2022-23 Teacher-Directed Classroom Enhancement Grant Guidelines

Purpose:

To fund ongoing curricular projects and materials that supplement existing budgets and curriculum support funds.

Who Can Apply:

Any current Murch (i) grade-level teacher or (ii) resource, special education, or ELL teacher.

What Can Be Funded:

Curriculum materials that will directly enhance the learning for Murch students.

Click here to see a chart providing examples of materials and/or items that can and cannot be funded.

Program Rules and Expectations:

• All materials and equipment purchased remain the property of Murch Elementary School, not the grantee.
• Once purchased by the HSA, maintenance, replacement parts, and upgrades are the responsibility of Murch Elementary School, not the HSA. By approving a grant request, the Principal agrees to provide all necessary future support for the project or material, unless otherwise agreed by the HSA at time of grant.
• Items meeting the applicable criteria will be entered into the HSA purchase inventory and the Principal and grantee will follow the HSA inventory policy.

How Grants Are Awarded:  

An HSA Teacher Grant Committee (“Committee”) will evaluate and award the grants. In evaluating the applications, the Committee will take into consideration:

• Urgency of need (whether critical learning is being compromised or made difficult because of the absence of resources being sought) and limitations of current teaching materials
• Potential to improve learning
• Potential for positively impacting student learning outcomes
• Relevance to Murch school population (economically, culturally, academically)
• Creativity and innovation

For each grant request, the Committee will evaluate each of the categories listed above and assign a score of between 1 through 4 for each category.  The maximum possible points that can be scored is 20.  Requests that score 11 points or higher will be funded, unless otherwise agreed to by the majority of the Committee.  Click here to see an example of the rubric that will be used to evaluate each grant request.

The HSA is not required to award a minimum or maximum number of grants in any given year. If necessary, teachers may be asked to further explain their applications, or may be queried about their willingness to make adjustments to them. The Committee will approve grant requests by a majority vote.  Teachers whose proposals are not funded may re-apply next year.

Composition of 2022-23 Teacher Grant Committee:

Members of the Committee include HSA Co-President, one Vice President, the Principal, Instructional Coach, and up to three Murch parents not currently serving on the HSA Executive Board (appointed by the HSA Presidents in conjunction with the Board Member in charge of the Teacher-Directed Grant Process). The HSA Teacher Representative serves in an advisory (non-voting) role.

How Purchases Are Made:

Applicants should provide detailed ordering information so that the HSA can purchase any approved items. If possible, quotes and orders should be saved online.