Grants

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Following are application deadlines for grants and fellowships available to individuals and schools. Asterisks (*) denote new entries.

Open COMPUTERS
CyberLearning Universe, a project of the nonprofit National Education Foundation, is offering 5,000 teachers free tuition for 12 months of unlimited access to more than 180 of its Internet-based online office and school computing courses, including PC Basics, Internet Basics, Web Design Basics, Microsoft Office, and e-mail, among others. Tuition is covered, but a $75 registration fee is required. To sign up, visit CyberLearning’s Web site. Contact: National Education Foundation, CyberLearning, 4926-C Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304; (703) 823-9999; fax (703) 823-9990; e-mail [email protected]; www.cyberlearning.org/links/ind.asp.

Open INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
The Edward E. Ford Foundation awards grants to U.S. secondary schools that are members of the National Association of Independent Schools and to NAIS-member state and regional associations for education- related proposals, especially those directly benefiting teaching faculty or relating to schools’ ability to attract talented people to the profession. Grants of $20,000 to $100,000 are awarded; the average is $50,000, and all grants require a matching component. Contact: Robert W. Hallett, Executive Director, Edward E. Ford Foundation, 1122 Kenilworth Dr., Towson, MD 21204; (410) 823-2201; fax (410) 823-2203; e-mail [email protected]; www.eeford.org.

Open MATH AND SCIENCE
The Toshiba America Foundation supports hands-on math and science education in schools and offers grants to science and mathematics teachers. Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded monthly for grades 7-12; proposals for larger grants are due February 1 and August 1. All projects should provide direct benefits to students and include teacher- led, classroom-based experiences. Public and private schools are eligible. Application guidelines are available online. For more information, contact: Toshiba America Foundation, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10020; (212) 596-0620; e-mail [email protected]; www.toshiba.com/taf.

Open PHOTOGRAPHY
Every week, Starlight Cameras gives a school a complimentary Merlin pinhole camera and its new kit, Print 1- 2-3, which makes black-and-white photographs indoors or outdoors without need for a darkroom. Teachers should e-mail a description of their program, the keyword from the Starlight Web site, and their school address. For more information, contact: Jim Kosinski, Starlight Cameras, P.O. Box 540, 12 Lancaster St., Cherry Valley, NY 13320-0540; (607) 264-3480; e-mail [email protected]; www.paintcancamera.com.

Open STANDARDS
Each year, the NEA Foundation awards more than 300 Innovation and Learning & Leadership grants of $1,000 to $3,000 each. Applications are peer reviewed and may be submitted at any time. Notification of award is sent within seven months of application. Grants fund activities for 12 months from the date of the award. For more information, contact: NEA Foundation, (202) 822-7840; www.nfie.org/programs/howtoapply.htm.

Open TECHNOLOGY
Virtual Ink Corp. is giving away one or more Mimios each month. Mimio Xi is a portable device that connects a whiteboard to a PC, electronically recording everything written or drawn. To be eligible, submit through the Web site an explanation of how the Mimio would be used to improve the educational setting. Winners are selected on the criteria of originality and creativity. Contact: Virtual Ink Corp., Brighton Landing E., 20 Guest St., Suite 520, Boston, MA 02135; (877) 696-4646; fax (617) 254-6616; www.mimio.com/education.

Open TOLERANCE
Grants of up to $2,000 are available to K-12 teachers from the Teaching Tolerance project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit group that fights discrimination. The grants are awarded for activities promoting diversity, peacemaking, community service, or other aspects of tolerance education. Requests should include a typed, 500-word description of the activity and its proposed budget. Contact: Annie Bolling, Teaching Tolerance Grants, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104; (334) 956-8381; www.tolerance.org/teach/expand/gra/guide.jsp.

