Find | Collaborate | Write | Budget | When You Get It | When You Don't | E-Rate | Assignments
Find | Collaborate | Write | Budget | When You Get It | When You Don't | E-Rate | Assignments
| If you want to be a technology leader you
will need to be a grant-writer or part of a grant-writing team. Your book
of readings has some practical handouts about the grant process. I will
not cover it all here, but review it and add pieces that are not on the
handouts.
THINK AND PLAN Ideas for grants should always come from your school's vision and goals. Begin here rather than trying to bend your vision around grant funding that may be available. Keep a list of grants and the dates they are due and keep your eyes open for new ones. Bounce your ideas off of other teachers or administrators to see if they are realistic and helpful. Read articles to find out what others in your situation have done, or to see how others have used the technology that you are thinking of implementing. Keep a list of articles you read because they will be help ful in the research section of your grant. |
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As you look for funding sources be aware of time issues. Having lead time is important. Check out who you will need to get signatures from and plan your grant writing process so that they are not pressured at the last minute. The more relaxed you can be the better your grant will read. One of the handouts in your readings lists some grant sources. Here are some web resources:
Grants Web
http://web.fie.com/cws/sra/resource.htm
FedWorld Gateway
Education Department's Inet
National School Board's Association
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet)
Columbia Online Information Network (COIN)
Planet Innovations
Look at the two different grant sections on the Planet Innovations Site. One has a robot that will get federal grant information and keep it updated. The other tool will give you abstracts of grants that others have written to the Department of Education
Another Grant Site
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/dan/classes/720/grants.htm
Here are a couple of Grants that I have been notified about recently through list serves that I am on:
Compaq Teaching with Computer Technology Grant Program
http://vcmprocr.compaq.com/ccn_content/gem/k12/index.htm
America Online Foundation
This foundation is not interested only in schools, but in spreading technology in any way. They give guidelines for their grant here.
Check out the sites above. Make sure to bookmark them. Find two or three grants that may be helpful for your scenario school. Note them and the URL where they were found. You can write this into the Funding Alternatives of your Technology Plan.
There are different types of foundations. This list may give you an idea of other places to search for grants:
Once you have chosen a grant source and have an application to fill out you must find a group to collaborate with. A successful grant will have representation from all parties who will be involved in making the grant work. It is good to have someone who feels comfortable with numbers and budgeting and another person who is a good proofreader on the team.
It is possible to write a grant by yourself, and if you are a good writer and have skill it might succeed. However, the results will not be as good as they could have been because of the lack of buy-in from other involved people.
Remember to think about including these things in your grant (and in any budget your school makes for technology): hardware, software, personnel, staff development, repairs/upgrades, supplies, and facilities. Two things that are often overlooked with technology grants are facilities and staff development.
One recommendation is that at least 20% of the total of a technology grant or budget for a school should be for staff development. This can be for workshops, substitutes, paying trainers or paying teachers to attend sessions.
Furniture and facilities are often overlooked also when grants are written. What kind of furniture will you need for the computers to sit on? Do you need different chairs? Should you include some money for security (bars on windows, lock down cables, alarms) or for air conditioning? You don't want to receive a grant only to find out that the extra expenses are more than your school can afford.
Your writing should be clear and easy to understand. Grant readers are people like you who are invited to volunteer their time to read proposals and make recommendations. They are reading many of these grants at one time. Put yourself in their place and make your grant writing smooth and interesting.
Be careful about using weak words like "we will try" or "if...happens". Assume that you will be successful and write in positive confident tones.
Follow the directions that the grant agency gives you to the word. Make sure that the margins, the length of the narrative, the font and the number of copies are exactly what they have asked for. Any mistake in this area will give the grant reader a reason to reject your proposal. They have many proposals that have followed all of the directions.
When formatting don't get carried away. Simple is good. Use a basic font like Times 10 or 12 point. Don't overuse bold or you will lose the effect of emphasis. Carefully follow any instructions they have given you about this.
Take note that:
Your Audience-Who will be reading the grant?
The same proposal can be viewed differently if it comes from a school viewed as privileged or a school viewed as lacking resources.
The best way to learn how to write grants is to volunteer to be a reader. If you have the chance take it!
In your writing make sure that your budget tells the same story as your narrative. There should not be things in your budget which are not mentioned in the narrative. There should not be things in the narrative which are not provided for in the budget. There are grant reviewers who read only the budget and they should be able to tell what your grant is about from the budget page.
Make sure that your budget numbers are accurate. Have several people check them before you send them in. Sloppiness in your budget can cause you to lose your chance for funding.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A GRANT
Remember to think from the beginning about how much time and effort this project will take if and when you do receive the grant. Grants tend to create extra work, especially for the person who coordinates the project. Be sure that you really want what you are asking for, because you might get it!
Not getting a grant can be as helpful as getting it. The process of writing helps a school to clarify its needs and look for solutions. If a grant doesn't come through there is time to review the grant and decide how and when to resubmit it. It is appropriate to call the funding source to request notes or comments from the readers. You can use these to help you retool the proposal for the future.
The E-rate is a special fund created by the Federal Government to help schools and libraries to benefit from the growth of the telecommunications industry. The Federal Communications Commission has set up a Universal Service Fund (USF) which will distribute the money collected from US telecommunications and cable companies. These contributions are tied directly to their revenues.
There are clear guidelines on how these funds can be used. The article you received in your packet has a chart that shows clearly what is eligible and what is not.
The application process is complicated. There is a period each year when all applications are due. The rules on how the E-Rate works and the amount of money available fluxuate and are highly debated by congress. It is worth while to keep up on the e-rate if you have responsibility for technology for a district.
Take a look at:
Here is where you can find resources, applications and up to date news about the e-rate.
Another place that often has up to date news on the e-rate and other things is Edlines:
On this site you can order multiple copies of a brochure that explains the e-rate to parents.
http://www.cme.org/erate/index.html
Follow the links to find information on Grant Writing
http://www.eyesoftime.com/teacher/index.htm
For this week's discussion I would like to hear about your experiences with grant writing and implementing grants. If you do not have any experience in
this area yet please share an idea that you have that might be a grant possibility.
For this week's discussion I would like to hear about your experiences with grant writing and implementing grants. If you do not have any experience in this area yet please share a grant idea.
Santoro, Mari and Maguire, Brian. (Feb. 1998). "Maximize your School's E-Rate". Classroom Connect. Vol. 4, No. 5., 1-6.
Quinlan, Laurie A. (Jan/Feb 1998). "Are We Ready for E-Rate?" Techtrends. Vol. 43. No 1, 7-8.
Handouts:
Tips for Preparing Successful Proposals
Hints on Proposal Development
Review and Revision Questions for Grant Writing
Just look through these handouts and if they seem helpful keep them on hand for when you are writing a grant.
Until Friday you can take the quiz as often as you want to and it will give you feedback. On Friday morning I will change the quiz set up so that it reports a grade to me. You will no longer be able to take the quiz multiple times.
