Typical and Atypical Patterns of Language and Literacy in Dual Language Learners (R21) | PA 17 448

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 448

Typical and Atypical Patterns of Language and Literacy in Dual Language Learners (R21) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 17-448) designed to fund early-stage, investigator-initiated research that improves what is known about how dual language learners (DLLs) in the United States develop language and literacy skills. The main goal is to build a clearer picture of both typical development and development affected by impairment, with an emphasis on young DLL populations. Because it uses the NIH R21 mechanism, the program is geared toward exploratory and developmental studies that can generate promising preliminary data, test innovative ideas, or lay the groundwork for larger future projects.

A central theme of the opportunity is encouraging applicants to draw on modern advances in the language sciences and related fields to isolate the factors that shape language and literacy outcomes for DLLs. The FOA highlights several categories of influences that research proposals may focus on, including cognitive factors (such as attention, working memory, or learning mechanisms), linguistic factors (such as features of each language, cross-language transfer, and vocabulary/phonology development), neurobiological factors (such as brain-based measures or neurodevelopmental correlates relevant to language learning), and sociocultural factors (such as home language exposure, community context, schooling environments, cultural practices, and other contextual variables). Projects are expected to help clarify how these factors relate to normal acquisition patterns versus patterns associated with language or literacy impairment, and how those patterns may present differently in DLLs than in monolingual learners.

In practical terms, the FOA is looking for studies that can help distinguish difference from disorder in dual language development, improve understanding of how language and literacy skills emerge across two languages, and inform the field about early indicators, risk and protective factors, and developmental trajectories. While the announcement does not list specific required research designs in the provided text, the emphasis on identifying and clarifying mechanisms suggests NIH is interested in rigorous, theory-driven work that can sharpen measurement, improve identification of impairment, and support better educational or clinical approaches for DLL children.

Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types that commonly apply to NIH programs. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; independent school districts; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

There are also important constraints related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components” are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, meaning a U.S.-based applicant may include certain foreign elements in the project when scientifically justified and structured according to NIH policy.

From the funding details provided, the award ceiling is listed as $200,000. The CFDA program numbers associated with this opportunity are 93.173 and 93.865, and the original closing date shown is October 20, 2017. Overall, the FOA is positioned as a targeted NIH effort to spark innovative, foundational research that deepens scientific understanding of how bilingual exposure interacts with development, impairment, and context in shaping young DLLs’ language and literacy outcomes in the United States.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Typical and Atypical Patterns of Language and Literacy in Dual Language Learners (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-10-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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