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Special Projects Fund

2016-2017 Special Project Small Grant Fund: Supporting Teacher Preparation Programs as They Strive to Meet State Goals in Diversity and Equity

Grant has Closed: For Additional Grant Information click here to view Special Projects Fund Overview 2016-17 (Document).

Link to Application (Survey)

The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) has set aside funding to provide educator preparation programs an opportunity to engage in activities related to strategies and actions for improving the recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in teacher preparation programs and elevating the cultural competence of program completers. The project efforts must be in direct response to the series of reports released by PESB that focus on developing underrepresented pathways into the teaching profession. This year, awardees chose from a list of target activities that address both cultural competence and recruitment/retention of diverse candidates.

There is no set amount for grants, but awards typically range from $500-$10,000.

As part of the application process, programs were required to complete a self assessment. This assessment will be used throughout the grant year as part of the EAP development process.

Research and experience demonstrate that collaboration around similar ideas or projects increases the effectiveness and success of the project. Consistent with these findings, recipients of this grant will commit to participating in three state-wide professional learning community (PLC) meetings intended to aid in the development and implementation of EAPs. Travel to these meetings will be paid for by PESB and participation (of key collaborators) is required for grant recipients. Non grant recipients may also attend at their own expense. PLC meetings will be held on December 1, 2016, February 9, 2017, and April 19, 2017 and will include workshop, training, sharing, and collaboration components focused on developing and implementing an equity action plan (EAP). Future grants from this fund are likely to require the submission of an EAP for consideration.

Equity Action Plans (EAP)

An EAP is a far-reaching, future-focused, living document that outlines the actions necessary to meet identified equity goals. Components of an EAP typically include:

  1. Committed leadership from the organization
  2. A clear vision of where we want to be, with a good idea of where we are now.
  3. Specific, phased and measurable goals with a step-by-step plan for achieving them.
  4. A knowledgeable team in charge of developing, communicating and implementing the plan.
  5. A timely implementation strategy with benchmarks for measuring progress.
  6. A learning community to provide networking, sharing of best practices and ongoing support.

For our purposes, EAPs must address 1) efforts to diversify the workforce and 2) efforts to deepen cultural competence among completers. EAPs can also address other program priorities. Grant recipients will be required to submit their program EAPs at the end of the grant period.

Outcome Reports (2014-2015)

All Small Grants Fund grantees were asked to submit a short report at the completion of their project to be posted on this page. Using the template provided, grantees were asked to provide background and project description, activities, outcomes and achievements, and lessons learned. Please note, grant amount indicated in the reports represent the grant amount they requested and not the actual final amount used. The following are the grantees and their outcome reports:·

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