Enhancing Education Through Technology Round 9 Competitive

GENERAL GRANT TIPS AND STRATEGIES Think instructional needs first. Then determine how the technology can meet the instructional needs. Avoid the words “can”, “probably”, “should”, “could” and “hopefully”. Instead, use words like “will”.

GENERAL GRANT TIPS AND STRATEGIES Never model an application on the basis of other grants that have not been received. Assemble a grant committee or team. Include enough members to assist in the creation of the grant.

GENERAL GRANT TIPS AND STRATEGIES Be focused. Answer the question presented. Be as detailed as possible. Do not go into unrelated areas. Present the information in the order requested.

GENERAL GRANT TIPS AND STRATEGIES Label all sections. Write a narrative for all sections. Make sure any attachments are relevant and referenced in the application. Follow page limit specifications. Perform spelling/grammar checks on the application prior to submission. Have other committee members do the same. Combine all “sections” into one main document for submission.

GENERAL GRANT TIPS AND STRATEGIES Make sure all items in your budget are specifically addressed in your proposal. Double check your math! Use 1 inch margins and 12 point font Use charts and graphs only when appropriate and necessary.

PART A – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - 5PTS. Start with an introduction or executive summary that briefly states the educational problem or need (one page). Explain how the project will address the problem or need. Explain how the school, teaching, and learning will be different as a result of the grant. How will 21 st Century teaching & learning be promoted? Clearly state the projects goals (bulleted list).

PART B – GENERAL INFORMATION – 3 PTS. List the required information. List the name of the grant writer(s). Include a listing of all partners and contact names. Be sure to include all poverty or need data.

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE – 60 PTS. PLANNING PROCESS Don’t go at it alone!!! Involve all stakeholders – administration, teachers, students, parents and community. Thoroughly describe the planning process. o Who are the stakeholders? How was the buy-in to the project assessed? o How are the various stakeholders involved in the components of the project? o How many times did you meet? o Was the community involved in the plan? o Were there designated roles? o What instruments were developed by this team (surveys, questionnaires, etc.) o Describe what the Planning Team did.

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE – 60 PTS. NEEDS ASSESSMENT MOST IMPORTANT PART OF PROPOSAL Identified needs provide the rationale for the project. Need is the discrepancy between what is and what should be. Base your project on needs and not wants. Needs drive the goals, objectives, activities, evaluation, personnel, resources, and budget. Explain why the district/school needs the project. What educational problem(s) will be solved and how?

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE – 60 PTS. NEEDS ASSESSMENT Provide relevant documentation of the need for the project. Questions to consider: o Who conducted the needs assessment and the survey for buy-in to the project? o What instruments were used? o Did you review both summative and formative test data? o Is there other school data that demonstrates the need? o Discuss the school network infrastructure. o What difference will this project make? o How will implementing Technology Model School program address school deficits?

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE - 60 PTS. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION Fully describe the proposed implementation plan for the required components. 1:1 initiative – What is the plan for purchasing and distributing hardware devices? What is the plan for maintenance? How will the school network be upgraded to handle the demand for wireless for all devices? How are students involved? Online courses/initiatives – Identify online courses and resources that will be part of the project and discuss how these online opportunities will be managed. Project-based learning – Describe how project-based learning will be implemented and evaluated.

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE - 60 PTS. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION techSteps – Describe current school use of techSteps and how the staff will incorporate techSteps across the curriculum. Digital content– Identify digital content that will be part of the project and discuss how these online opportunities will be managed. Data Systems – Describe how the use of data will be implemented on a ongoing and regular basis and the role of the administration and staff in analyzing the data.

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE - 60 PTS. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Discuss how the goals of the EETT program are going to be met. Be sure the goals are directly linked to the identified need or problem. Provide measurable objectives that the project will accomplish in order to meet the goals. Explain how the project will address equity issues. The project should be able to meet the objectives within the project period.

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE – 60 PTS. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES What differences will the project make for teachers, students, and/or community? What differences will the project make for the school or school system? How will TIS/TMS further promote 21 st Century teaching and learning? What activities & procedures will you carry out in order to accomplish each objective? What are the timeframes for completing each major activity?

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE – 60 PTS. ROLES OF PERSONNEL How will the administration support this project? What evaluation tools will be used by the administration? How will the TIS support this project? What are the TIS qualifications and what are the models of PD that the TIS will employ? How will the TSS support this project? What are the TSS qualifications and what procedures and timelines will be used by the TSS?

PART C – PROJECT NARRATIVE – 60 PTS. CHARTS Include timeline chart to show how the activities will be completed. Include organizational chart showing the relationship among the project staff. Include chart showing the amount of time each key person will spend per project objective. New – principal and Intel Leadership Academy attendance Include chart summarizing TIS tasks/duties

PART D – EVALUATION PROCESS – 5 PTS. Agree to make personnel and information available to meet evaluation schedule (Form C). Agree to adequate funding reserved for purchase of evaluation services (Form C). List the key personnel with job titles who will be involved in data collection activities.

PART E – SUSTAINABILITY – 7 PTS. Include future planning information to convince the grant reader that the project will have a sustained impact. Discuss how the project activities could be sustained. Discuss how evaluation results will be used to further develop or make changes in the project.

PART F – TIMELINES – 5 PTS. Detail the timeframes for completing each major activity, assuming the grant is awarded in July 2010 (Form E). Timelines should be very specific. Include names of persons responsible for completion of tasks/activities. Explain how financial reports will be communicated to all.

PART G – BUDGET – 15 PTS. Make sure all budget items are explained in the body of the proposal & described in the budget narrative. Be as specific as possible with purchase dates. Show that the costs are reasonable and that the budget isn’t padded. Show all in-kind contributions or matching funds. Don’t forget to use Form B and list the vendor of record and cost information. Include project & object codes.

PART H - PRIORITIES Review the priorities on Grant Application carefully. Be sure planning committee and grant writers are aware of priorities and consider these priorities during the development of needs assessment and project narrative. Include signed Assurances and complete form D-consultation with private schools.

COMMON PITFALLS Project does not include enough detail. Project is not cohesive with all parts supporting the same message or goal. Project does not clearly or convincingly identify need. Project does not submit required forms – especially the Private School Participation Form. Project does not follow the guidelines. Project has vague/general timelines. APPLICANTS DO NOT REQUEST FEEDBACK WHEN NOT FUNDED.

Questions?

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