NAESP, in conjunction with Crayola, has awarded 20 NAESP members with grants valued at $3,000. The grants are part of the Champion Creatively Alive Children Program, which aims to help principals implement and document innovative arts-education projects at their schools and share best practices for arts education with fellow educators.
As evidenced in the arts-themed issue of Principal magazine, integrating the arts into the school curriculum is essential to developing the whole child. In order for students to reach their full potential and grow into self-motivated learners, natural curiosity and explorative spirits must be nurtured. However, diminishing school budgets often lead to arts education being among the first programs to be reduced or cut altogether. That is why NAESP and Crayola are helping principals use innovative instructional methods to engender creativity in their students.

• For your school to be eligible for future grants under this program, a principal must be a member of NAESP. Join today and discover all the wonderful benefits of membership. If you have any questions, please call 703-518-6256.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Crayola sponsoring this program?
Crayola is inspired by educators who ignite children’s abilities to bring new ideas to life. There is something magical about children’s self-expression. That magic occurs when education leaders develop effective ways to bring colorful wings to the invisible things that grow in the hearts and minds of children. Using their visual voices helps students engage in learning, as they share thoughts and feelings. Crayola and NAESP want to help educators find and nurture promising practices.

Who is eligible?
Proposals must be submitted by principals who are members of NAESP currently and intend on renewing membership for the 2013–2014 school year. The schools must be located in either United States or Canada. Schools that received this grant in 2012 will not be eligible to apply for a 2013–2014 grant. Instead we urge you to become a judge and help us score new proposals. Schools that won grants in 2010 or 2011 may apply in 2013. Anyone interested in serving as a judge should e-mail contact information to creativelyalive@crayola.com and request a judge application form.

What is the grant?
The school will receive $2,500 to implement the project and $1000 worth of Crayola products to develop an arts-infused education focused Creative Leadership Team.

When will the grants be awarded?
The grants will be distributed in October 2013. Finalists are contacted in early October and if they submit the required W9 form and signed photo permission forms, they will be grant winners.

How do I get an application?
Download the application here.

When are the applications due?
Applications should be e-mailed to CreativelyAlive@crayola.com or fax to 610-515-8781, ATTN: Anita DeChellis. Applications will be accepted starting December 3, 2012 and ending at 12am (Midnight) EST on June 1, 2013.

Do I need to complete the photo permission forms now?
No, only the finalists need to submit the signed photo permission forms and the W-9 form. Those are due in early October and are required before a grant can be funded. If a finalist school does not submit those forms before the deadline, an alternate will receive the grant.

What if my school does not have an art teacher?
If the school does not have a certified Art Educator, the principal should collaborate with the person designated within the school to teach the arts.

Should the applications focus on one of the “What if…” ideas outlined in the RFP?
No, we encourage an original “what if…” that addresses your school’s needs.