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	Last updated 7.11.07

Student Achievement Grants

Read about recently awarded grants.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Guidelines

Overview: The vision of the NEA Foundation is a great public education for every student.

Purpose: The NEA Foundation provides grants to improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). The proposed work should engage students in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen their knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection.

Proposals for work resulting in low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged.

The Student Achievement Grants replace the Foundation’s Innovation Grants, which have been discontinued.

Amount: The grant amount is $5,000.

Grant funds may be used for resource materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, software, or scholars-in-residence. Although some funds may be used to support the professional development necessary to implement the project, the majority of grant funds must be spent on materials or educational experiences for students.

Restrictions: Grant funds may not be used to

• support after-school, weekend, or summer programs
• pay indirect costs, grant administration fees, or salaries
• pay stipends to the applicants
• support conference fees for more than one person

Funds may not be used for lobbying or religious purposes. Identical applications will not be considered.

Notification: Applications may be submitted at any time. Applicants are encouraged to plan ahead. Applications are reviewed three times per year, every year.

Please give careful attention to the timeline of your grant. Applications that include activities scheduled prior to the date of notification will not be considered.

Only grant recipients will be notified in writing. A list of grant recipients will be posted on The NEA Foundation's website. Please do not contact the foundation regarding the status of your application.

Duration: Grants will fund activities for twelve months from the date of the award.

Eligibility: Applicants must be practicing U.S.

• public school teachers in grades PreK–12,
• public school education support professionals, or
• faculty or staff at public higher education institutions.

Preference will be given to applicants who serve economically disadvantaged students. Preference will also be given to members of the National Education Association.

The NEA Foundation especially encourages grant applications from

• teachers with less than seven years of experience in the profession
• education support professionals

The National Education Association uses the following job categories to classify education support professionals: para-educators, school bus drivers, maintenance and custodial staff, food services staff, school nurses and student services workers, clerical and office assistants, school security officers, and technicians.  For additional information about jobs classified as education support professionals consult www.nea.org/esphome/.

Employees, members of the board of directors, and immediate family members of the staff and board of the NEA Foundation are not eligible to receive grants. Employees of the National Education Association are not eligible to receive grants.

Application Instructions

Please adhere to the following submission instructions. Failure to comply with these instructions will disqualify the application.

Part I: Applicant Data Sheet

Please complete the data sheet and include it with each copy of your application. For your convenience the applicant data sheet is available in two formats: Microsoft Word file or pdf file. Hand-printed data sheets will not be accepted. When completing the data sheet, please use formal names and avoid nicknames.

Lead Applicant: The lead applicant will be the NEA Foundation’s contact person for award notification, reporting, publicity, and other grant-related activities.

Partner Data: The applicant must collaborate with one partner. The partner should be prepared to assume leadership of the project should the lead applicant be unable to complete the work.

Fiscal Agent Note: If no fiscal agent is designated on the applicant data sheet, grant funds will be made payable to the lead applicant and reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Because the grant funds may be considered taxable income, the lead applicant may wish to consult with a tax advisor before submitting the application. NEA members who elect to designate a fiscal agent are encouraged to consider their local NEA affiliate for this role.

Applications missing lead applicant and/or partner data will not be considered.

Part II: Narrative and Budget

Please consult our Student Achievement Grant Writing Tips.

The first page of the narrative must be on the letterhead of your institution. Proposals not submitted on letterhead will not be considered. Handwritten applications will not be accepted. The narrative and budget should not exceed four double-spaced pages, 12 point type with one-inch margins around.

The narrative must address the following items:

1. Provide an abstract/summary of your proposed work of 90 words or less. (For examples, please see the descriptions of our recently funded grants.) Failure to comply with the word limit may lead to disqualification of your application.
   
   
2. Describe your goals for student achievement and how you will measure each outcome.
   
   
3. Describe the student need for this work.
   
   
4. Describe the activities in which you and your students will engage to reach your goals.
   
   
5. Provide a line-item budget for the proposed work. Your request must total $5,000. Identify any additional support (cash or in-kind) that will be provided by other sources.

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Mail the original and one copy of your application to

The NEA Foundation
Attn: Student Achievement Grants
1201 Sixteenth Street NW, Suite 416
Washington, DC 20036-3207

Please do not staple or bind your application. Applications that do not comply with the guidelines or that include materials not specifically requested by The NEA Foundation will not be reviewed. Applications sent by e-mail or fax, or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

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SELECTION CRITERIA

• Proposed goals for student achievement are challenging and rigorous
• Proposed work engages students in critical thinking and problem solving
• There is alignment between goals, assessment, activities, and budget

The NEA Foundation may allocate a number of grants based in part on geographic considerations.

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REMEMBER TO

• Check your application for compliance with these guidelines.
• Complete all required information on the data sheet.
• Assign a fiscal agent if desired.
• Obtain your principal’s or dean’s signature on the data sheet.
• Complete the first page of your narrative on school or higher education institution letterhead.
• Enclose the original and one complete copy of your application, including the data sheet.

Failure to complete any of these items will disqualify your application.