Call to Effective Action (CEA) Grant Program

Program Overview

Accelerate's Call to Effective Action grant program is committed to evaluating scalable models of in-school-day tutoring and individualized instruction that demonstrate the potential to deliver cost-effective services on sizable scales and improve outcomes for students, particularly those in historically underserved communities.

Geographic Scope

National; grantees work across multiple states (recent cohort operating in 20+ states)

Focus Areas

• Subject Focus: English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, or both
• Grade Levels: Kindergarten through 12th grade
• Delivery Modalities: In-person, virtual, or hybrid tutoring models
• Target Populations: Historically underserved students, multi-language learners, students with disabilities, students in rural settings
• Program Design: Tier II interventions; high-dosage tutoring (3+ times per week); low tutor-to-student ratios (1:3 preferred, max 1:5)

Eligibility

Accelerate seeks applications from:

• Tutoring providers (nonprofit and for-profit)
• Public school districts, public charter schools, and charter management organizations
• Colleges and universities
• Support organizations (nonprofit and for-profit), such as education intermediaries, organizations building data infrastructure, and citywide collaboratives
• Research firms, university-based researchers, and individual researchers

Award Types & Amounts

1. Innovation Grants (up to $150,000): Scalable tutoring models successfully piloted but without preliminary evidence of impact on student outcomes
2. Promise Grants (up to $250,000): Scalable, established tutoring models with prior evidence suggesting positive effects on student outcomes
3. Adoption Grants (up to $350,000): Scalable, established tutoring models with prior evidence of causal program impact on student outcomes

Selection Priorities

• Commitment to rigorous research and evaluation of program impact
• Potential to deliver in-school services on large scale
• Focus on historically underserved communities
• Use of technology to reduce barriers and control costs
• Identified pathways for sustainability beyond ESSER funding
• Firm district partnership commitments
• Targeting students within specific learner profiles
• Research-backed program models with basis in prevailing evidence

What They Fund

• Program implementation and research
• Scalable tutoring model development and scaling
• Data collection and evaluation
• Randomized Control Trials and Quasi-Experimental Designs for research

Recent Award Information

• 2024 CEA Cohort: 18 grantees awarded individual grants of $150,000-$250,000; awardees expected to reach 60,000 students in 600+ schools across 20+ states
• 2023 CEA Cohort: 33 organizations awarded $6 million total; grantees working in 20 states; 10 grantees participated in J-PAL North America research cohort

Research & Evaluation

All grantees commit to conducting rigorous research and evaluation of their programs. Select cohorts partner with J-PAL North America (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT) for high-quality randomized evaluations.

Application Process

1. Review Application Requirements: Visit the CEA Application page for full list of priorities and requirements
2. Attend Technical Assistance Office Hours: Accelerate offers office hours in February for technical assistance (check website for specific times)
3. Submit Application: Use the online application form at accelerate.us
4. Timeline:
   • Priority Deadline: March 1, 2024
   • Final Deadline: March 15, 2024
   • Early applications encouraged
5. Priority Deadline Benefits: Applicants submitting by March 1 receive early feedback on submissions and opportunity to revise/submit additional information before final deadline

Required Materials & Information

(Specific required materials not detailed in provided content; applicants should visit CEA Application page for complete list)

Application Focus Areas

Applications should demonstrate:

• Commitment to rigorous research and evaluation
• Potential to deliver scalable, in-school tutoring services
• Evidence of program effectiveness (for Promise and Adoption grants)
• Successful pilot implementation (for Innovation grants)
• Plans for sustainability beyond ESSER funding
• District partnership commitments
• Focus on historically underserved students