Purpose

The ITBE Teacher innovation grants are designed to encourage and facilitate creative and innovative teaching projects by ITBE members.  

 

Eligible Applicants

Anyone who has been a member of ITBE for at least three months may apply for a grant.  Members may apply individually, or in a group.  All members of the group must be members of ITBE for the requisite three months at the time they apply.

 

Active ITBE Board members are ineligible to apply.

 

Previous grant recipients may apply again, but no more than one grant per year will be given to the same recipient.  Proposals not awarded the grant may be resubmitted.

 

Grant Awards and Due Dates

Up to two grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded each year. 

 

Proposals for grant applications are due on December 2nd. ITBE will review the applications and notify winning applicants on or before December 20th.

 

Selection Criteria

Grant funds may be used for creative and/or innovative projects that directly involve English language learners inside or outside of the classroom.  Grants may be used to enhance existing classroom practice or to initiate new teaching and learning opportunities for English language learners.  The ITBE Grant Committee will consider these factors when awarding grants:

 

     The degree to which the proposal represents creativity or innovation for accomplishing the teaching or learning objectives.

     The involvement of English language learners in the project activities.

     The degree to which the endeavor, if successful, could serve as a model or pilot that could be replicated by ESL teachers in other contexts.

     The clarity and specificity of the project description as written in the grant proposal.

 

Exclusions

Grant funds cannot be used for the following:

   Travel expenses    

  Substitute teacher compensation

     Professional development activities

     Food and refreshments

 

Grants are not intended to support on-going operations.  Grants are, therefore, non-renewable.

 

Responsibilities of Grant Recipients

     1. Use the grant for the purposes described in the grant application.

     2. Upon completion of the project:

a)    Submit a description of the project’s implementation and anticipated outcomes in a short article to be published in the ITBE newsletter following the conclusion of the project.

b)    Present the project’s implementation and anticipated outcomes at the next ITBE annual convention following the conclusion of the project.  Note: Grantees will receive a Professional Development Scholarship to cover the cost of the registration for the convention and the hotel room.  In case of a group winner, up to two grantees per group will receive such scholarship.

c)    No later than a month after the implementation of the project, send a description of the project and contact information for the ITBE website so that interested people could get more information from the teacher and students

d)    At the conclusion of the project, submit a record of actual expenditures to the ITBE Board (no later than by the end of ITBE's fiscal year--June 30).

 

Guidelines for Completing the Application

 

Project Summary:

Summarize the project in 2-3 sentences.

 

Statement of Purpose:

     Describe the need for the endeavor (project, program, or approach).

     Tell what you hope to achieve (what will be different or better if the endeavor is successful).

 

Rationale:

Describe what is creative and/or innovative about the endeavor.

Explain how the endeavor will enhance existing classroom practice or serve to initiate new teaching and learning opportunities for English language learners. 

 

Objectives:

     Describe the objectives of the endeavor.

 

Implementation Plan:

     Describe the steps to be taken to implement the endeavor.

     Relate the implementation to the purpose and objectives.

     Describe the involvement of English language learners in the endeavor’s activities.

     Briefly outline the timeframe from beginning to completion.

 

Evaluation:

Describe how you will measure the success of the endeavor.

Describe the ways in which you anticipate the endeavor, if successful, could serve as a model or pilot program that could be replicated by ESL teachers in other contexts.

 

 

Budget:
Itemize the anticipated budget needs:
Personnel – salary, guest speaker fees
Equipment – what is it, number, type
Materials – what is it, number, type
Other - fees, etc.

 

For questions, please email: teacherinnovation@itbe.org