The Center for Education and Equity in Mathematics, Science, and Technology (CEEMaST) at Cal Poly Pomona is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for Teacher Grants from the FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund for all schools in San Bernardino County, and schools in specified districts in Los Angeles County. Applications for the FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund teacher grants will be accepted until funds are spent. Please review these guidelines and then apply online here. The FEDCO Charitable Foundation is providing grants for full-time public school teachers serving students in grades Kindergarten through 12 in San Bernardino County and the following school districts in Los Angeles County: Azusa Unified School District; Bassett Unified School District; Bonita Unified School District; Charter Oak Unified School District; Claremont Unified School District; Covina-Valley Unified School District; Hacienda-La Puente Unified School District; Pomona Unified School District; Rowland Unified School District; Walnut Valley Unified School District; and West Covina Unified School District. Grants support hands-on, classroom, or "real-world" field trip projects that "bring learning to life" and increase student academic achievement. Grants are designed to encourage experiential learning, enhance student understanding, and increase student achievement in relation to the curriculum standards in the core subject areas; language arts, mathematics, science, and/or social studies. Proposed projects must be submitted by a full-time teacher and may involve museum or field trips, environmental or science projects, artistic or cultural experiences, civics or community service projects, and the creation of a final student product that promotes student learning. Grant funds may be used for transportation, pre- or post-field trip materials, or other expenses specific to the proposed project. Grant funds may not be used for the following: computer hardware, salaries, video cameras, sectarian purposes, substitutes, field trips to amusement parks, or for substituting existing funds that are available to support similar services or third party payments. Teachers receiving FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Funds during the 2007-2008 funding cycle are ineligible for funds this year. No funds from FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund grants may be used for institutional overhead costs. Funds are awarded on a first come, first-served basis.

Background of the Fund    Top The FEDCO Charitable Foundation was created when, due to stiff national competition, FEDCO closed its doors in 1999. After creditors and employee benefits were paid in full, the remaining assets of more than $7 million became the endowment for the establishment of the FEDCO Charitable Foundation, a supporting organization of the California Community Foundation.

Eligibility and Requirements    Top Teachers may apply individually for grants of up to $500, or collaborate with other teachers in their school and submit a joint application from a team of up to four teachers. Schools are eligible for a maximum of four individual grants per year, or $2,000 total, whichever limit is reached first. Please note the following requirements: Eligible teachers must currently teach full-time in a public school in San Bernardino County or specified school district in Los Angeles County and serve students between the ages of 5 and 18 (Kindergarten through 12th grade). The school principal or administrator must understand and fully support the project, as evidenced by signing the statement of support on the application form and final grant agreement. Applicants submitting an application online must indicate the principal's approval by checking the appropriate box. Principals will be asked to sign the final grant agreement. The teacher(s) must propose a class project that is aligned with and supports the curriculum standards and includes all students in the class. All students in the class must participate in the proposed project. Funds may not be used to support after school groups. Teachers funded during the 2007-2008 cycle are ineligible for funds this year. Teachers may not apply for more than one grant per year. No funds from FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund grants may be used for institutional overhead costs.

Funding    Top There is a total of $40,000 in available funds for the 2008-2009 grant cycle.

Criteria    Top The following criteria will be used to select grantees: Project is likely to increase student understanding and achievement of the curriculum standards in language arts, mathematics, science, and/or social studies. Project goals and learning objectives are clearly defined and tied to students' academic needs. The expected impact on student performance is described for all participants. Assessment used measures learning by students in core subject areas, and is appropriate for proposed project. If a field trip is involved, well-planned pre- and post-trip activities connected to classroom learning objectives are explained. Activities, a timeline, and logistics are clearly described. The budget categorizes and shows item by item the use of grant funds. The project costs less than $500 per classroom, or sufficient funding is in place for the project to be completed. For those working on a joint project with other teachers or classrooms, the collaborative effort is explained (a maximum of four teachers may collaborate on one project). The school administrator fully understands and supports the project as evidenced by a signed statement on the cover sheet, or for applications submitted online, by checking the appropriate box on the Web site application.

Use of Grant Funds    Top Proposed projects may involve museum or field trips, environmental or science projects, artistic, or cultural experiences, civics or community service projects, and/or the creation of a final student product that promotes student learning. Grant funds may be used for transportation, pre- or post-field trip materials, or other expenses specific to the proposed project. Grant funds may not be used for: computer hardware, salaries, video cameras, sectarian purposes, substitutes, field trips to amusement parks, or for substituting existing funds that are available to support similar services or third party payments. Grant funds may not be used for institutional overhead costs. Grant funds must be expended by June 15, 2009.

