GRANTS PROGRAM - GENERAL INFORMATION

The Ashland Education Foundation, Inc. (AEFI) is a tax-exempt, non-profit community-based organization that is independent of the Ashland Public Schools.  AEFI’s grants program provides funding for innovative and challenging programs for the students and educators in the Ashland Public Schools.

 I.      Grant Policies

1.      Grants are awarded twice a year in the spring and the fall.

2.      Grants are to focus on innovation.

3.      AEFI will support individual and major grants.

4.      AEFI will support grants that demonstrate a potential for lasting benefit.

5.      AEFI will provide feedback to grant applicants through the grant review process.

II.      Grant Categories

INDIVIDUAL GRANTS

     Maximum:     $1000 to an individual

                         $1500 to a collaborative effort of two or more applicants

MAJOR GRANTS

     Must impact a significant number of students

     Must be collaborative and reuseable (without further funding from AEFI)

     Maximum: $2,000

III.      Proposals

Proposals are encouraged which demonstrate innovation, are collaborative, reusable, and have a potentially broad impact upon the school.  Equal consideration is given to proposals that are designed for an individual classroom or program.  All proposals must promote rigor, provide challenge for all students and enrich students’ educational experiences.

Please Note

No funding will be given for projects that require teachers to be away from their classrooms and necessitate a substitute teacher.

IV.      Application Review

After initial screening, the AEFI Grant Review Committee may contact applicants for further information before making final recommendations to the AEFI Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors is comprised of a cross-section of business leaders, parents, community volunteers and educators, and provides final approval of the grant awards.

V.      Grant Making Schedule

VI.      Understanding

By accepting funds, recipients agree to:

1. Engage in the AEFI evaluation process
   
2. Seek approval from the AEFI for changes in the implementation or focus of the project
   
3. Provide photos, testimonials and materials to the AEFI to promote the project and the Foundation
   
4. Publicize the project directly to parents and teachers by means of the school newsletter, etc.  When issuing statements and/or press releases describing the project, the following information must be included: "This project is supported by a grant from the Ashland Education Foundation, Inc.”

VII.      Definitions

Collaboration: working together in a joint effort.  This can be among and/or between schools, departments, classes or disciplines.  Any combination of parents, students, faculty, administration and community groups may collaborate.  However, a least one representative from the Ashland Public Schools faculty must be involved in every collaborative proposal.  For example:

• Two or more classroom teachers
  
• Classroom teacher(s) and School Organization (i.e. School Committee, Site Council)
  
• Classroom teacher(s) and parents
  
• Classroom teacher(s) and students
  
• Classroom teacher(s) and a community organization

Broad Impact: proposals that will impact a significant number of students/teachers over an extended period of time.  Proposals are encouraged which support collegial, cross-school and cross-grade projects.

Contact aef-ma@comcast.net