EAST Seed Grants for K-12 Educators
Purpose
EAST will award grants of up to $1,000 to K-12 educators for innovative activities to encourage and facilitate the participation of students with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. EAST is also offering for the first time a second tier of mini-grants for larger district-wide projects at $5,000 each with the requirement of a publishable product that can be widely disseminated. Grants are intended to serve as a catalyst for future work, with the intended long-term outcome of increasing the number of students with disabilities who take science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses and enter science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. Examples of the types of activities supported include:
- Development of strategies and policies to improve student participation in science fairs or after-school clubs;
- Acquisition of equipment, software, or materials to improve access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
- Modification of equipment, software, or materials that improve access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
- Revision of curricula or laboratories to improve their accessibility for all students, including students with disabilities.
Creativity and innovation are encouraged. Projects should have the potential to serve as a model for other schools in the region.
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Eligibility
K-12 teachers or administrators from schools in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts are eligible to apply. Teams of two or more teachers or administrators, or collaborations involving multiple classrooms or schools, are welcome.
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Deadline
Proposal deadline is May 27, 2005. Applicants will be notified two weeks after this date. Projects should begin after July 1, 2005, and be no more than 12 months in duration.
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Award Requirements
Awardees are required to submit progress and final project reports detailing the outcomes of the work, to participate in evaluation activities about EAST, and to present project results at the EAST annual meeting. Travel expenses to attend the EAST meeting will be covered separately by the Alliance.
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Evaluation Criteria
Grants will be evaluated according to the following:
- Potential of the project to improve access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students with disabilities;
- Feasibility of the work plan;
- Ability to serve as a model for other schools;
- Potential for sustainability; and
- Quality of the evaluation plan.
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How to Apply
Select one of the following methods:
- Apply online;
- Apply by mail by printing the application
form (download form in Word or PDF),
completing it, and mailing it to:
EAST
Lewiston Hall, Building 4
60 Pineland Drive
New Gloucester ME 04260; - Apply by fax by competing the application form and faxing to (207) 688-4036; or
- Apply by e-mail by completing the application form and send as an e-mail attachment to nancy@lightbody.org.
In addition, please have the school principal or appropriate building administrator mail, FAX, or e-mail a letter of support to one of the addresses above.
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Questions?
If you have questions, please e-mail Nancy Lightbody at:
nancy@lightbody.org
or call (207) 688-4573 x148.
Thank you!
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