SCHOOLS PLUS
DEVELOPMENT
CLASSROOM TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM
FALL 2012
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
The purpose of Development Classroom Grants to Teachers is to improve the learning environment, instructional effectiveness, and student motivation by encouraging and rewarding creative teaching.
WHO MAY APPLY?
A K-12 public school teacher from all districts in Santa Cruz County. A teacher may submit a collaborative grant with one or more teachers, parents, or an administrator.
WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DUE?
Grand applications need to be received no later than Friday, November 16th, 2012.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR GRANT CONSIDERATION?
The program funds a wide variety of projects in many curricular areas and all grade levels. To be considered, a proposal must show how the grant will result in one or more of the following benefits:
· Introduces or adapts an innovative or creative approach
· Expands teaching strategies
· Encourages active student participation
· Improves student achievement
· Improves student attitudes and motivation
· Addresses current issues or challenges
· Supports school-wide improvement goals
Grants are one-time for projects taking place within the academic year and generally do not cover staff or consultant time, in-service costs, or facilities improvement. While grants may not be used to cover professional development, teachers are encouraged to apply for funds to implement projects or ideas from a conference or in-service. Special consideration will be given for agreement to share materials with other teachers and to participate in future dissemination activities.
To qualify for a collaborative grant, the proposal must include evidence that one or more of the following will occur if the project is funded:
· Team planning
· Bringing students from different classrooms together
· Sharing resources
· Cross-disciplinary teaching
WHAT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE?
· Up to $500 for a grant from an individual teacher
· Up to $1,000 for a collaborative grant from two teachers (or teacher and other)
· Up to $1,500 for a collaborative grant from three or more teachers (or teacher and others)
HOW ARE GRANTS AWARDED?
An Allocations Committee comprised of representatives from business, education, and the community reviews proposals. Members may directly contact applicants or the school principal for additional information or clarification. The Allocation Committee recommendations will be presented to the SCHOOLS PLUS Board of Directors for final approval at their December 2012 meeting.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Please mail 6 copies (1 original and 5 copies) of the completed application to:
SCHOOLS PLUS
1840 41st Avenue
STE 102 PMB 244
Capitola CA 95010
All applications must be typed (standard type or 12 point minimum on a computer) on the actual SCHOOLS PLUS application. No reductions accepted.
WHEN WILL
THE GRANTS BE AWARDED?
Teachers will be notified and the funds will be available January 2013.
WHAT ARE THE GRANT RECIPIENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Recipients must submit a final report by October 2013. (Link provided below). Projects must be implemented within the school year of receipt of the award. If the grant project is not implemented within that time, the funds must be returned to SCHOOLS PLUS.
Grants are awarded to an individual teacher or group of teachers at a school but are accepted by the district's Board of Trustees. As such, they become the property of that district. If an individual teacher moves, he/she may take the materials funded by the grant to another class or school as long as he/she remains in that district. If a teacher moves out of the district or county, materials must be left in that district. For a collaborative grant, materials must remain the property of the school where the grant was originally funded.
Recipients and their principals are required to publicize the grant to the school community.
For additional information, please e-mail your question(s) to Schoolsplus@schoolsplus.us or call the SCHOOLS PLUS office at (831) 475-1889.
