Opportunity Information: Apply for 26 501
The National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity titled Collaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12 is designed to push K-12 mathematics learning forward by building strong, intentional collaborations across research, practice, and advanced technology. The core idea is that meaningful progress in math education is more likely when teams combine expertise from the interdisciplinary Science of Learning (such as neuroscience and the cognitive, developmental, and social sciences) with education research, real-world teaching and school practice, and modern technical capabilities in computer science, machine learning, data science, engineering, AI, and educational technology. CAMEL is also supported through an agreement with philanthropic partners, including the Walton Family Foundation, which signals an emphasis on both research quality and practical impact.
The program is structured in two phases. Phase I funds the creation of new research networks specifically organized to produce "high value datasets" that can accelerate advances in math learning and math education in K-12 settings. These networks are not meant to be single-discipline research teams; they are required to include (1) researchers who study the basic science of learning, (2) education practitioners with deep experience in classrooms and schools, and (3) data scientists. The dataset focus is central: projects can either generate an entirely new dataset or increase the value of an existing dataset, for example by expanding it, linking it with other sources, improving documentation and usability, adding measures that make it more informative for learning research, or enhancing the infrastructure that allows others to analyze it responsibly. In other words, Phase I is about forming the network and producing or upgrading data resources that the broader field can use to answer important questions about how students learn mathematics and how instruction can improve.
Phase II is only available to Phase I awardees and is where CAMEL evolves from a set of separate networks into a fuller "collaboratory." Here, the focus shifts to building a socio-technical platform that helps sustain collaboration over time. The intent is not just to host data, but to support community-building and capacity-building, so participating researchers, practitioners, and technical experts can continue working together, sharing methods and tools, aligning on standards, and strengthening the overall ecosystem that supports continuous improvement in K-12 math learning. This phase reflects the idea that long-term progress requires durable infrastructure and a real community of practice, not just one-off studies.
NSF also makes clear that proposals should align, where relevant, with NSF-wide priorities, including expanding participation in STEM and supporting innovation and cutting-edge discovery. Proposers are expected to meet high expectations for scientific rigor and integrity, consistent with NSF's emphasis on "Gold Standard Science." Practically, this means projects should be designed so that the resulting datasets and findings are credible, well-documented, ethically developed, and appropriate for the research methods being used, especially when working with students, schools, and potentially sensitive educational records.
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based organizations that fit specific categories. Proposals may be submitted by non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies) that are located in the United States and directly associated with education or research activities. Accredited U.S. institutions of higher education are also eligible, including two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges), submitting on behalf of their faculty. Federally recognized Tribal Nations are eligible as well. If a proposal includes funding that would go to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why that international location is necessary, what benefits it provides to the project, and why the work cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.
From the funding details provided, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the science and technology and other research and development category (CFDA 47.075). The award ceiling is listed as $1,500,000, with an estimated 7 awards expected. The funding opportunity is identified as CAMEL for K-12, Funding Opportunity Number 26-501, administered by NSF. The listing shows an original closing date of 2076-10-05 (which may reflect an administrative placeholder rather than an actual competition deadline), and a creation date of 2025-12-12. The overall takeaway is that CAMEL is built to seed interdisciplinary networks that can create and strengthen data resources for the field, then grow those efforts into a sustained collaboratory that supports long-term, collaborative advancement in K-12 mathematics education.Apply for 26 501
- The U.S. National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.075.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2076-10-05.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF CAMEL for K-12 (Funding Opportunity Number 26-501)
What is the NSF CAMEL for K-12 opportunity?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity titled Collaboratory to Advance Mathematics Education and Learning (CAMEL) for K-12 is designed to advance K-12 mathematics learning by building strong, intentional collaborations across research, educational practice, and advanced technology. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary work that combines the Science of Learning with education research, classroom and school expertise, and modern technical capabilities (for example computer science, machine learning, data science, engineering, AI, and educational technology).
What is the main goal of CAMEL?
CAMEL aims to accelerate progress in K-12 mathematics education by creating collaborations that can produce credible, well-documented, and useful data resources (including "high value datasets") and, over time, build a sustainable socio-technical collaboratory that supports ongoing community collaboration, shared methods and tools, and long-term capacity-building.
How is the CAMEL program structured?
The program is structured in two phases:
- Phase I: Funds the creation of new research networks organized around producing or increasing the value of "high value datasets" for K-12 mathematics learning and math education.
- Phase II: Only available to Phase I awardees. Focuses on evolving the set of networks into a fuller collaboratory by building a socio-technical platform and sustained community infrastructure to support long-term collaboration.
