Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The Noyce Scholarship Track provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and academic programs for undergraduate STEM majors and post-baccalaureate students holding STEM degrees who earn a teaching credential and commit to teaching in high-need K-12 school districts. The NSF Teaching Fellowship/Master Teaching Fellowship Track provides funding to support STEM professionals who enroll as NSF Teaching Fellows in master's degree programs leading to teacher certification by providing academic courses, professional development, and salary supplements while they are fulfilling a four-year teaching commitment in a high-need school district. This track also supports the development of NSF Master Teaching Fellows by providing professional development and salary supplements for exemplary mathematics and science teachers to become Master Teachers in high-need school districts. Each track supports Capacity Building Projects to develop the capacity for institutions to provide innovative teacher preparation programs to enable increasing numbers of STEM majors and STEM professionals to become effective K-12 mathematics and science teachers and to develop the capacity to prepare Master science and mathematics teachers. 

Link to Full Announcement

NSF Publication 12-525

Expected Number of Awards:	45
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$54,890,000
Award Ceiling:	$3,250,000
Award Floor:	$150,000
CFDA Number(s):	47.076  --  Education and Human Resources

Staples Foundation awards grants for at-risk youth

[from Philanthropy News Digest] The Staples Foundation has announced grants totaling over $2.5 million to more than a hundred nonprofit organizations working to assist at-risk youth nationwide.

This year, the Massachusetts-based foundation awarded grants in support of efforts to provide youth with the skills and resources they need to become responsible and caring citizens. While the funding will support a wide range of programs, 70 percent of the recipients will use it for education and literacy efforts. In addition, more than 20 percent of the grants will support mentoring and life skills initiatives, while roughly 10 percent will support environmental efforts and services for youth with disabilities. More than half the grantees were nominated by Staples associates.

Recipients include the D.C.-based National Environmental Education Foundation; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver; Aid for Africain Chevy Chase, Maryland; Unified Theater in Hartford, Connecticut; theLakeside Educational Network in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania;Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County in Arizona; the Kentucky-based School to Work Council; and Common Wealth Development in Madison, Wisconsin.

“Staples Foundation Awards $2.5 Million in Funding to Non-Profit Organizations Nationwide.” Staples Foundation Press Release 12/27/11.

Math and Science Partnership grants

The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program is a major research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. MSP projects are expected to raise the achievement levels of all students and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the STEM performance of diverse student populations. MSP projects contribute to what is known in K-12 STEM education. All STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields supported by NSF may be involved in this work, with special encouragement to areas that are gaining increased traction at the K-12 level, such as computer science and engineering, in addition to mathematics and science. MSP projects also serve as models that have a sufficiently strong evidence/research base to improve STEM education outcomes for all students. 

Through this solicitation, NSF seeks to support two levels of Targeted Partnership awards, Implementation and Prototype. Implementation awards are intended to develop and put into practice innovative approaches and strategies in education. Prototype awards explore potentially innovative approaches and strategies in education. Both types of Partnerships incorporate significant new innovations to STEM education, linked to a strong educational research agenda, in one of four focal areas: Community Enterprise for STEM Learning; Current Issues Related to STEM Content; Identifying and Cultivating Exceptional Talent; and K-12 STEM Teacher Preparation. In addition, there are three types of Research, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (RETA) project opportunities in this solicitation: research related to sustainability, or policies, or state plans for STEM education; technical assistance for evaluators of MSP projects; and the STEM Education Resource Collaboratory.

Transforming Undergraduate Education Grant

The Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (TUES) program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students. This solicitation especially encourages projects that have the potential to transform undergraduate STEM education, for example, by bringing about widespread adoption of classroom practices that embody understanding of how students learn most effectively. Thus transferability and dissemination are critical aspects for projects developing instructional materials and methods and should be considered throughout the project's lifetime.  More advanced projects should involve efforts to facilitate adaptation at other sites.

The program supports efforts to create, adapt, and disseminate new learning materials and teaching strategies to reflect advances both in STEM disciplines and in what is known about teaching and learning.  It funds projects that develop faculty expertise, implement educational innovations, assess learning and evaluate innovations, prepare K-12 teachers, or conduct research on STEM teaching and learning. It also supports projects that further the work of the program itself, for example, synthesis and dissemination of findings across the program. The program supports projects representing different stages of development, ranging from small, exploratory investigations to large, comprehensive projects.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

This program provides educational opportunities for  Undergraduate Students . This program provides indirect funding for undergraduate students or focuses on educational developments for this group such as curriculum development, training, or retention. To inquire about possible funding opportunities not directly from NSF, please look at the active awards for this program.

Full Proposal Deadline Date:  May 29, 2012

Scholarship program for youth volunteers

The Kohl’s Kids Who Care® Scholarship Program recognizes and rewards young volunteers (ages 6-18) whose efforts have made a positive impact on their communities. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Kohl’s Kids Who Care Scholarship Program. This year, Kohl’s plans to recognize an additional 2,100 kids with prizes ranging from $50 Kohl’s Gift Cards to $1,000 or $10,000 scholarships.

