Call For Effective Technology FAQs

Yes. We will hold virtual office hours where you may ask us questions on these dates:

• Wednesday 2/18 9:30-10:30 am ET here
• Thursday 2/19 1:00-2:00 pm ET here

The Call for Effective Technology (CET) program identifies and supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of promising AI-powered and educational technology tools that enable high-dosage tutoring, personalized learning, and instructional effectiveness for public school students. Our focus is on improving academic outcomes, especially in mathematics and reading, while ensuring equitable access across diverse student populations.

The program provides grants of between $150,000 – $250,000 to support implementation of technology solutions during the 2026-27 school year, alongside a matched research partner, in order to evaluate effectiveness. All of Accelerate’s grantmaking is in service of state policy and scale—while we fund individual organizations, our ultimate goal is to generate evidence that informs meaningful policy changes and drives rapid adoption of effective solutions for students across the country.

The CET program aims to:

• Support the development and implementation of innovative AI and educational technology solutions
• Study and evaluate these tools in authentic educational settings
• Shape evidence-based policies and quality standards for AI and tech integration in education
• Identify equity-focused interventions that demonstrate potential to improve outcomes for underserved students.
• Advance a culture of evidence-first decision-making in the rollout of AI and educational technologies.

The CET program is specifically focused on educational technology solutions, with a particular interest in AI-powered tools. Unlike programs that support concept development or early-stage ideas, CET requires applicants to have existing tools or solutions that will be ready for use in real school settings during the 2026-27 school year.

Additionally, CET includes a strong research component, with all grantees working with an Accelerate-assigned research partner to evaluate usability, feasibility, and effectiveness. Grantees and their evaluation findings will be named publicly, regardless of results.

Eligible applicants include:

• Educational technology developers and tutoring providers (both nonprofit and for-profit) with AI-powered or tech-enabled learning solutions in all content areas, especially for mathematics and reading
• Curriculum developers seeking to deploy AI or ed-tech tools that supplement or enhance their high-quality instructional materials (HQIM)
• EdTech accelerators, incubators, and support organizations that partner directly with learning technology providers
• School districts, charter management organizations, and public schools that have developed their own technology or AI solutions or have access to student-level product data from the tool they are implementing
  • Districts without access to product data should coordinate with the tool provider to submit a joint application, with the provider as lead applicant.

Regardless of the lead applicant type, implementation must take place in U.S.-based PK–12 schools (traditional or charter) during the 2026–27 school year.

We support a wide range of AI-powered and educational technology tools that enable personalized learning and instructional effectiveness, including but not limited to:

• AI-powered tutoring or learning systems
• Adaptive learning platforms
• Tools that support teacher instructional effectiveness
• Educational software that provides personalized learning experiences
• Technology solutions that improve implementation of evidence-based teaching practices

Solutions may be used directly by students or by teachers and other instructional personnel. Eligible solutions must demonstrate how they adapt content, pacing, or instructional approaches to meet individual student needs. Tools that provide standardized experiences for all users or that are disconnected from student learning and outcomes do not align with CET’s funding priorities.

The CET program is specifically focused on educational technology solutions, with a particular interest in AI-powered tools. Unlike programs that support concept development or early-stage ideas, CET requires applicants to have existing tools or solutions that will be ready for use in real school settings during the 2026-27 school year.

Additionally, CET includes a strong research component, with all grantees working with an Accelerate-assigned research partner to evaluate usability, feasibility, and effectiveness. Grantees and their evaluation findings will be named publicly, regardless of results.

No, prior evidence of impact is not required to apply for the CET grant. The goal of this grant is to help promising solutions develop this evidence base. However, applicants must demonstrate:

• A functioning tool currently in use with real students during the school day
• Theory of action grounded in scientific research and accepted evidence-based practices
• Clear definition of the educational challenge being addressed

Yes, both generative and non-generative AI solutions are eligible for the CET grant. The key is that your solution must address a significant educational challenge and be grounded in learning science and evidence-based practices.

Yes. International organizations may apply if they have a confirmed U.S.-based PK–12 public or public charter school district partner for implementation.

