Grants, Opportunities, & Free Resources
Communicator
June 2013, Volume 36, Issue 10
Grants | Classroom Resources | Curricula & Teaching Tools
Professional Development & Learning
| FEATURED OPPORTUNITY |
Principal Ambassador Fellowship
Following the success of their Teacher Ambassador Fellowship, the U.S. Department of Education is now offering the same opportunity to the country’s best and brightest principals. As a part of the new Principal Ambassador Fellowship (PAF) program, the Department of Education will be working with a select few to represent the interests and concerns of principals nationwide at the federal level.
The PAF program’s aim is to allow administrators to lend their experience and insight to the national dialogue on education. Principal Ambassador Fellows are expected to collaborate with each other and share their expertise. They will also be providing outreach and communication about federal initiatives to other educators on behalf of the Department of Education.
The year-long program for 2013-2014 is aimed at practicing principals, and is intended to be served on a part-time basis. Find more information on the program on the Department’s of Education’s blog; full details on how to apply can be found for the program’s job listing at www.usajobs.gov.
Deadline: July 16 at 11:59 EDT
| GRANTS |
Champion Creatively Alive Children
NAESP and Crayola have teamed up to support arts-infused education and each year, 20 schools are awarded with grants valued at $3,500 to implement arts programming. In addition to the grants offered, Free training modules are available online that include videos, handouts, and worksheets geared for your school’s arts programs.
Final Deadline: June 21
Run For Something Better School Awards Program
ING Run For Something Better (ING RFSB), in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), has developed a school-based running program. The awards program will provide a minimum of 50 grants up to $2,500 for each school that desire to establish a school based running program or expand an existing one.
Deadline: May 15
President’s Environmental Youth Awards
The President’s Environmental Youth Award program promotes awareness of our nation’s natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with EPA to recognize young people across the U.S. for protecting our nation’s air, water, land, and ecology.
Deadline: December 31
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
| CLASSROOM RESOURCES |
Literacy Empowerment Foundation – Common Core Book Grants
Schools can apply to receive a free set of Common Core books for each set ordered at normal price. There is no special application or screening process. Simply choose from over a hundred different titles. There is a limit of $40,000 worth of books per school.
Final Deadline: September 30
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.
| CURRICULA & TEACHING TOOLS |
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.
| PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING |
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.
Copyright © 2013 National Association of Elementary School Principals. No part of the articles in NAESP magazines, newsletters, or website may be reproduced in any medium without the permission of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. For more information, view NAESP’s reprint policy.