Project Development, School Board of Alachua County, Florida


Project Development	620 East University Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32601

Current Opportunities for Teachers

NOTE: You can sign up for periodic email notifications from the Florida Department of Education as another source of 2007 funding opportunities. Visit the following website to register: info.doe.state.fl.us/communications/

 NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants

Maximum Award: $5,000

Deadline: October 15, 2007

Eligibility: Public school teachers grades K-12; public school education support professionals

Web Site: http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/Learning&Leadership_Guidelines.htm

NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of two purposes: grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research; grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment.

 2007 Kids In Need Teacher Grants

Maximum Award: $100 - $500

Deadline: September 20, 2007

Eligibility: K-12 certified teacher working at a public, private, or parochial school in the subject of the project. Kids In Need does not fund pre-school projects.

Web Site: http://www.kidsinneed.net/grants/grant_applications.php

The purpose of this grant is to provide funds for classroom teachers who have innovative, meritorious ideas. Projects may qualify for funding if it makes creative use of common teaching aids, approaches the curriculum from an imaginative angle, or ties nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities.

 Best Buy Teach Award Program to Recognize Schools for Creative Uses of Technology

Maximum Award: 1500 schools will receive awards of $2,000, 50 schools will receive $10,000 each, and 8 schools will receive $100,000 each

Deadline: September 30, 2007

Eligibility:  K-12 public, private, parochial, magnet, and charter schools in the U.S. using interactive technology in classrooms are eligible to apply. Schools must be located within fifty miles of a Best Buy store to apply.  Applications must be completed by educators who have been at the school for a minimum of one full academic year, and the program or project must have been in existence for at least one full school year.

Web Site: http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/teach.asp

The Best Buy Teach Award program recognizes creative uses of interactive technology in K-12 classrooms. Winning Teach Award programs focus on kids using technology to learn standards-based curriculum, rather than on teaching students to use technology or educators using technology that children are not able to use hands-on. The purpose of the Best Buy Teach Award program is to reward schools for the successful interactive programs they have launched using available technology.

 Disney Minnie Grants – (2nd Round) Support Youth Service Projects

Maximum Award: $500

Deadline: August 30, 2007

Eligibility: See Below

Web Site http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/tabid/58/Default.aspx

The Walt Disney Company and Youth Service America have announced grants of up to $500 each to support youth-led service projects. These grants support youth (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), youth-leaders, and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, provided that they that engage younger youth (5-14) in planning and implementing the service. Service projects must take place between October 1 and November 26, 2007.

Projects can address themes such as the environment, disaster relief, public health and awareness, community education, hunger, literacy, or any issue that youth identify as a community need. Applications are welcome from all countries, though applications will only be accepted in English.

Applicants from China, India, and Russia are especially encouraged to apply. Past Disney Minnie Grantees are also eligible to apply.

Grant information is available at the YSA Web site in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, and Mandarin (although applications are in English and can only be accepted in English).

National Weather Association (NWA) Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grant

Maximum Award: $500
Deadline: August 1, 2007
Eligibility: Teachers K-12.
Web Site: http://www.nwas.org/solhirsch.html

The NWA Education Committee needs help from all members to spread the word to teachers in grades K-12 that $500 grants are available annually from the NWA to help improve the education of their students in meteorology. The teachers selected will be able to use the funds to take an accredited course in atmospheric sciences, attend a relevant workshop or conference, or purchase scientific materials or equipment for the classroom. Seven grants or more are possible each year (since 2004) thanks to the many members who have contributed to this fund in honor of Sol Hirsch who retired in 1992 after being the NWA Executive Director for 11 years.

Outdoor Classroom Grant Program

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in
hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom.

Maximum Award: $20,000 (to districts or schools with major outdoor classroom projects); $2000 to individual schools.
Eligibility: K-12 public schools in the United States.
Deadline: varies.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html

AIAA Foundation Classroom Grant Program

Maximum Award: $200
Deadline: Applications accepted any time; apply nine or more weeks before implementation date
Eligibility: K-12 classroom teachers who are AIAA Educator Associates
Web Site: www.aiaa.org/education/index.hfm?edu=19

The AIAA Foundation has established a Classroom Grant program specifically for use by AIAA Educator Associates. K-12 teachers who are interested in the development or application of science, mathematics, and technology within their educational curricula, may qualify for a grant of up to $200 per individual request to supplement their learning programs. Each school is may receive a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year. Grants may be used for classroom demonstration kits, classroom science supplies, or other materials to enhance the teaching-and learning-of science, mathematics, and related technology.

To qualify, teachers must become AIAA Educator Associates. It's free and it gives access to all the benefits AIAA has to offer teachers and their students.

For questions or an application, contact Lisa Bacon at 800/639-AIAA, ext. 527 (U.S. only) 703/264-7527, or go to the AIAA website .

Mr. Holland's Opus--Melody Program

Maximum Award: $5,000 worth of repairs and new instruments
Deadline: Applications accepted any time
Eligibility: K-12 school music programs that have no other source of funding
Web Site: www.mhopus.org/melody.htm

The Melody program is designed to provide musical instruments and instrument repairs to existing K-12 school music programs that have no other source of financing to purchase additional musical instruments and materials. Grants of repairs and new instruments typically range between $500 and $5,000 in retail value.

Program requirements are as follows:

· The applicant school must have an ongoing music program that is at least three years old.

