Grants, Opportunities, & Free Resources

Communicator
June 2017, Volume 40, Issue 10

Grants | Classroom Resources | Curricula & Teaching Tools
Professional Development & Learning

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education® Grants

Each year, the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grants program contributes more than $5 million to fund improvements at public schools in the United States. Projects should fall into one of the following categories: technology upgrades, tools for STEM programs, facility renovations and safety improvements. Projects should address a critical need and align with Lowe’s company purpose; to help people love where they live. Toolbox grant requests can range from $2,000 to $100,000. Grants can only be applied for during the cycle dates. Please make sure that your school and grant request fall within the Giving Guidelines The review process takes 90 days from the cycle close date and applicants will receive a status e-mail after review is completed. For more information, please read their FAQ’s.

Applications Due: Aug. 8 – Sept. 29

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The Charlie Lovett Fund for Elementary Drama
The Charlie Lovett Fund for Elementary Drama is a philanthropic fund that supports production based theatre arts programs at the elementary school level. Grants are made to elementary schools throughout the United States. Grants are made on a rolling basis, beginning in August of each school year, and every effort is made to make a decision on applications as quickly as possible. If applications are received after the fund for that year is exhausted, applicants are invited to reapply for the following year. The average grant size is $300. Click here for more information on how to apply.

Deadline: Ongoing

Green Education Programs
The Alternative Fuel Foundation is offering grants for programs that promote the concept of sustainability. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored. Typical grants range from $250-$500, but larger grants are considered on a case by case basis. Schools or parent groups are required to submit their grant applications online. Further guidelines and frequently asked questions can be found on the Alternative Fuel Foundation’s website.
Deadline: Ongoing

American Honda Foundation
The American Honda Foundation is offering grants for programs that demonstrate a commitment to youth education. Priority will be given to proposals that promote education in STEM areas and the environment. Grants range from $20,000 to $75,000, and organizations can only submit one application in a 12-month period. The grant-making schedule includes four application periods throughout the year, with deadlines in February, May, August, and November. Further information, including eligibility requirements, FAQ, and the online application, can be found on AHF’s website.

Close achievement gaps with matching grant for a grit program
The nonprofit EduGuide program builds students’ grit and other core learning skills to improve academic behaviors and achievement. A new matching grant covers half the cost of the evidence-based program for a limited number of schools. Learn more: edugui.de/getagrant

RGK Foundation Grants
The RGK Foundation funds programs that focus on math, science, reading, and teacher development. There is no deadline or specific project guidelines; interested applicants should submit a letter of inquiry outlining a specific project.
Deadling: Rolling

Tennis, Anyone?
United States Tennis Association Southern offers matching equipment grants to elementary schools that organize a kids’ tennis club. No tennis courts are required. Kids’ tennis clubs can be located in schools, parks, youth centers, or tennis facilities. This grant is available for schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Deadline: Ongoing

Grant for Salad Bars in Schools
Seeking to increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables, the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools program plans to fund and grant 6,000 salad bars to schools across the nation by 2013. Any K-12 school or district participating in the National School Lunch Program is eligible to apply.
Deadline: Rolling

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Books for Children in Need
First Book donates 35,000 books per day to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada. Educators or program administrators at schools where at least 70 percent of the children come from low-income families are eligible to apply for the nonprofit’s book distribution programs.

Free Classroom Supplies
Teachers can use a helping hand when it comes to stocking up on school supplies. That is why The Clorox Company is launching the Canisters for Classrooms program to help teachers get Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes for their classrooms and get parents involved in donating, too! When teachers put Clorox Disinfecting Wipes on their back-to-school list, Clorox will automatically donate two canisters to their classroom (while supplies last)! Visit Clorox Classrooms to upload your back-to-school supply list or create your back-to-school supply list online.

Scholastic Book Fairs Warehouse Sale
Scholastic is holding a sale at its many warehouse locations across the country. Books are discounted as heavily as 25 to 80 percent, with most being at least half off. You can also register online to save $10 on your first purchase over $50, or $25 on your first purchase over $100.

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ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS)
The U.S. Department of Education has developed the new, high-quality, adaptable ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) and associated web-based platform to allow States, local districts, and schools to collect and act on reliable, nationally-validated school climate data in real-time.

• The EDSCLS web-based administration platform, including a suite of school climate surveys for middle and high school students, instructional staff, non-instructional staff, and parents/guardians, can now be downloaded free of charge.
• The platform processes data and provides user-friendly reports in real-time.
• Education agencies administering the survey can store the data locally on their own data systems. The U.S. Department of Education will not have access to the data.
• In 2017, ED will survey a nationally-representative sample of schools to create school climate benchmark scores. These benchmark scores will be added to the platform’s reporting functionality to enable comparisons between local and national scores.

For more information on the EDSCLS, click here.