Organizations may submit separate applications only if they meet both of the following criteria:

1. Separate entities: Each application must be submitted by a legally distinct organization (e.g., a nonprofit and its for-profit subsidiary). Each organization will need to complete separate organizational onboarding in our grant management platform (Temelio) to submit its own application.
2. Different educational challenges: Each application must address a completely separate and distinct educational challenge

Important note: Accelerate will only review one application per registered organization, the remainder will be deemed ineligible by default. If multiple applications are submitted by the same organization, only the first application submitted will be considered for review.

If your organization has multiple tools that address the same educational challenge, you should submit one application that explains how your tools work together to solve that specific problem. You may include multiple tools in a single budget as long as all costs are associated with addressing the one challenge you’ve outlined.

We encourage partnerships between ed tech developers and school districts, as these collaborations often indicate that projects are well-positioned for success. However, applications must be submitted by the organization that has direct control over the technology’s development and data.

The purpose of CET is to generate real-time insights into tool development and effectiveness. This requires direct access to:

• The decision-makers responsible for developing the tool
• Backend data and analytics used to inform product decisions
• The ability to make iterative improvements based on research findings

Who should apply:

• Ed tech companies/developers who control their tool’s development and data should submit the application
• School districts implementing their own internally-developed technology solutions

Who should not apply:

• Districts or organizations that are implementing a third-party/commercial tool but do not have direct access to the tool’s development process or backend data
• Partners who cannot directly influence tool development or access implementation data

Yes. University-affiliated labs or research teams are eligible to apply. Applicants should list the university as the organization and include the college or lab affiliation in descriptive fields. Report the lab or team’s annual funding, not the full university’s.

Yes. Tools must be able to track usage and progress at the individual student level. If your tool does not use unique student identifiers (e.g., student accounts, logins, or rostering integration), it will not meet the data requirements for this grant.

Yes, organizations that have previously received funding from Accelerate, whether through Call for Effective Technology, Evidence for Impact, Call for Effective Action, or other programs, are eligible to apply. However, applicants should understand that Accelerate is not an operational funder. Our goal is to support implementation insofar as it generates learnings through evaluation that can be shared with the field and inform policy. We typically do not fund organizations year over year; repeat funding is the exception, not the rule.

If you are a previous grantee considering applying, consider whether your organization has something new to evaluate. Are there distinct research questions that would generate fresh insights for the field? If your proposed project offers new learning opportunities that align with Accelerate’s goals, rather than continuation of previously funded work, we encourage you to apply.

The application process consists of:

• Completing an Eligibility Form to determine if your organization qualifies
• Submitting a full application (for eligible organizations)
• Participating in an interview (for selected applicants)

The full application includes sections on:

• Organizational information and background
• Problem-solution overview (including a demo link)
• Equitable access
• Implementation plan
• Data collection and evaluation
• Additional information

• Application opens: February 5, 2026
  • Application period: February 5 – 20, 2026
• Application deadline: February 20, 2026
  • Application review: February – March 2026
• Interviews with select applicants*: March 2026
• Grantee notifications: By May 2026
• Public announcement: May 2026
• Contracting + research partner matching: Spring – Summer 2026
  • District letters of commitment obtained within 60 days of grant award notification
  • Final grant agreement signed within 90 days of grant award notification
  • First payment distributed
• Implementation begins: Fall 2026
  • Full-year implementations are preferred, but flexible implementation periods are acceptable (e.g., 6-week design sprints, semester-long pilots)
• Final reports due: June 2027

The application requires a link to a demo of your solution (under 5 minutes). This can be:

• Demo video
• Simple screen recording showing basic functionality

The focus should be on showcasing the user experience and core functionality of your solution. Production value is not a factor in the evaluation.

