Decatur ISD Education Foundation

Guidelines for Grant Applications
 

Purpose:

The Innovative Grant Program 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:

Professionals employed by Decatur ISD who are involved in the instruction of students or related support services benefiting students

Eligible Proposals:     

Instructional approaches or projects 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 Decatur ISD Education Foundation.

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.

·        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 through the DEF link on the district website.

2. Teacher initiated applications must be signed by the campus principal.

3. Signed applications are due to Meradith Culpepper, Director of Federal Programs and Education Foundation, at the Decatur ISD Administration Building.

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

·        Foundation Directors appointed by the chairperson of the Foundation Board of Directors

·        Curriculum staff from DISD

·        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; (c) approval with conditions and/or modifications; and (d) approval.

6. The Grants Committee submits recommendation to the DEF board for approval.

7. Applicants will be notified of decisions.

8. Projects will be funded.

Responsibilities of Grant Recipients:

1.      Use the awards for the purposes intended and within required deadline.

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

3.      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 innovative?
• Is it in line with district/ campus goals and the grade level TEKS?

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 and campus educational plans
• 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