ETS (Educational Testing Service), a long-time TIRF supporter, has recently announced three grant opportunities. Each grant opportunity has unique features and specific deadlines – detailed information for each can be found just below. We encourage our readers to get involved ahead of the deadlines!

TOEFL® Young Students Series Research Program – Deadline is April 21, 2017

  • Purpose: The TOEFL® Young Students Series (YSS) Research Grants are intended to support research related to the TOEFL YSS assessments (i.e., the TOEFL® Primary™ and TOEFL Junior® tests) as well as foundational research that promotes high-quality language assessment related to young language learners between ages 8 and 15. This year, priority will be given to proposals that address the topics identified in the research agenda below. For the current grant period, ETS is able to provide funded researchers with a complete TOEFL Junior Standard test form and corresponding item-level data, including demographic information about test takers (for more details see here). Requests for research instruments and data for other ETS Young Students Series assessment products (e.g., TOEFL Primary) will be considered on a case-by-case basis and granted when feasible. ETS welcomes grant applications from researchers who plan to recruit participants and collect data locally in countries around the globe.
  • Eligibility: Researchers around the world who hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctoral-level research degree), have expertise in English language learning and assessment, and who are affiliated with an academic institution or not-for-profit organization.
  • Amount of Grant: Up to US $50,000

TOEFL® Young Students Series Research Program: Research Grants for Graduate Students – Deadline is April 21, 2017

  • Purpose: The Research Grants for Graduate Students under the TOEFL® Young Students Series (YSS) are designed to support foundational research that promotes high-quality language assessment related to young English learners between the ages of 8 and 15. The YSS Research Grants for Graduate Students are offered to students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs in language testing, language education, applied linguistics or related fields. Priority for the Research Grants for Graduate Students will be given to foundational research related to young students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL).
  • Eligibility: Students enrolled in graduate (masters and doctoral) programs in institutions around the world in language testing, language education, applied linguistics, or related fields.
  • Amount of Grant: Up to US $5,000

TOEFL® COE 2018 Research Program – Deadline is July 14, 2017

  • Purpose: TOEFL COE research grants are intended to support research on topics related to the TOEFL iBT® test and the TOEFL ITP® Assessment Series, promoting high-quality language assessment research as judged by the COE and Educational Testing Service (ETS). Applications that employ diverse and innovative research methodologies are encouraged, as are those focused on the TOEFL ITP assessment series.
  • Eligibility: Applications are invited from faculty or staff affiliated with nonprofit organizations and institutions (e.g., universities) with expertise in English language learning and assessment research. Proposals from members of the TOEFL COE and for-profit organizations are not eligible. These studies are not intended to serve as the basis for student theses or dissertations. Each awardee will be required to submit interim and final reports, in addition to appropriately acknowledging the support of the TOEFL program when disseminating the results of the funded work.
  • Award Value: Studies involving the collection of new empirical data can normally be funded up to US $100,000. This amount includes institutional overhead. ETS prefers to select bids which respect its nonprofit status. We therefore request that the overhead rate not exceed 15%.