Royse City ISD Education Foundation
Grants for Creative & Innovative Learning

Guidelines for Grant Applications

Purpose:

The Grants for Creative & Innovative Learning is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize and reward innovative and creative instructional approaches to the accomplishment of program objectives.

Persons Eligible to Apply for Grants:

Individuals or teams of individuals employed by the Royse City ISD who are involved in the instruction of students or related support services benefiting students.

Eligible Proposals:

Instructional approaches or projects designed to begin during the 2010-2011 school year and which meet the selection criteria.

Award of Funds:

Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to individual teacher initiated programs or projects.  Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to campus teams, departments and district initiated programs or projects.  The number of awards will depend on funds available from the Royse City ISD Education Foundation.

Due Date:

October 1, 2010

Selection Criteria:

·    The degree to which the proposal addresses important program objectives.

·    The degree to which the proposal represents a creative or innovative approach to the accomplishment of objectives.  (It should address a new project as opposed to one accomplished or under way)

·    The degree to which sound evaluation procedures are incorporated in the proposal.

·    The degree to which the proposal is clear and logical, including (a) specificity of objectives; (b) clarity of description of instructional procedures, methods or treatments; and (c) correspondence among evaluative procedures, objectives and treatments.

Selection Process

1.    Application forms may be obtained at school offices.

2.    Teacher initiated applications must be reviewed by the Campus Improvement Team/and or SBDM for congruence with campus programs and signed by the principal.

3.    Signed applications are due to the Foundation Office, no later than October 1st.  When October 1st falls on a Saturday or Sunday applications are due the following Monday.

4.    Application will be reviewed and commented on by the Grant Application Review Committee made up of the following members:

a.    A minimum of six Foundation directors appointed by the president of the Foundation Board of Directors

b.    Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

c.    Other selected curriculum personnel

d.   Others as determined by the Foundation Board of Directors

5.    For each grant application submitted, the committee shall make one of the following recommendations:  (a) disapproval; (b) disapproval with suggestions for resubmission in the next round of grants; (c) approval with conditions and/or modifications; and (d) approval.

6.    If recommended for approval, the application is presented to the Board of Directors of the Foundation in summary form for review and formal approval.

7.    If approved by the Foundation Board of Directors, the application is presented to the Board of Education for formal acceptance of the grant.

8.    Applicants will be notified of decisions prior to call for next round of grants.

9.    Projects will be funded.

10.    Successful applicants will be recognized by the Royse City ISD Board of Trustees at the February meeting.

Responsibilities of Grant Recipients:

·    Use the awards for the purposes intended.

·    Prepare a brief final report for sharing with other teachers and for inclusion in the Education Foundation’s Annual Report.

·    Agree to share successful procedures in staff development sessions.

Guidelines for Completing the Application:

The project is appropriate if you can answer yes to the following questions:

·    Is it important to learning?
·    Can it be done?
·    Is it practical?
·    Is it new for you?  (If you are seeking recognition for something already completed, it is inappropriate)

Statement of Purpose:

·    Tell what you hope to achieve. (i.e. what will be different or better if the project is successful)
·    Keep the statement simple and straightforward.
·    Promise only that which you can reasonably expect to achieve.

Statement of Rationale–Address the Following:

·    Importance of purpose
·    How project relates to the district’s strategic educational plan
·    The problem or issue addressed
·    How the project supports the purpose

Objectives:

·    Limit the number of objectives
·    Imply or state evaluation in the statement of objectives
·    Be specific

Instructional Procedures

·    Be specific
·    List steps
·    Relate to purpose and objectives

Evaluation

·    Relate to stated objectives
·    Indicate how you will know whether the project was successful
Timeline

2010- 2011 School Year

August            Process presented to campus principals at August principal’s meeting.

September    Writing Wednesday’s – Armenia will coduct grant writing workshops for interested teachers and administrators who want help with their grant applications or ideas for grants.
Grant Application