What does Phase I fund?
Phase I funds the development of new research networks that are specifically organized to produce "high value datasets" that can accelerate advances in K-12 mathematics learning and mathematics education. Phase I is centered on creating or strengthening data resources that others in the field can use to answer important questions about how students learn mathematics and how instruction can be improved.
What does NSF mean by "high value datasets" in this program?
In the CAMEL Phase I context, the dataset is central. A project may either generate a new dataset or increase the value of an existing dataset. Examples described include expanding a dataset, linking it with other sources, improving documentation and usability, adding measures that make it more informative for learning research, or enhancing the infrastructure that enables responsible analysis.
Are Phase I teams allowed to be single-discipline research groups?
No. Phase I networks are not intended to be single-discipline teams. They are required to include specific categories of expertise, reflecting CAMEL's emphasis on collaboration across research, practice, and technical fields.
Who is required to be included in a Phase I CAMEL network?
Phase I networks are required to include:
- Researchers who study the basic science of learning (for example neuroscience and the cognitive, developmental, and social sciences).
- Education practitioners with deep experience in classrooms and schools.
- Data scientists.
What is Phase II and who can apply for it?
Phase II is the second stage of CAMEL and is only available to Phase I awardees. In Phase II, CAMEL shifts from separate networks toward a broader collaboratory by building a socio-technical platform intended to sustain collaboration, support community-building, and strengthen the ecosystem for continuous improvement in K-12 mathematics learning.
Is Phase II mainly about hosting datasets?
No. While data are important, Phase II is described as more than data hosting. The intent is to support sustained collaboration over time through community-building and capacity-building, including sharing methods and tools, aligning on standards, and strengthening the overall ecosystem that supports continuous improvement in K-12 mathematics learning.
What disciplines and capabilities does CAMEL encourage teams to bring together?
CAMEL emphasizes intentionally combining expertise from:
- Science of Learning (including neuroscience and cognitive, developmental, and social sciences)
- Education research
- Classroom and school practice
- Advanced technology and technical fields (including computer science, machine learning, data science, engineering, AI, and educational technology)
Does CAMEL involve any partners outside NSF?
Yes. CAMEL is supported through an agreement with philanthropic partners, including the Walton Family Foundation. The description signals an emphasis on both research quality and practical impact.
What NSF-wide priorities should CAMEL proposals align with?
Where relevant, proposals should align with NSF-wide priorities described in the opportunity, including expanding participation in STEM and supporting innovation and cutting-edge discovery.
What does NSF mean by "Gold Standard Science" for this opportunity?
The opportunity states that proposers are expected to meet high expectations for scientific rigor and integrity, consistent with NSF's emphasis on "Gold Standard Science." Practically, this means projects should be designed so that resulting datasets and findings are credible, well-documented, ethically developed, and appropriate for the research methods being used, particularly when working with students, schools, and potentially sensitive educational records.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based organizations in specific categories, including:
- Non-profit, non-academic organizations located in the United States and directly associated with education or research activities (examples provided include museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies).
- Accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, including two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges), submitting on behalf of their faculty.
- Federally recognized Tribal Nations.
Are organizations outside the United States eligible?
The opportunity describes eligibility as limited to U.S.-based organizations that fit the listed categories. It also provides specific guidance for proposals that include funding that would go to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution, which indicates special justification is required in that situation.
What if part of the work would involve an international branch campus of a U.S. institution?
If a proposal includes funding that would go to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain:
- Why the international location is necessary
- What benefits it provides to the project
- Why the work cannot be performed at the U.S. campus
What is the award ceiling for this funding opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $1,500,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make?
The opportunity listing estimates 7 awards are expected.
What is the CFDA number and program category listed for this opportunity?
The listing describes this as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the science and technology and other research and development category, with CFDA 47.075.
What is the funding opportunity number and who administers it?
The funding opportunity is identified as CAMEL for K-12, Funding Opportunity Number 26-501, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What are the listed dates for the opportunity?
The listing includes:
- Creation date: 2025-12-12
- Original closing date: 2076-10-05
The description notes that the 2076-10-05 closing date may reflect an administrative placeholder rather than an actual competition deadline.
What is the big-picture takeaway for applicants?
CAMEL is designed to seed interdisciplinary networks that can create and strengthen data resources for the K-12 mathematics education field in Phase I, then grow those efforts into a sustained collaboratory in Phase II that supports long-term collaboration, shared standards and tools, and continuous improvement in K-12 mathematics learning.
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