May 1 RURAL TEACHERS
The National Rural Education Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association announce the Mini-Grant program. Any K-12 rural teacher whose school or students’ homes are served by a rural electric cooperative is eligible. Ten grants of $500 are offered for classroom-based projects that investigate the science of energy or electricity. Projects must demonstrate student-teacher cooperation and coordination with local electrical cooperatives; they must also focus on student learning and adhere to other specified guidelines. Contact: Rural Teacher Mini-Grants, Dr. Bob Mooneyham, Executive Director, NREA Headquarters, University of Oklahoma, 820 Van Vleet Oval, Room 227, Norman, OK 73019; (405) 325-7959;e-mail [email protected]; www.nrea.net.

*May 15 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Staff Development for Educators seeks nominations for its Teacher of the Year awards. Certified kindergarten and 1st grade teachers working in accredited U.S. or Canadian schools who demonstrate innovative teaching and a commitment to the profession are eligible. A winner from each grade receives national recognition, an expenses-paid trip to an education conference in July, and $1,000. Contact: Catherine Dieter, National Program Planner, Staff Development for Educators, P.O. Box 577, Peterborough, NH 03458; (800) 924-9621, ext. 291; e-mail [email protected]; www.sde.com.

*May 25 MATERIALS SCIENCE
The ASM Materials Education Foundation awards 10 grants of $500 each to K-12 teachers. Applicants submit two-page proposals describing curriculum-based, hands-on projects that enhance students’ awareness of the materials around them and involve observation, communication, and math and science skills. Contact: Jeanne Deatherage, ASM International Foundation, 9639 Kinsman Rd., Materials Park, OH 44073-0002; (800) 336-5152, ext. 5533; e-mail [email protected]onal.org; www.asminternational.org.

*June 10 GEOGRAPHY
The National Geographic Society Education Foundation offers more than $100,000 in grants, each worth up to $5,000, to help teachers or a group of educators have a greater effect in their classroom, school, district, or community through innovative geography education activities. Projects in two categories are funded: promoting geographic knowledge through education and promoting stewardship of natural and cultural resources. Contact: Teacher Grants, National Geographic Society Education Foundation, 1145 17th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036-4688; (202) 857-7000; www.nationalgeographic.com/education.

*June 15 LOW-INCOME SCHOOLS
Nike’s Jordan brand sponsors the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program, which recognizes public school teachers or paraprofessionals working to inspire 1st through 12th graders at schools where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. A committee of teachers chooses winners based on the uniqueness of projects or lesson plans submitted by applicants. Each year, up to 400 grants of $2,500 are available for resource materials, supplies, equipment, and transportation costs related to the project. Contact: Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program, Scholarship Management Services, CSFA, 1505 Riverview Rd., P.O. Box 297, St. Peter, MN 56082; (507) 931-1682; e-mail [email protected]; www.nikebiz.com/community.

*July 15 JAPAN
The United States-Japan Foundation offers grants to improve U.S. K-12 instruction about Japan through professional development, intensive study tours in Japan, and curriculum design. The foundation funds new or existing programs that include some of the following components: leadership development, information on U.S.-Japan relations and contemporary issues in both countries, training on using international issues in the classroom, and multimedia teaching tools. Grants are for one year but may be renewed by the foundation, which also supports the improvement of Japanese language instruction through teacher training and curriculum development. Letters of inquiry must be received by July 15; complete proposals are due August 31. Contact: David Janes, Program Officer, Precollege Education Programs, United States-Japan Foundation, 145 E. 32nd St., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016; (212) 481-8757; fax (212) 481-8762; e- mail [email protected]; www.us-jf.org.

*August 1 METEOROLOGY
The National Weather Association annually awards five or more Sol Hirsch Education Fund Grants of $500 each to improve the quality of meteorology education. K-12 teachers may apply for individual scholarships to attend a course or professional conference, or they may request grant funds for equipment to enhance their students’ study of weather. Winners are announced in October at the NWA annual meeting. Contact: Kevin Lavin, Executive Director, National Weather Association, 1697 Capri Way, Charlottesville, VA 22911; (434) 296- 9966; e-mail [email protected]; www.nwas.org/solhirsch.html.

Vol. 15, Issue 6, Pages 59-60

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