Grants

Tantasqua Education Foundation is a community-sponsored, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial resources to support projects and programs that encourage students to develop their talents, become lifelong learners, and pursue excellence. Such projects go beyond the scope of those funded by the operating budget of the school districts.

How will grants be awarded?
A universal grant application is available to all qualified teachers in the district. A grant subcommittee including at least one professional educator will approve the grants. Grant recipients will showcase their grant, highlighting how the funds benefited the students.

When will grants be awarded?
Grants are awarded in early June, for use in the following academic year.

Some of the types of grants Ted. has given:

A comparison microscope was purchased for Junior High students, making it possible for them to view data side-by-side like forensic scientists.
A free book was given to each student as part of a summer reading program and then passed along to another school.
New Podcasting equipment was given to the Junior High, allowing students and members of the Podcasting Club to continue exploring this new technology.
SMART boards were installed in every fourth grade classroom at Brimfield Elementary, and students used them to create a “virtual tour” of the country.

A WeatherBug Tracking System was purchased, allowing students to gather weather-related data and analyze it in the classroom.

Teachers were trained to use yoga to help middle school special needs students with self-regulation.

A server for a Digital Music Library that can be shared between all the schools throughout the district to complement music programs as well as other curriculum.

Ted. Grant Program Guidelines and Policies

Goals of the Ted.Grant Program

To encourage and support innovative projects in teaching and learning that are consistent with Tantasqua’s/Union 61’s system-wide goals and priorities and beyond the scope of the regular school budget;
To encourage leadership and creativity in teachers and administrators;
To support grants that impact a significant number of students;
To encourage cross-school, cross-grade, and cross cultural collaboration;
To encourage collaboration among teachers, administrators, parents, and community groups to benefit the Tantasqua Regional and Union 61 public schools.

Ted. grants are not intended to replace or relieve existing responsibility for public funding or programs for the public school system, nor are they intended to substitute for normal budget growth and maintenance. Ted. will consider grant proposals ranging from $500 - $5000. All grant applications must have the signature of the building principal, attesting that there is no alternate funding source for the proposed grant.

Duration of Funding
Grant recipients must spend Ted. funds by the end of the school year (2008-2009). Applications for continued funding of successful proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is encouraged that successful projects expand on their theme and that the project be replicated in other classes and or schools.

What Can Be Funded

Equipment, supplies, fees, and materials necessary for implementation of the proposal
Guest lecturers and travel to destinations specifically related to the proposal

What Cannot Be Funded
Ted. Grant funds may be used to enhance, but not duplicate the standard public school curriculum.
Grant funds may not be used for:

Teacher stipends – funds may not be used to pay or reimburse teachers for their time
Programs/activities that should be funded by the school budget
Established field trips/transportation
Classroom libraries
Sales tax (the Ted. will provide you with tax-exempt I.D. number in order to purchase materials)
Regular curriculum development

Ted. Evaluation for Grant Proposals

Is this a creative, innovative project in teaching and/or learning, (i.e. one that involves “change, expansion, adaptation, enhancement, improvement, challenge, risk, or a new technique which is supported in the literature”)?
Does the project complement the curriculum goals of the Tantasqua Regional or Union 61 Public Schools?
Are the goals, outcomes, and activities of the project clearly stated, and completed with adequate detail?
Will the project benefit large numbers of students?
Is the project suitable for replication in the school system?
Are the budget items reasonable and in adequate detail?
Does the dissemination method and/or evaluation mechanism adequately assess the success of the project?
What is the overall strength of the proposal?

Grant Review Process
The Ted. Grants Review Committee consists of Ted.Board of Directors members, educators not affiliated with the Tantasqua or Union 61 school districts, and community members. The Review Committee will closely review each application according to the criteria stated above. The Review Committee will not be provided with the name of teacher(s) submitting the application nor the school from which the application was received. After an extensive review of all applications, the Review Committee will present its recommendation to the Ted. Board of Directors, who will vote to award the grants.

Change in Scope of Project, Expenditure of Grant Funds
Successful grant recipients must seek approval from the Ted. for any changes in the implementation or scope of the project, especially as they relate to the budget or participants in the project. Any and all unused funds must be returned to the Ted. at the end of the school year.

Grant Publicity
Successful grant recipients are expected to assist the Ted. in publicizing their projects to parents and teachers through the school newsletter, local newspapers, and other avenues.
When issuing statements and/or press releases describing the project, and when presenting the results of the grant in any public forum, grant recipients are required to include the following information: “This project is made possible (in whole or in part) by a grant from the Tantasqua Education Foundation.”

Equipment
Equipment becomes the Property of the Tantasqua Regional Public Schools or specific Union 61 school from which application was received. All equipment purchased with Ted. grant funds becomes the property of the Tantasqua Regional School district or the Union 61 elementary school from which the application was received. Grant recipients are asked to encourage replication of the project by making all equipment and materials accessible to other teachers and staff.

Proposal Evaluation Process
All grant recipients are required to participate in the Ted. grant evaluation process, including the submission of a final report on the grant’s outcomes and the expenditure of funds, and participation/presentation at the Annual Fall Ted. Brunch.

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