While having confirmed district/school partnerships is not an absolute requirement to apply, it is strongly preferred. If selected as a grantee, you will be required to secure letters of commitment from partner districts/schools within 60 days of award notification. These letters must confirm:

• Support for implementation during the 2026-27 school year
• Agreement to participate in research/evaluation activities and share student-level data, including demographics (i.e., race/ethnicity, FRL status, IEP status, EL status) and normed assessments (e.g., MAP, STAR, iReady)
• A common identifier or linking mechanism (e.g., student ID) to connect district-provided data to student-level data from your product

The application asks about the status of your district partnerships:

• Yes – confirmed partnerships with signed partnership agreement/MOU
• Yes – confirmed partnerships without signed partnership agreement/MOU
• In discussion – partnerships likely but not yet confirmed
• No – still seeking district partner(s)

Preference will be given to applicants with confirmed partnerships.

Your proposed implementation must serve a minimum of 500 students during the 2026-27 school year, across at least two schools (schools may be within the same district).

Implementation can occur at any point during the school year, but full-year implementations are preferred. Flexible implementation periods are acceptable (e.g., 6-week design sprints, semester-long pilots, or full-year implementations).

The eligibility requirement is a minimum of 500 students across at least two schools. Implementing in two schools within the same district is acceptable.

To add team members:

1. Log into the Temelio portal
2. Click the three dots in the bottom-left corner
3. Go to “Settings” → “Add Team Member”
4. You can also visit the Temelio Grantee Portal Help Center for step-by-step instructions.

Grant amounts are tied to the methodological rigor of the evaluation study design:

• $250,000 – Study design that meets ESSA Tier 1 (strong evidence) methodological standards
• $200,000 – Study design that meets ESSA Tier 2 (moderate evidence) methodological standards
• $150,000 – Study design that meets ESSA Tier 3 (promising evidence) methodological standards

Funding is based on study design, not results. Grantees are not required to achieve positive outcomes—only to design and execute a study that meets the selected tier’s methodological standards. Applicants will be asked to select their preferred level in the application, but this may be adjusted during the grantmaking process and after being matched with a research partner.

Awarded funds may be used to support:

• Program implementation
• Technology development and adaptation
• Costs related to evaluation activities

The funds are meant to be flexible to promote the project goals while providing grantees with maximum flexibility.

Yes. Applicants may allocate grant funds toward teacher stipends, particularly for those participating in implementation or research activities beyond normal responsibilities.

Yes, up to 5% of the grant amount may cover indirect costs.

All CET grantees will be matched with an Accelerate external research partner, who will be funded separately through Accelerate, and should not budget for this expense. If there are additional research-related expenses such as support staff time, please include it in the proposed budget.

Contact Name:

Accelerate – The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning
(If a specific person is required, use: Tu-Quyen Nguyen)
Mailing Address:
501 Union St Ste 545
PMB 85221
Nashville, TN 37219

All grantees will work with an Accelerate-assigned external research partner focused on designing and conducting an  evaluation study. These studies may examine:

• Usability: How effectively can students and/or teachers use the tool?
• Feasibility: How practical is the tool to implement in authentic educational settings?
• Evidence of effectiveness: What impact does the tool have on relevant educational outcomes (e.g., student achievement)?

Yes. Grantees and their evaluation findings will be named publicly, regardless of what the research reveals (positive, neutral, or negative impact on student learning). If you are not comfortable being named publicly alongside your results, please do not apply.

Expectations for all grantees include:

• Partner with Accelerate’s external, matched research partner
• Share student-level product data with the research partner at regular intervals
• Obtain student-level demographic and assessment data from partnering school district(s), linked via common identifier to product data
• Ensure a common identifier or linking mechanism exists to connect student-level product data to district-provided data
• Share access to implementation data, internal metrics, reports, and dashboards
• Participate in regular check-ins with Accelerate and research partner about implementation
• Allow access to internal team and district partners for research activities (e.g., interviews, observations, surveys)
• Be publicly named alongside evaluation findings, regardless of results

Internal data examples include (from your tool):

• Usage statistics (time spent, features used, completion rates)
• User engagement patterns
• Student progress through content/activities
• Teacher utilization rates
• Technical performance metrics
• Support ticket themes/frequency
• Student learning progress
• Results from any A/B testing
• User satisfaction scores
• Teacher feedback data
• Student assessment results
• Adoption/retention rates

External data examples include (from district partners):

• NWEA MAP
• iReady
• STAR Renaissance
• End of Year state exams
• District benchmark assessments 

See Accelerate’s DATA standard dictionary for a full list of expected data fields.