Sample Projects:    Top What follows are examples of projects, which would be eligible for FEDCO classroom enrichment grants: A sixth-grade teacher requests $500 to bring children to BioTrek to experience first hand the tropical rainforest, aquatic environments of the tropics and California, and California indigenous plants. These experiences will be followed by writing assignments on global ecology. Two teachers, one elementary the other at a high school, request $1,000 to pilot a Big Buddy reading Program. Students produce auto-biographies and journals. An eighth grade teacher requests $500 to bring a series of visiting physical scientists to the middle school campus to do hands-on science experiments with her students. Funds are requested for supplies, photocopying, honoraria for the visiting scientists, and curriculum development consultations with the scientists. Three third grade teachers request $1,500 to bring students to the Japanese American National Museum to study the history of Japanese-Americans in California and their contribution to the local community. Students will produce posters indicating how Japanese-Americans helped change the Los Angeles basin in our time. A high school chemistry teacher takes students to the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History to learn about Gems and Minerals.

Review Process and Reporting Requirements    Top The CEEMaST staff at Cal Poly Pomona will review all applications. Decisions will be announced within approximately one month of application submission. If you need additional information not provided by our Web site, please call the CEEMaST office at 909-869-4552, or e-mail Dr. Jodye Selco. Funds must be expended by June 15, 2009 and final progress reports will be required for all grants by June 30, 2009. A two-page narrative report, including a summary of the students' accomplishments, and an expense report is required. Please e-mail reports to jiselco@csupomona.edu. Enclosing no more than three photos or samples of student work documenting the project is highly encouraged. All public announcements, news features, publications or information concerning the grant program will indicate the FEDCO Charitable Foundation’s participation in the program funding. Please submit a copy of any published accounts mentioning the project or the foundation along with your final report.

How to Apply    Top There are three different ways to apply to the FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund. Choose only one method below to submit your application. Applications that are incomplete, late, or in excess of four pages will not be accepted. Applications will be accepted until funds are spent. 1. Apply online here. Submitting your application online is easy; make sure to fill out every field on the application page, then hit "submit." Keep in mind that you must indicate your school administrator's authorization by checking the appropriate box of the online application. Principals will be asked to sign the final grant agreement letter. 2. Submit your application by e-mail to jiselco@csupomona.edu. Download a copy of the application in Word or PDF. Complete the application on your computer and submit the application by e-mail to jiselco@csupomona.edu. Be sure to include the words “FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund” in the subject line. Download the application in Word. Instructions: Click once on the link to see the application in a new browser window. Select all (ctrl A), copy (ctrl C), and paste (ctrl V) into a brand-new Word document and save it on your computer. Alternately, right-click your mouse on the link above, and select "Save Target As" in the menu that appears and then save the application on your hard drive. Either way, to preserve the form's integrity, you will be able to type only in the designated places on this form. Download a PDF of the application. Instructions: Click once on the link to see the application in a new browser window. If you cannot see the application, you probably need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free. If you have Acrobat Writer (which is not free), you will be able to type in this document. This page can also be printed using the Adobe toolbar, which appears below the toolbar in your browser window. Complete the form with a typewriter, or recreate it in a word-processing program on your computer. 3. Submit your application by fax or mail. Please fax to 909-869-4616, or mail to the address below. Type or print the application cover sheet provided and complete responses to the questions, addressing all six questions within the four-page limit. Alternatively, you may download an electronic copy of the application from our Web site, complete and print it, and submit a printed copy. Be sure to include a signature by the school administrator. Mail applications to: CEEMaST FEDCO Classroom Enrichment Fund Cal Poly Pomona 3801 W. Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768 Submission Tips: Teachers should apply early, as grants will be made until funds are expended, and field trips often require planning and reservations far in advance. Applications should include (all of the below are part of the online application): Application cover sheet with all information completed Responses to application questions 1 through 5 Project budget showing how the funds will be spent, item by item Signature or authorization from the school administrator and collaborating teachers What NOT to do when submitting your application. Do not include more than four pages, to avoid disqualification. Do not use a font size smaller than 12 points. Do not use a binder, folder, or special cover (they are not easily filed and will be discarded). Do not use more than one method to submit your application - choose only one way to submit it (e-mail, Web site, fax or mail). If you need a hard copy of the guidelines and application mailed to you, please let us know by e-mail.