PBS LearningMedia
It’s summer and it’s time to play! Games-based learning is a hot topic for educators and parents, and PBS LearningMedia is featuring a collection of free educational resources aptly titled: Got Game? The digital collection includes games and interactives from PBS LearningMedia’s vast library of over 35,000 free resources for educators, and keeps kids playing and learning all summer long.

TEDed
TED provides a system for creating lessons through YouTube videos. TEDed’s tool for finding and “flipping” videos for students allows you to add questions, further resources, and even create a place for discussion. Search videos by subject, or browse other educators’ best flips and find ready-made lessons. You can find flipped videos at www.ed.ted.com, and more TED talks at www.ted.com.

Financial Literacy Resources
Money as You Grow—20 Things Kids Need to Know to Live Financially Smart Lives, an online tool to help improve the financial capability of America’s youth, offers 20 essential, age-appropriate lessons kids need to learn about money. The President’s Council on Financial Capability developed the website.

Free Fitness Curriculum
The ACE Operation FitKids curriculum from the American Council on Exercise is designed for educators looking to integrate health and fitness into classroom learning. The 7-lesson curricula for grades 3 to 8 and teach students the dangers of being overweight and the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.

Free Pen Pal Club Subscription
Pen Pal Kids Club, a global social network for kids, is offering free classroom subscriptions to K-8 teachers across the United States. The website promotes cross-curricular collaboration by integrating nonfiction writing, geography, social studies, and technology while offering students a chance to discover different cultures and meet new friends from across the globe.

Powerful Free Tool for Data, Tutoring
School leaders know that every minute spent testing is a minute taken away from teaching. ASSISTments, a new, free web-based platform developed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, aims to change that, offering teachers the ability to blend assessment questions and tutoring. Students receive real-time guidance, while teachers see instant reports on student progress. Plus schools and districts can build benchmarks right into the system. Contact NAESP@wpi.edu for training and more information.

Symbaloo Personal Learning Environment
Symbaloo is a free cloud-based, student centered educational solution that allows easy bookmarking of important websites along with the ability to share these resources. Teachers and students have instant access to their important resources, regardless of their device or where they are. To learn more, visit www.symbalooedu.com.

Grades of Green
Grades of Green is an environmental education non-profit with the mission to empower and inspire students and the broader school community to protect the environment. Their website offers free tools, lesson plans and activities for teachers and principals to use to green their schools.

We Do Listen Foundation
The We Do Listen Foundation is home to a host of free educational resources for children. The award-winning Howard B. Wigglebottom animated books are available online, along with songs, games, activities, and more, including guidelines and resources for dealing with issues like bullying.

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Free Professional Resources From Crayola
As part of its Champion Creatively Alive Children Grant program with NAESP, Crayola hosts free professional arts-themed resources for educators. The complete program covers: Art Builds 21st Century Skills, Creativity Connects Us, Advocacy, and Creative Leadership workshops and videos and guides. Along with a supplemental introductory leadership guide, additional resources help you facilitate workshops and arts-infused education advocacy meetings–everything you need from PowerPoint presentations to flyers, handouts and evaluation forms. These resources will help transform your school culture, and infuse arts across your curriculum. Click here to access these resources now.

Code.org Workshops
Code.org is offering free 1-day workshops to prepare educators and content-area teachers to introduce computer science basics in a format that’s fun and accessible to k-5 learners. The workshop will cover content for all three courses and teachers will receive the supplies they need to teach the course- at no cost. These workshops will be led by experienced Code.org K-5 Facilitators in over 60 cities across the United States. Visit their website to find a workshop near you.

Partners in Learning
The Microsoft Innovative Schools Program helps district and school leaders embrace innovation and implement technology effectively to support teaching and learning. Through this program school leaders can explore the possibilities, collaborate with other leaders and create a vision for the future of your school community.

Educating K-12 English Language Learners with Disabilities
The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota released a publication titled Impact: Feature issue on Education K-12 English Language Learners with Disabilities, which offers information on how to effectively educate English-language learners with disabilities and measure their progress.

Green Strides – Webinar Series
This webinar series, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools initiative, features experts from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other federal programs. Topics include fitness, solar energy, life in space, and more.

Implementing Common Core Standards in Math – Webinar Series
This free webinar series and online professional learning community, sponsored by ETA/Cuisenaire, provides advice and support regarding the national math curriculum. The program provides free webinars, live chats, lesson plans and online discussions to assist teachers in connecting and collaborating with others in the same grade level.

Global Learning for Educators – Webinar Series
The Asia Society is providing a free, year-long webinar series, Global Learning for Educators, designed to help educators prepare students for college and the interconnected world beyond. Topics include project-based global learning, preparing your school for global learning initiatives, and more.

RTI in Early Childhood Settings – Webcast
“Implementing Response to Intervention in Early Childhood Settings: National, State, and Program Perspectives,” an 80-minute webcast from the RTI Action Network, features a panel of nationally recognized researchers and dynamic RTI implementers on RTI’s role RTI in early childhood. This unique blend of multiple perspectives targets matching high-quality instruction and interventions to meet learning needs during the early childhood years.

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