Accelerate’s external research partner(s) will:

• Partner with grantees to design research study (e.g., implementation or impact evaluation) 
• Identify evaluation approaches, leveraging data that is already available or being used internally by grantee organizations, and including external assessment data, where applicable
• Conduct data analysis and re-analysis, offering a second layer of technical support to grantee organizations
• Provide regular thought partnership and feedback to grantees
• Participate in Accelerate’s Research Learning Community to share individual and cross-cohort insights
• Create grantee final report and findings to be shared publicly

No. To maintain objectivity, applicants cannot serve as both the intervention provider and the lead evaluator. If selected, Accelerate will assign a third-party research partner.

No. We match all grantees with a research partner, selected by Accelerate, to conduct the evaluation for funded projects.  Grant funds may not be used to pay for your own evaluator or research partner.

Grantees will need to:

• Share student-level data with the Accelerate-assigned external research partner at regular intervals
• Secure data sharing agreements with partnering school district(s) in collaboration with the research partner
• Follow all applicable privacy laws and regulations regarding student data

Your application should include information about your approach to handling and protecting student data, including compliance with FERPA/COPPA, your data retention policies, and/or parent/guardian consent process.

All grantees are required to:

• Participate in quarterly virtual sessions with the full CET grantee cohort
• Attend Accelerate’s annual in-person convening

These gatherings are designed to foster peer learning, share emerging insights, and build a community of practice around effective educational technology.

The OBC model involves setting clear, measurable expectations within contracts, where at least 40 percent of the overall payment to a provider is contingent on meeting agreed-upon student outcomes. This fosters a culture of mutual accountability and collaboration between school districts and providers. By focusing on what truly matters—student learning—OBC shifts the K-12 marketplace to pay for outcomes, not just services.

Learn more about Outcomes Based Contracting here:

• What is OBC?

• OBCs: Turning Impact into Advantage

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting will be hosting office hours for prospective applicants interested in learning more about the OBC cohort:

• Feb 12th, 2–3 PM EST
• Feb 18th, 12–1 PM EST

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Clear definition of the educational problem being addressed and its significance
• Quality of the solution description and its alignment with evidence-based practices
• Considerations for equitable access, especially for underserved student populations
• Strength of the implementation plan and district partnerships
• Approach to data collection, privacy, and evaluation
• Organizational capacity and commitment to research

A detailed rubric is used to score applications across these areas. De-identified sections of your application may be non-evaluatively processed by a large language model. Your full submission will be reviewed and scored by human evaluators.

Strong applications typically demonstrate:

• A clearly defined educational problem with specific evidence of its significance
• A solution that directly addresses the problem with features grounded in learning science
• Thoughtful consideration for equitable access and diverse student needs
• A feasible implementation plan with confirmed district partnerships
• Comprehensive data collection capabilities and privacy frameworks
• A commitment to collaborating with research partners and using findings to improve the tool’s design, implementation, and effectiveness
• Prior experience obtaining student-level data from district partners

First, make sure your organization is eligible to apply by completing the Eligibility Form.

Competitive applicants will have:

• A functioning tool that is currently in use with real students during the school day (not a prototype or concept)
• A clear theory of action for how the technology addresses an educational challenge
• The capacity to implement across at least two schools with a minimum of 500 students
• Confirmed or likely district/school partnerships
• A willingness to be publicly named alongside evaluation findings
• The ability to share student-level product data and obtain linked demographic and assessment data from district partners
• A commitment to participating in cohort activities and research

Please email [email protected] with a description of the issue you are experiencing. Our team will be closely monitoring the inbox and will provide support as needed. 

For more details about the Call for Effective Technology grant program, including eligibility requirements, funding priorities, and additional information, please visit our website.

Questions may be emailed to [email protected]  at any time. Our team will be closely monitoring the inbox and will provide support as needed.