Innovative Instructional Grants
Guidelines for Grant Applications
Download the Grant Application
Purpose: The Innovative Instructional Grants Program is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize and reward innovative and creative instructional approaches to the accomplishment of curriculum goals and objectives and/or Standards of Learning Objectives
Persons Eligible to Apply for Grants: Any licensed teacher, guidance counselor, or school-level administrator currently employed by the York County School Board and who are involved in the instruction of students.
Eligible Proposals: Instructional approaches or projects designed to begin during the 2006-2007 school year and which meet the selection criteria.
Award of Funds: Grants of up to $400.00 will be awarded to individual teacher initiated programs or projects. Grants of up to $800.00 may be awarded to campus teams, departments and district initiated programs or projects. The number of awards will depend on funds available from the York Foundation for Public Education, Inc.
Due Date:
First Semester: October 1, 2007 4 p.m.
Second Semester: February 14, 2008
Selection Criteria:
- The degree to which the proposal addresses important program objectives within the semester of the school year for which the proposal is submitted.
- The degree to which the proposal represents a creative or innovative approach to the accomplishment of prescribed curriculum, instructional objectives and/or Standards of Learning (SOL's). (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.
- Students served by the grant will be enrolled in the York County School Division.
Grant Submission Process:
- Application forms are distributed to principals annually and may be obtained at school offices.
- SEVEN copies of all grant applications and cover sheets should be submitted to Peggy Myatt the School Board Office by 4 p.m. on the following dates:
- First semester proposals: October 1, 2007
- Second semester proposals: February 14, 2008
- The principal of the school for which the grant is written must sign all applications.
- Applications will be reviewed and commented on by the York Foundation for Public Education Grant Application Review Committee.
- For each grant application submitted, the committee shall make one of the following recommendations: (a) approval; (b) approval with conditions and/or modifications; (c) disapproval with suggestions for resubmission and (d) disapproval.
- If recommended for approval, the application is presented to the Board of Directors of the Foundation in summary form for review and formal approval.
- Applicants will be notified of decisions.
- Successful projects will be funded and grant awards will be issued by the Board of Trustees of the York Foundation for Public Education.
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 Foundation's Annual Report.
- Agree to return any unused funds to the York Foundation for Public Education.
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. (e.g. 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
Budget:
- List items needed and projected cost of each. Be as specific as possible.
Evaluation:
- Relate to stated objectives
- Indicate how you will know whether the project was successful
Reporting Requirements
Grant winners will be expected to complete a Final Evaluation Form and submit it to the Educational Services Committee by the closure of the semester. The report should discuss the results of their project and the impact that it had on student learning. Teachers should send to the Committee a one-page written report and any sample products, which demonstrate the project results.