A symbol (*) marks deadlines that have not appeared in a previous issue of Education Week.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
*Sept. 25--Education reform: The Mid-continent Region Educational Laboratory is inviting proposals for possible presentation at its Oct. 25-27 conference, Educational Reform 1990-1995, What Have We Learned and What It Means. The conference in Denver, Colo., will include K-12 educators, policymakers, researchers, school board members, and foundation leaders. Contact: Joan Grady, McREL, 2550 South Parker Road, Aurora, Colo. 80014; (800) 858-6830; fax: (303) 337-3005.
FEDERAL GRANTS
*Oct. 15--Minority achievement: The National Science Foundation is inviting applications for its Comprehensive Partnerships for Minority Student Achievement Program, which finances projects that develop systematic approaches in elementary and secondary education to enhance teachers’ knowledge of math and science and increase minority participation in science and engineering. Five awards of up to $20,000 for the first year and grants ranging from $200,000 to $800,000 for subsequent years are available. Grants will be based on the number of minority students involved. Local education agencies, other state and local government agencies, business and industry groups, professional organizations, and community groups. Contact: Betty Ruth Jones, Division of Human Resources Development, Education and Human Resources Directorate, NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 815, Arlington, Va. 22230; (703) 306-1633.
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
*Oct. 31--Mathematics: Entries are due for the Mathcad World Wide Web Math Competition, sponsored by MathSoft Inc. Until Oct. 1, students can download the Mathcad Puzzle using Mathcad 6.0’s built-in WWW connection or any web browser from http://www. mathsoft.com. Contestants must solve the puzzle using Mathcad 6.0 for Windows software and e-mail the solution to MathSoft by the deadline. The grand prize will be a choice of a Packard Bell Pentium desktop computer system or 80,000 Northwest Airlines WorldPerks air miles redeemable for air-travel certificates. Cash prizes of $500 and $200 will be awarded for second and third prizes. Contact: MathSoft Inc., 101 Main St., Cambridge, Mass. 02142; (617) 577-1017; fax: (617) 577-8829; internet: http://www.mathsoft.com.
Nov. 1--'National Conversation': Entries are due for the “National Conversation” essay contest. Students, grades 10-12, are asked to respond in 350 words or less to the question, “What does it mean to be an American?” The contest, sponsored by the Voice of America and the National Endowment for the Humanities, will honor the top 10 winners with a trip to Washington, D.C., to read their essays on the VOA airwaves. Contact: Carolyn Naifeh, VOA, (202) 205-9663; or Candace Katz, NEH, (202) 606-8623.
Nov. 15--Gardening: Applications are due for the 13th annual Youth Garden Grants Program. The program, sponsored by the National Gardening Association, will award 300 grants to applicants nationwide for use during the 1996 growing season. Each grant, worth more than $500, consists of tools, seeds, plants, and garden products. Programs involving at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18 are eligible. Contact: Garden Grants, Department PS, NGA, 180 Flynn Ave., Burlington, Vt. 05401; (800) 538-7476.
*Dec. 8--Literature: Entries are due for the Letters About Literature Essay Contest, sponsored by Read magazine and the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to enter letters to the authors of their choice. Students are asked to select a recently read book that has had a strong effect on them, positive or otherwise, then write a letter of 1,000 words or less to the author explaining what the book taught them about themselves. Winners will receive cash awards; a grand-prize trip to Washington, D.C., will be awarded to the top essayist. Contact: Read Magazine, Letters About Literature, Weekly Reader Corp., 245 Long Hill Road, Middletown, Conn. 06457; (203) 634-2400.
*Dec. 15--Writing and art: Entries are due for the 18th annual Read Writing and Art Awards Contest, sponsored by Read magazine. Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to submit work in each of the follow categories: fiction, essay, and artwork. Each category offers a first-place prize of $100, second-place prize of $75, and third-place prize of $50. Top winners will be published in the magazine’s April all-student issue. Contact: Read Writing and Arts Awards, Weekly Reader Corp., 245 Long Hill Road, Middletown, Conn. 06457.
Dec. 18--Reading: Entries are due for the 1996 Reading Is Fundamental Inc. National Poster Contest. The contest will recognize art that best conveys RIF’s 30th-anniversary theme, “Big on Books.” Children in RIF programs, grades K-12, are eligible. Winners will be announced in January. The contest winner and immediate family will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to be honored at an awards ceremony in April; the winner will also receive a $500 U.S. Savings Bond. Contact: Janet Frick, RIF, 600 Maryland Ave. S.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20024; (202) 287-3263.
*Dec. 22--Poetry: Entries are due for the eighth annual Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest, sponsored by Read magazine. Students in grades 4-12 are eligible to enter up to three poems in a poetic genre. Poems must be typewritten and no longer than one page. Six national winners will each receive $100, a medal, a congratulatory letter from the U.S. poet laureate, and other prizes. Contact: BPC, Read Magazine, Weekly Reader Corp., 245 Long Hill Road, Middletown, Conn. 06457.
*May 1--Book publishing: Entries are due for the 1996 National Written and Illustrated by Á Awards Contest for Students, sponsored by Landmark Editions Inc. Participants may enter their original books in one of three age categories: 6 to 9; 10 to 13; or 14 to 19. Each book must be written and illustrated by the same student. One winner chosen from each age category will be awarded a publishing contract. Winners receive all-expense-paid trips to the offices of Landmark in Kansas City, Mo., where professional editors and art directors will assist them in the preparation of final text and illustrations for publication of their books. The authors will be paid royalties on sales. There is a $1 entry fee. For guidelines, send a self-addressed, business-size envelope with 64 cents’ postage. Contact: 1996 NWIB Awards Contest, c/o Landmark Editions Inc., 1402 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, Mo. 64127.
TEACHER FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
Oct. 27--Performing arts: Applications are due for the Fifth Performing Arts Centers and Schools: Partners in Education Institute, which will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., April 24-28, 1996. The purpose of the institute, financed by the U.S. Department of Education, is to promote school-community partnerships in the performing arts, with special focus on the education of teachers. Up to 14 two-person teams consisting of a representative from a performing-arts center and a neighboring school system will be selected for participation. Contact: Performing Arts Centers and Schools Program, JFKCPA, Washington, D.C. 20566-0004; fax: (202) 416-8802.
Oct. 31--Foreign languages: The National Endowment for the Humanities is inviting applications for its 1996 summer-fellowship program for K-12 foreign-language teachers. Stipends of $3,750 each will be provided for six weeks’ study abroad. Applicants must have three years’ full-time K-12 teaching experience, with at least one-half of the teaching schedule in foreign languages during each of those years; be employed by a U.S. school or U.S. school abroad; and have the intent to teach foreign languages at least five more years. Former winners of the program and teachers of English as a second language and bilingual education are not eligible. Contact: NEH Fellowship Program for FL Teachers K-12, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, Conn. 06320-4196; (203) 439-2282; fax: (203) 439-5341.
