Cuero ISD Education Foundation Grant Question and Answer Workshop

Purpose The Cuero ISD Education Foundation’s Educator Initiative Program is designed to encourage, facilitate, recognize and reward innovative and creative instructional approaches to the accomplishment of program objectives. Individuals or teams of individuals employed by the Cuero ISD who are involved in the instruction of students or related support services benefiting students are eligible to apply for grants annually. Grants must enhance student academic performance and support the objectives, goals, and initiatives of the Campus and District Improvement Plans.

Tips for Submitting a Successful Grant Application Be SMART! The best grant applications are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable and Timely! Please keep in mind the majority of the members of the Grant Review Committee are not educators, so please define all acronyms used within the grant application and avoid educational jargon or abbreviations when writing your application. Carefully review the CISD Education Foundation Grant Application Guidelines, which precede the application form. Grant applications must be complete and comply with stated deadlines. Complete applications include signatures from appropriate administrators. Late applications will not be accepted.

Tips for Submitting a Successful Grant Application Programs/projects submitted in a grant application should demonstrate creativity and innovation in educational programming. Proposed programs must align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the grade level(s) affected. Grant applicants are encouraged to visit with the district’s curriculum director prior to writing a grant to ensure the grant proposal ideas align with district goals and objectives. Grant applicants are encouraged to have an individual who is not familiar with the grant application review the application for additional insight, ideas, and/or suggestions before it is submitted to the Foundation for consideration.

Tips for Submitting a Successful Grant Application Information presented in the grant application should be clear and to the point. Attaching supporting documentation to the application is not necessary but may be warranted for clarification purposes. Thoughtfully consider the evaluation component of your grant application. Each grant funded will need to be measured to determine its effectiveness. Standardized testing should NOT be used as an evaluation tool. Spell check and proofread the application carefully. Research what the actual cost will be for each budget item. Do not forget to include shipping and handling costs. If possible, get a quote from your supplier that is good for 90 days to ensure your costs will be the same at the actual time of purchase.

Items to Exclude The Cuero ISD Education Foundation WILL NOT FUND the following: Equipment and/or materials typically acquired through district, state or federal funding Equipment and/or materials that are not requested as part of a well- planned project or program “Incentive” field trips Salaries (including stipends and substitute teacher pay) Staff development (registration, fees, lodging, travel or meals) Honorariums Requests which exceed the stated dollar limit

Responsibilities of Recipients Utilize the grant funds for the purposes they were intended Inform the Foundation of the date(s) the project will be implemented Document the implementation of the project Submit an evaluation form and photos to the Foundation upon completion of the project Provide a thank-you letter to Foundation donors Share successful procedures in staff development Remember that grant materials are property of CISD, not an individual

Completing the Application The project is appropriate if you can answer yes to the following questions: Will the project improve student learning? Is the project instructional to students? Does the project challenge students and stimulate thought? Are the objectives clear? Does the project address the TEKS? Does the project relate with the campus improvement plan Can objectives be measured? Is the project new to the district? Can it be done? *Small grants are just as likely to be awarded as large grants.*

Completing the Application - Summary 100 words or less Write a brief summary of your project using general terms. What do you hope to achieve? How will this project enhance the education of students? This paragraph is the “HOOK” for the grant readers, so write it well!

Completing the Application - Purpose Tell what you hope to achieve. What will be different or better if the project is successful? Keep the statement simple and straightforward. Promise only what you can hope to achieve.

Completing the Application - Rationale Explain the specific need(s) that this project addresses. How will the project improve student learning in this area? How does the project relate to the campus or district plan? Discuss (in layman’s terms) the TEKS that will be addressed by this proposal.

Completing the Application - Objectives List the main objectives of your project. List in terms of “students will ...” Objectives should be clear and measurable. Link objectives to the implementation and evaluation plans.

Completing the Application - Implementation Plan Describe proposed activities and tasks What actions will you take to meet the objectives? How will the project be implemented? Provide details so that the Grant Review Committee can distinguish innovative ideas Link the implementation plan to the objectives and evaluation plan.

Completing the Application - Evaluation Plan Describe how you will measure the success of your project (outside of standardized testing). How will you know that this project was successful? Link the evaluation plan to the objectives and the implementation plan.

Completing the Application - Budget What do you need to make this project happen? List detailed information on how the grant funds will be spent. Do NOT guess at prices. Do not forget to include shipping and handling costs. If possible, get a quote that is good for 90 days to ensure that your costs will be the same at the actual time of purchase.

A Few Reminders… Be SMART! The best grant applications are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable and Timely! Complete each section of the application as outlined in the grant application guidelines. Write as if the person reading the application does not know anything about education. Remember, grant scorers may not be an expert in your field. Mak sur yur spelin punkuaton and grammer iz correct. It speks vollumes bout u. Do not ramble on. Get to the point. Do not forget to attach price verification documentation. Let everyone you know read your application and offer suggestions for improvement.

Application Deadline Grant applications must be submitted to the Cuero ISD Education Foundation Executive Director’s office, which is located in the Cuero ISD Administration Building, by 4:30 p.m. on October 16. Applications must be typewritten and signed by the applicant(s), technology director (when applicable), and campus principal.