Grant Application Instructions
Deadline: 12 noon, Thursday, April 2, 2009
Please carefully
read these instructions; there are changes you will want to be aware of. Introduction
The
Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools ( Description of
Grants
Grants
during this cycle will be awarded for projects that will take place in the 2009/2010
school year. Grants are awarded in two categories: I. Teacher
Mini-Grants
Teacher
mini-grants of up to $2,000 are awarded to teachers for projects, programs,
equipment, and supplies used in the classroom.
We encourage you to apply for grants that enrich the curriculum. We
will fund innovative uses of new or existing technologies, but it is not our
intent to fund routine equipment purchases. II.
Professional-in-Residence Grants
Professional-in-Residence
grants of up to $3,000 are awarded to bring professionals into the classroom to
work with students to enrich the curriculum. Multi-grade and multi-school
collaborations are particularly encouraged.
·
The
grant request must include the
name of the professional-in-residence,
contact information and a complete description of the programs and activities.
·
YOU
MUST CONTACT THE PROFESSIONAL-IN-RESIDENCE BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
TO CONFIRM GENERAL AVAILABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL FEES
Eligibility
·
Any
person employed by the West Hartford Board of Education who holds Connecticut
Department of Education certification and has direct contact with
·
Teachers
may apply for up to three grants.
·
If
the execution of the grant-sponsored activity is not possible, please contact
the Foundation office. Criteria for
Grant Writing:
·
Creative and innovative.
·
Support the curriculum.
·
Directly influence student learning.
·
Goals and objectives clearly defined and measurable.
·
Detailed project description-state activities that
will take place and how they will be integrated into the curriculum.
·
Specific timeline.
·
Realistic, detailed and itemized budget.
·
Technology budgets must include all costs including
shipping, mounting equipment and installation as appropriate
·
If the grant requires Internet connectivity, you
must check with the IT department before submitting your application to make
sure there are no blocked sites.
·
State other sources for funding if any, such as PTO
(sometimes enhances chances for receiving FWHPS funding).
·
Collaboration among teachers, departments, grade
level, and schools encouraged. (The more
students who benefit from the activity the better.)
·
If educationally beneficial, we consider
re-granting.
·
In residence grants should include the name
of the artist, contact information and a detailed description of the
presenter’s activities.
·
We do not fund local transportation, compensation
for substitute teachers or additional staffing, and refreshments other than
food that is an integral part of the grant activity.
·
We only accept online grant applications. Grant Writing
Problems to Avoid:
·
Name of school or
teacher.
·
Request for more
than the maximum $ allowed.
·
No indication of
other funding source where request exceeds Foundation’s budget.
·
Requests for local
transportation, refreshments and teacher coverage.
·
Outside the realm
of the curriculum.
·
Goals, objectives,
and activity description not clearly defined.
·
Limited number of
students who will benefit.
·
Activity
and/or materials that are within the realm of the West Hartford Public Schools
budget. (Consult with principal or department head regarding
this matter.)
Application and Grant
Selection Process The
online application will be available only on the web in mid-January. Please complete and
submit applications no later than 12 noon, Thursday, April 2, 2009. The
application form will not be available after that time. IMPORTANT:
Applications are reviewed
by the Foundation’s Distribution Committee in a “blind” review process.
Thus, the Committee does not know which schools or teachers are applying. In
order to maintain the integrity of the process, DO NOT include the name of any
teachers or schools in the body or title of the application, otherwise your
application will be denied automatically. Decisions
will be voted on by the Foundation Board of Directors in May. Teachers will be
notified in June. Prior to publicly awarding any funds, principals will be
notified that such awards have been approved. Directors of the Foundation will
present awards in the Fall of 2009. Awards will be
made in accordance with Board of Education policies. Teachers
must submit a Final Report to the Foundation at the completion of the project. Final Report forms are available on our
website,
click
here, and are due by June 4,
2010. Teachers
are asked to notify the Foundation when a project is taking place so that
members of the Distribution Committee may attend. The Foundation requests that
any report about a grant sponsored activity, either in school newsletters or
newspaper publications recognize the efforts of the Foundation. Please
check our website for Reimbursement policies.
(CLICK HERE) Administration
If the
execution of the grant sponsored activity is not possible, you must contact the
Foundation office. If for
any reason an applicant is unable to administer the grant, the principal or a
designee is asked to administer it and to notify the Foundation. Ownership
of technology resides with the West Hartford Public Schools. If a grant recipient transfers to another
school within the district, it will be the principal’s decision to keep the
equipment or send it to the new school.
If a teacher is no longer employed by the WHPS, the equipment will
remain in the school under the direction of the media specialist. Deadline
Applications
must be received online no later than Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 12 noon. Questions
Please
contact the Foundation:
·
Telephone:
561-8755
·
E-mail:
fwhps@westhartford.org Important
· Submit the Final Report on previous grants by June 5. (Click Here for the report)
·
It
cannot be sent electronically. You must
download it and send it via interschool mail.
·
Include
a detailed budget in the designated section of the application.
·
Do
NOT include any names of teachers or schools in the title or body of the
application.
·
Submit
a copy of your final grant submission to your school’s Principal or Teacher
Liaison. Revised:12/2008 |