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Application Deadline: September 1, 2006
To submit your application, go to: http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/projects/47

Overview

This year, grants of $3,000 or $5,000 will be awarded to as many as ten state or regional networks. Grants are available to networks that currently consist of more than one site, but applications do not have to include every site within the state or region. Sites that have been a part of SNAP or that have state funding are also invited to apply. The writing of the grant may be collaborative; however, the funding must be sent to a designated host site.

Possible purposes for the grant include, but are not limited to:

• building capacity to offer professional development that addresses state or regional needs, issues, or educational priorities, which include examining state standards and assessments, transitioning students to college, or closing the achievement and equity gap for English learners
• strengthening the capacity of sites in a state or region to provide professional development
• convening sites within a state or regional network to do collaborative work, including planning documentation projects, sharing inservice or continuity resources and expertise, or developing plans to increase visibility
• providing statewide or regional continuity opportunities for TCs to enhance or construct new knowledge by studying current developments in writing, conducting collaborative teacher research, or examining state professional development priorities in light of current research
• underwriting a state or regional conference designed to further the work or increase the visibility of sites and/or the network
• convening site leaders within states and regions to share resources and expertise for administering, growing, or sustaining a site.

The range of funding possibilities allows a regional or state network of sites to apply for the level of funding that best supports the proposed project for success.

Narrative

Submit a narrative of approximately four pages describing your proposed project. Because the proposal will come from a host site, consider attaching letters of support from the sites that are collaborating on the project.

Proposals should include the following:

• a proposal rationale that includes the purpose of the proposed project, program, or initiative. Identify and describe the state or regional issues, priorities, or needs the proposed work addresses and provide any additional background information that will be helpful for the reviewers.
• a description of the proposed work that includes project goals and activities, as well as the roles and responsibilities necessary for program implementation.
• a description of the collaboration across and among sites in the state or regional network. Provide support letters from the collaborating sites or similar evidence of sites' support for the proposal.
• an explanation of how the proposed project will develop the capacity of the sites and the network to address identified state or regional needs.

Budget

Please include a completed budget request for $3,000 or $5,000 using the State and Regional Networks Minigrants budget template (Excel file). Minigrant budgets and project reporting must meet federal requirements and schedules as specified in overall site awards. Minigrants are funded with federal funds, which must be used for activities that provide professional development opportunities to professional educators.

Explain how you will use the funds. Requests cannot exceed $5,000 as funds are limited. If desired, funds may be budgeted for costs related to minigrant presentations. If any supplementary funding is to be used, explain its source and how it will be spent.

Timeline

In the proposal, provide a timeline of your activities, showing what you plan to do and when activities are scheduled as you move toward completion of the project.

Summary

Compose a one-paragraph description of your project. If your project is funded, the summary may be used in whole or in part on NWP's website or in NWP's newsletter, The Voice.

Obligations of the Grant

Minigrant progress reports are due May 2007 and final reports are due August 2007. Minigrant award letters will specify reporting requirements. Additionally, minigrant recipients are expected to share projects, models, and lessons learned from their work. This sharing will take two forms:

1. a project narrative and budget report, and
2. a presentation at a cross-site event (e.g., the NWP Annual Meeting, other NWP meetings of state and regional networks, or state and regional retreats).

Schedule

• August 2006: Minigrant opportunity announced on the NWP website
• September 1, 2006: Minigrant proposal deadline
• September 2006: Minigrant awards announced
• May 2007: Progress reports due
• August 2007: Final reports due

Supporting Information

Assessment

In addition to reading for how the proposal addresses the guidelines, the review team will assess proposals with a focus on how the proposal as a whole:

• makes a strong case for the proposed project and clearly explains how the work will develop the capacity of the collaborating sites and the network of sites to address the identified state or regional need(s)
• explains how the proposed project builds both on the talents and expertise and also on the needs, questions, or interests of the collaborating sites. If the proposed work is a continuation of a project that has previously been funded by a State or a Regional Networks Minigrant, the proposal explains how the new work expands the project or builds on lessons learned from the previous work
• demonstrates that the collaborating sites have the commitment and resources to carry out the work
• describes the proposed work so that connections among the goals, activities, roles, and responsibilities are clear and coherent
• provides a realistic timeline and a reasonable budget.