· Elementary Schools must offer one group or private lesson per week that stresses instruction on student's instrument. In addition, one rehearsal/class per week that reinforces the lesson is required in order to qualify. (Minimum two activities per week)

· Middle and Junior High Schools must offer one group or private lesson per week that stresses instruction on student's instrument. In addition, two rehearsals/classes per week that reinforce the lesson are required in order to qualify. (Minimum three activities per week)

· High Schools must offer three rehearsals/classes per week to qualify. (Minimum of three activities per week)

· The applicant school must have a recruitment plan for its instrumental music program.

· The applicant school must offer a well-balanced musical instruction program with budgets or monies that are made available annually to cover the costs of additional expenses (i.e. uniforms, repairs, insurance, etc).

· The Foundation expects that the applicant school has adequate facilities for lessons, practice, rehearsals and secure storage of instruments. The recipient school must do everything possible to insure the safekeeping of the instruments, maintain the instruments in good working order and see that the instruments are used to the best advantage of the students and school.

· The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation expects that individuals using repaired or donated instruments will have sufficient practice time either in school or at home.

· Instruments received from the Foundation are not intended to be substituted for annual line items in school music budgets.

Applicants whose music programs lack institutional financial support and whose students qualify for financial assistance will receive greater consideration.

For additional information, visit the Mr. Holland's Opus web site.

Southern Policy Law Center Mix It Up Grants

Maximum Award: $250
Deadline: Applications accepted any time
Eligibility: Youth-directed activist projects
Web Site: www.tolerance.org/teens/grants.jsp

The Mix It Up Grants Program funds youth-directed activist projects that focus on identifying, crossing, and challenging social boundaries in schools and communities.

Preference will be given to applications that clearly show

· Youth leadership--i.e., projects created and carried out by youth activists;

· Collaborative efforts across social boundaries--i.e., different youth groups or clubs working together, or school-based clubs working with community-based organizations;

· Continuing efforts to identify, cross or challenge social boundaries--i.e., the funded project isn't "the end" of the effort.

Applications may be downloaded from www.tolerance.org/teens/grant_application.pdf. Completed applications, with the necessary attachments, should be sent to

Mix It Up Grants
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104

Additional information is available at the Mix It Up grant program web site.

Teaching Tolerance Grant Program

Maximum Award: $2,000
Deadline: Applications accepted any time
Eligibility: K-12 classroom teachers
Web Site: www.tolerance.org/teach/expand/gra/guide.jsp

Teaching tolerance grants are made possible by gifts from supporters of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The purpose of the grants is to enable teachers to implement tolerance and youth activism projects in their schools and communities.

Funded grants tend to be

· Small-scale, resourceful and student-focused, promoting acceptance of diversity, peacemaking, community service or any other aspect of tolerance education.

· Clearly defined, well-integrated and tailored to the specified needs and interests of particular learners and their communities.

· Economically responsible, involving staff participation, community volunteers and in-kind contributions wherever possible.

· Sustainable in some way, rather than one-time-only events or activities.

Grants are funded that promise the most direct and immediate student impact. Grants are restricted to one per applicant or school per school year.

Additional information is available at the Teaching Tolerance Grant Program web site. Applications are available at www.tolerance.org/pdf/grant_application.pdf.

Project Wild Workshops

Maximum Award: Free materials and workshops
Deadline: Check website for dates
Eligibility: K-12 classroom teachers
Web Site: myfwc.com/educator/projwild.html

Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program that emphasizes wildlife. The program provides hands-on activities that enhance student learning in all subject and skill areas. Project WILD materials are provided to educators through two free, interactive workshops: Project WILD and Aquatic WILD.

Project WILD activities are designed to be used singly, sequentially, or in clusters. Each activity has been classroom tested and includes objectives, methods, background information, materials needed, procedures, evaluation suggestions, recommended grade levels, subjects, skills, duration, group size, and key vocabulary.

The workshops are a minimum of six hours long. Participants get hands-on experience in at least five activities and receive the appropriate Project WILD guide. Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide focuses on wildlife and habitat. Project WILD Aquatic Education Activity Guide emphasizes aquatic wildlife and aquatic ecoysstems.

Additional information and application instructions are available at the Project WILD web site.

Toshiba America Foundation: Improving Science and Mathematics Education, One Classroom at a Time

Maximum Award: Separated into 2 categories: grants $5,000 or less and grants over $5,000
Deadline: Grants under $5,000 are accepted on a rolling basis; grants over $5,000 are accepted no later than Feb 1st or Aug 1st each year.
Eligibility: Two separate programs - grades K-6 and grades 7-12
Web Site: taf.toshiba.com

The Toshiba America Foundation encourages projects with potential for improving classroom teaching and learning in science and mathematics. The Foundation strongly encourges projects planned and led by individual teachers or teams of teachers for their own classrooms.

In addition, projects funded by the Foundation enable forward thinking teachers to use science and mathematics to engage students in positive and challenging learning experiences. Many successful grantees have designed projects that have tapped into the natural curiosity of their students, have enabled students to frame their own scientific questions, and have incoporated the expertise of community partners. Descriptions of recent grants can be found in the "Recent Grants" section of the website.

Alachua County Teachers seeking more information should contact
Everett Caudle, Supervisor; or Kimberly Sims, Project Development Specialist
School Board of Alachua County, 620 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601-5448, USA
(352) 955-7605

Last update August 6, 2007