Flint Classroom Support Fund

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Flint Classroom Support Fund

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Frequently Asked Questions

 The Great Idea Grant program offers awards to the professional and support staff of the Flint Community School District. These grants are offered on two levels: Teacher/Support Staff and Principal/School.

This program is designed as a vehicle for teachers to transform ideas into actual learning experiences for their students.


 All professional and support staff members in the Flint Community School District are eligible to apply for a Great Idea Grant. 


 Teacher : Awards amounts up to $1,000 which must benefit at least one classroom of students. Limited to one per individual or team.

School: Awards amounts up to $2,000 which must benefit a grade level of students, multiple classrooms, a department, or the whole school population. Limited to one per school. Although community involvement is viewed favorably, it is not a requirement for funding. 


 Books, supplies, software, or any other items purchased through a grant is the property of the Flint Classroom Support Fund for use by the applicant to implement the grant project. On occasion, grant winners have been reassigned or have left the district, and the use of the grant resources have become an issue. In this case, the applicant, school administrator and the Executive Director of the Flint Classroom Support Fund should discuss the best and most appropriate place to use the resources. However, in all cases, the resources of the project are not the personal property of the applicant(s).


  Teacher grants are reviewed by teams of community volunteers, retired teachers and college professors. Each application is read by three reviewers before the teams meet and prioritize their grants. The team categories are: 

  • Cradle School and Kindergarten
  • Grades 1 - 3
  • Grades 4 - 6
  • Middle School
  • Secondary plus Adult High School

The program committee of the Flint Classroom Support Fund selects the Principal/School grants and reviews the recommendations for the Teacher/Support Staff Grants.

All grants are submitted to the Flint Classroom Support Fund's Board of Trustees for approval at their December meeting.



  1. First and foremost, does the proposal contain a “great idea"? This is the critical issue! Good ideas are noted for their merit—great ideas are funded.
  2. Does the "idea" have a clear purpose? Does it implement a creative project? Does it enrich or motivate students and/or teachers?
  3. Does the proposal create learning interaction between the…
    …students and the project
    …students and teachers
    …students and students
    …students and community
  4. Are purchases integral to the project and not simply add-ons?
  5. Is purchasing equipment the only way or the best way to allow this program to happen? To determine if it is, choose the idea first, and then ask if it can happen without the purchase.
  6. How many students benefit from this proposal?
  7. Will the project be ongoing or a one-time activity? If the proposal has a limited life, does it have a strong impact on the students and teacher(s)?
  8. Is the grant integrated into more than one area of the curriculum?
  9. Are the proposal's goals clear and realistic?
  10. Will this proposal support one or more of the district's long-range plans, or goals?
  11. Does the proposal promote continuous improvement in education?

The primary beneficiaries of the grant must be the students.

Although community involvement is viewed favorably, it is not a requirement for a teacher or school grant project. Community involvement is defined in terms of human services.

 


 

Emphasized active student learning and participation to broaden the educational experience

  • Provided multicultural learning experiences
  • Involved interdisciplinary and/or team-teaching by designing collaborative learning experiences
  • Involved others in the learning process (parents, peers, student mentors, community)
  • Created partnerships with other school or community groups
  • Used non-traditional techniques or community resources
  • Broadened cooperation between the community and the school
  • Developed and fostered students’ pride in themselves, their school and their community
  • Become ongoing activities or become permanently integrated into the curriculum


  • Assemblies
  • Major equipment purchases
  • Programs/projects already funded by the district
  • Continuing support for a previously funded project
  • Food, beverages and/or school store supplies
  • Classroom copies of books

These items might be considered by reviewers if they are integral to the implementation of the entire program. Hypothetical example: The fifth-grade social studies classes are dramatizing historical events for an in-school cable-TV program. A camcorder is requested in this grant. Other grade levels will use this programming as a kick-off for their lessons in social studies and related disciplines. The requested camcorder, which generally would not be considered, is awarded.

 


  •  Salaries*
  • Staff in-service
  • Materials and supplies normally considered to be the responsibility of the school district, i.e., textbooks

*An honorarium may be considered for an outside source but not for an employee of Flint Community Schools.


Yes,  the reviewers read photocopies of the original applications with personal information deleted. Partial funding for grants may be awarded. A teacher, support staff member or principal may refuse a grant if it is felt that partial funding would change the intent of the designed project or if their guidelines cannot be met.

Remember that the proposals are read by community volunteers, retired educators and trustees of the Flint Classroom Support Fund. Avoid acronyms, "buzz words," or educational language that might raise questions or cause confusion.


 There should not be any reference to the applicant, buildings, communities, etc. in the grant narrative or in answers to other application questions that would jeopardize the anonymous review process. 


When a grant is awarded, the educator or support staff member i

s required to sign a contract with the Fund's Executive Director. The contract requires the grant recipient to provide financial accounting (with receipts) of all monies spent. Unused monies are to be returned to the Fund. A final report is also required. Forms provided by the Fund will guide the applicant through this process. The final report and financial accounting are due June 30 of the funding period.



 Funds are usually distributed to grant winners in early January. Teacher/support staff award checks are made payable to the teacher/support staff listed as the applicant and may be deposited into their personal checking account.

School award checks are made payable directly to the school. The principal or designee will then utilize these funds through the school account. School grant funds may be issued to a special “Great Idea Grant” account so that immediate and direct access may be obtained by the designated person.

It is not advisable to co-mingle the individual teacher award with the school account.


 Applicants must notify the building principal of the proposed project.


 Applications for Great Idea Grants are available online.


Completed applications must be received by the Flint Classroom Support Fund (Superintendent's Office) on or before 4:00 p.m., on the Monday BEFORE Thanksgiving. Evaluation reports and financial records must be received by the Classroom Support Fund (Superintendent's office) by 4:00 p.m., June 30. Failure to meet the timeline will result in the grantee returning the total amount of the grant to the Fund. 



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 The Flint classroom support fund is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation

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