structured to support innovative thinking and capacity building. It’s helpful to work with an organization that understands the challenges new applicants face and is committed to being a supportive partner. We help clients navigate the process by demystifying requirements, building strong logic models, aligning evaluation plans with program goals, and ensuring proposals are grounded in evidence. With the right guidance and collaboration, even first-time applicants can bring transformative ideas to life.

How Westat Can Help You

Learn more about Education Innovation and Research: Achieving End-to-End Success at Westat.

Contact us at EIR@Westat.com to learn how we can help you.