One School Innovation Fund

Each award will provide one year of funding, with the possibility of a one-year no-cost extension (NCE).

Eligible applicants include faculty and academic staff with home departments in the School of Education. Proposals from junior faculty, those that include graduate student collaborators, and those exploring new research directions are encouraged.

• Maximum 5-page narrative
  • This should include the theme and subtheme, if appropriate, on which the work is focused. The narrative can be in the form of images or performance, as applicable for the project.
• Budget and justification using our budget template and our guidance for the budget narrative
• CV(s) of key personnel
• Dissemination plan (required)
• Graduate/undergraduate research involvement (encouraged)
• Alignment with the Wisconsin Idea (required)

All awardees will be added to the Wisconsin Ideas database and are required to attend the SoE Research Day (information coming soon!).

Initial Steps

If you plan to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI), which is encouraged but not required, please include the following components in your letter. You may email your LOI to ORS at research@education.wisc.edu.

• Project Title
• PI and Co-Is
• Funding mechanism for which you are applying (Seed or Engage)
• Recommendations for potential reviewers (optional)
• Brief summary of the project

Once we have received your inquiry of interest to apply, you will receive a separate email from ORS containing a link to a unique Box folder where you will upload a single PDF containing all necessary application components by Feb. 25, 2026.

Proposal Submission

Once you have indicated interest in applying, you will receive a separate email with submission instructions and a link to a unique Box folder. You will upload one PDF of all necessary application components by Feb. 25, 2026 into the Box folder. See Proposal Requirements for all the required elements, including the budget template.

You do not need relevant IRB approval before submission. However, if IRB approval or exemption documentation is necessary for your project, it will be required before funds are released.

Please contact ORS if you need any assistance with the following:

• Proposal editing and budget development support.
• Dissemination planning assistance
• Communications and promotional support
• Development and tracking of program metrics (e.g., future funding, publications, presentations)

Each complete application will be evaluated by two independent peer reviewers using the standard scientific/arts & humanities review committee framework. These criteria include significance, investigators, innovation, approach, environment/resources. We will average the scores.

Reviewers will focus on these three central questions during their evaluation:

• What is the potential impact of the proposed research?
• How rigorous and feasible is the approach?
• Do the investigators have the expertise/resources necessary to carry out the project?

Applications may address the following priorities and strategic themes:

• Arts and Innovation
• AI and Technology in Teaching and Learning
• Health and Wellbeing
• Education and skill building in formal and /or informal environments
• Team Science
• Educational Innovation
  • Strategies to improve student literacy
  • Helping people thrive in challenging times

Proposals are not limited to only these themes. If you have an idea that falls outside this list but still achieves program objectives, we encourage you to apply.