The National Academy of Education awards two professional development fellowship programs in partnership with the Spencer Foundation. These programs seek to encourage new generations of scholars to undertake and strengthen research relevant to the improvement of education and support early-career scholars working in critical areas of education research. In addition, fellows participate in professional development retreats with National Academy of Education members, senior scholars, and other leaders in the field.

The deadline has passed for the 2023 application cycle. The portal will next open in August, with dissertation applications due October 5, 2023, and postdoctoral applications due November 15, 2023.