2023 Call for Peer Reviewers

EDUCATION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH CALL FOR PEER REVIEWERS

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has received Fiscal Year 2023 funding for the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program. EIR grants support: 1) innovative pre-kindergarten through 12 education projects that have the potential to increase student achievement, particularly among high-need students; and 2) the expansion (or scaling) of education practices that have evidence of effectiveness. For the application review this summer/fall, we are seeking both evaluation reviewers and content reviewers.

Evaluation Peer Reviewers with evaluation and research experience, who can review applicants’ proposed evaluation plans (typically randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs). Knowledge of What Works Clearinghouse standards is required.

Content Peer Reviewers who have direct and significant pre-kindergarten through grade 12 education experience in one or more of the following content areas:

*Examples of related SEL experience may include trauma-informed practice, multi-tiered systems of support, and specialized support personnel such as social workers and psychologists

We are seeking individuals able to review applications by: 1) reading and analyzing applications, 2) discussing ratings with other reviewers, and 3) formalizing scores and comments for public posting.

Examples of Relevant Prior Experience

• State/district education leaders, school leaders, teachers, foundation officers, university faculty (who work with schools), and researchers;
• Persons with administrative, project management, or other leadership experience who have implemented, sustained, expanded, and disseminated innovative school projects;
• Professionals with wide-ranging experience informing an ability to distinguish varying merits of innovative and potentially promising project ideas;
• Excellent writers, good critical thinkers, and reflective individuals open to feedback from others;
• Individuals with scheduling flexibilities who can commit to completing tasks in a timely manner; and
• Former grant reviewers or grantees for education programs.

Reviewer Application and Selection Process

• To apply as a reviewer, send your resume (maximum of 5 pages) to EIRpeerreview@ed.gov.

• Reviewers who are selected to participate will be contacted by the EIR team and or EIR Contractor and asked for additional contact information, availability, and potential conflicts of interest. Those not selected will remain in the EIR reviewer pool for future competitions.
• If selected, register and submit a PDF-version resume in G5 (www.g5.gov). For support, consult the PowerPoint instructions or contact edcaps.user@ed.gov or 1-888-336-8930.

• ED solicits reviewers without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. ED will provide reasonable accommodations for an individual with a disability, so that the individual is able to participate in the review process.

Conflict of Interest

You are not eligible to be a reviewer if you will be applying to any of the three EIR competitions in FY 2023, if you will be involved in the preparation of a grant application, or if you would stand to benefit from an application that were to receive funding in this new competition.

You are eligible if you are a current or past EIR or i3 grantee and are not submitting a new application under the EIR competition. 

Responsibilities/Payment

• Please review the tentative schedule against work professional and personal calendars to determine availability. If selected, you will be contacted to confirm availability for each panel sections; reviewers may serve on multiple sections.

• You will be expected to:

1. participate in two 60-minute training and introductory video calls;
2. read, review, and evaluate approximately 8-12 applications (25-35 pages of narrative as well as appendices);
3. participate in approximately 4-6 panel calls (each several hours in length);
4. complete written evaluations of applications based on the selection criteria;
5. revise your reviews after panel discussion and facilitator feedback; and
6. submit reviews in ED’s online G5 system.

• Payment will be $500 per application (approximately $4,000-$6,000 total) after successful completion of all required tasks.

Program Information

Visit the EIR program website for additional information about the grant program. Please direct all questions to EIRpeerreview@ed.gov.