IFT Mini Grant Information

CTA Institute for Teaching Mini Grants are intended for CTA educators and chapters to support strength-based, teacher-driven reform for students and public schools. Educator grants will be awarded to individuals and small teams of teachers in amounts up to $5,000. Chapter grants will be awarded to associations for amounts up to $20,000. Project implementation will be in the 2010-11 school year.

The deadline for your application is April 30, 2010. The application must contain the signed Data Sheets, the completed questions on the Application Form, and a budget in table or chart format. Your application must be postmarked, faxed (619) 683-3994 or emailed to mboston@cta.org by April 30, 2010.

Preference may be given to projects that address the needs of diverse or students at risk of failure, involve partnerships, and are replicable.

Application review occurs in May 2010, with announcements and public recognition of the awards June 2010. Applications are reviewed by a sub committee of the CTA Institute for Teaching. The IFT will notify all applicants of receipt of their application; applicants are also notified as to the outcome of award decisions. Applications that are not awarded grants may be evaluated for improvement upon request.

Before beginning the application process, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I an active, dues-paying member of CTA?

• Do I have a reasonable expectation of being in a position to manage a project during the next school year?

• Do I have information and/or evidence that indicates the project I am considering will improve student achievement?

• Does my project idea address the needs of diverse or students at risk? • Am I willing to share my learnings from this project with other educators?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, you should feel confident that the IFT will give your project serious consideration. Another question to consider is: Do I have partners with whom I can plan and implement this project? While answering "yes" is not a requirement, the IFT believes proposals that have many stakeholders involved are more likely to succeed.

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Steps in applying for

an IFT mini grant

The Application Process

Please follow these seven steps to complete the CTA IFT mini grant application.

STEP 1: Read the application and read it again. Note any questions or concerns you have about the application process, and either call or write the IFT to get your questions answered. The IFT Manager/Program Director, Dick Gale can be reached at 619-683-3990 or DGale@cta.org. We welcome your questions.

STEP 2: Alert your local/affiliate president that you intend to apply for a grant. His/her signature will be necessary to complete the application. The Association will need to act as a fiscal agent on behalf of the grant recipient(s).

STEP 3: Team up! Consider educator colleagues, parents, students, administrators and community members for your team. When it comes to brainstorming and planning, more input will help you be more creative. Be sure to actively decide who will be the grant coordinator -- the person ultimately responsible for getting the application in on time, following up and managing the project when awarded.

STEP 4: Brainstorm your idea for a project with this question as a central focus: What do my students need and why do they need it? This is Question 1 on the Grant Application. Researching this idea and having discussions about it will focus your efforts on the students' needs. For example, if your students score lower on a standardized reading test and you hope to help them improve scores, then you have identified the "need." The reading materials you might wish to buy are NOT the need; they are the means to achieve your objective and will be identified later in the application.

STEP 5: Ready to write? With application and directions at your side, prepare your first draft. Remember to answer the questions as asked. No more, no less. Be sure to include a timeline.

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The Application Process, continued

If you are working with a team and all agree to prepare different parts of the application, designate one chief writer to ensure that there is a consistent writing style. This person should be able to answer questions about the application, if any arise. Be sure to have someone edit for grammar, style and content. You want a non-educator to be able to understand what you hope to do; be selective in your use of professional jargon or acronyms.

STEP 6: Prepare your budget. For this step, spread sheets, tables or charts are preferable to narrative. For IFT, a simple chart or table that includes closely approximated costs and likely vendors is adequate. Requesting additional funds from your school district, community, etc. is viewed as a plus by IFT because we believe that many stakeholders make for a more successful project. We also require that you verify any additional funding you receive if we award you a grant. In your budget, please include any other funds you have received, applied for or will apply for.

Finally, check your figures. Do not make a request for more than the stated limits. W

STEP 7: Review the "Do's and Don'ts" on the next page.

Are follow-ups okay? Absolutely! The IFT will send you an e-mail verifying receipt of your application. If you submit an application and do not receive a response within one to two weeks, you might want to contact the IFT by phone (619-683-3990) or email (mboston@cta.org).

The deadline for your application is April 30, 2010. The application must contain the signed Data Sheet, the completed questions on the Application Form, and a budget in table or chart format, and postmarked, faxed or emailed by April 30, 2010.

Please send completed application to:

IFT MINI GRANTS

CTA Institute for Teaching 5333 Mission Center Road, Ste. 200, San Diego, CA 92108 Phone: 619-683-3990 Fax: 619-683-3994 Email: mboston@cta.org

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Applying for an IFT Mini Grant? DO:

• Read grant guideline information.

• Share your proposal with your local/affiliate president.

• Send all necessary information by the deadline.

• Submit practical, action-oriented proposals and include a timeline.

• Create proposals that are strength-based and directly benefit students.

• Use clear descriptions that explain what will be done, by whom, and how you will assess your progress.

• Include a table or chart of your budget.

DON'T:

• Skip anything in the application or try to change the guidelines. • Send supporting materials not required in Questions 1-6. • Bind your proposal or spend money for special printing. • Submit proposals to continue research or existing programs.

• Submit requests for major equipment purchases - apply to your district or other funder for equipment. "Equipment" includes any permanently placed items (e.g., computer hardware) that are not critical to the intended outcomes of the project.

• Submit requests for salary replacement for activities that fall within your current job responsibilities. For compensation of activities outside regular job responsibilities, it is strongly recommended that requests be matched by the school district or other funder.

• Submit requests for personal educational scholarships.

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