Deadline: Mar. 15, 2012 (Nominations accepted).

The official announcement and description of this opportunity may be found on the funding agency's website:
http://www.kohlscorporation.com/CommunityRelations/scholarship/index.asp

Next Generation Learning Challenge Grants

Prior to applying, all applicants are strongly encouraged to read and review the Wave III Requests for Proposals:

Wave IIIa: Breakthrough School Models for College Readiness 
Our priority: Personalized, mastery-based, blended learning models
Our vision for Wave IIIa is to identify and scale fundamentally redesigned, whole school models that combine the best aspects of brick and mortar and online learning and result in more personalized, mastery based learning. Click here to read the Request for Proposals and access detailed application instructions.
 

Wave IIIb: Breakthrough Models for College Completion 
Our priority: Innovative delivery models that generate high student outcomes at affordable cost
Our vision for Wave IIIb is to spotlight innovative delivery models that generate high student outcomes at an affordable cost. Grants will stimulate the development of new, next generation online and blended programs that lead to associates or bachelor’s degrees. Click here to read theRequest for Proposals access detailed application instructions.

All applicants are also strongly encouraged to download and read the NGLC Intellectual Property Policy and Conflict of Interest Policyprior to applying.

Application Process

The Wave III selection process involves two steps: an initial application and a longer, more detailed full proposal from selected applicants. Initial applications will be accepted on a rolling basis untilJune 8, 2012.

Submission date	Second phase notifications	Winners Notified	Models should open in:
November 11, 2011	November 23, 2011	February 8, 2012	Fall 2012
February 9, 2012	March 9, 2012	May 31, 2012	Fall 2012 or Fall 2013
June 8, 2012	July 8, 2012	September 30, 2012	Fall 2013

Google.org supports STEM, technology initiatives

[From Philanthropy News Digest] Google.org, the charitable arm of Web search company Google, has announced $40 million in grants in support of education, technology, and the fight against modern-day slavery.

With this latest round of grants, the tech giant has awarded grants totaling more than $115 million in 2011 to nonprofit organizations and academic institutions around the world. In the area of science, technology, engineering, and math education (STEM), Google.org awarded a total of $14.7 million, including $3.25 million to Boston-based Citizen Schoolsand £25,000 (approximately $39,000) to Generating Genius in England to help expand the horizons of underprivileged youth and provide STEM education for more than three million students. 

Through its Empowerment Through Technology program, the company awarded fifteen grants totaling $9.8 million to organizations using the Web, open-source programming, and other technologies to connect communities and improve access to information. Recipients include Vittana, Code for America, and Switchboard. 

For more information on the grantees, visit Google Gives Back on the Google.com Web site.

ExpandEd Schools Initiative

[from Philanthropy News Digest] The After-School Corporation (TASC) has announced grants totaling $11.5 million, including $8.5 million from the Open Society Foundationsand the Wallace Foundation, to help expand its ExpandED Schools initiative. TASC also committed $3 million to the effort in anticipation that private investment will leverage a $30 million public-private national demonstration of expanded learning time over the next three years.

The initiative aims to reinvent public schools by forging partnerships between schools and community organizations focused on expanding students' learning time and options. The learning day in ExpandED Schools facilities is about three hours longer than in typical schools, giving students more time for quality instruction, adult mentoring, and the chance to explore learning opportunities. The ExpandED Schools model seeks to close opportunity and educational achievement gaps in schools in disadvantaged communities.

To that end, Wallace awarded a three-year, $5 million grant to help TASC create additional ExpandED Schools and evaluate their impact on student learning, while OSF committed $3.5 million. In addition, Rona and Randolph Nelson and the Charles Stewart Mott, New York Life, andRobert Sterling Clark foundations have provided support for the expansion.

“New Approach to Expanding the School Day Launches Nationally, Provides Students With Full Range of Learning Opportunities.” The After-School Corporation Press Release 12/15/11.

NSF Math Science Partnerships

The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program is a major research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. MSP projects are expected to raise the achievement levels of all students and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the STEM performance of diverse student populations. MSP projects contribute to what is known in K-12 STEM education. All STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields supported by NSF may be involved in this work, with special encouragement to areas that are gaining increased traction at the K-12 level, such as computer science and engineering, in addition to mathematics and science. MSP projects also serve as models that have a sufficiently strong evidence/research base to improve STEM education outcomes for all students. Through this solicitation, NSF seeks to support two levels of Targeted Partnership awards, Implementation and Prototype. Implementation awards are intended to develop and put into practice innovative approaches and strategies in education. Prototype awards explore potentially innovative approaches and strategies in education. Both types of Partnerships incorporate significant new innovations to STEM education, linked to a strong educational research agenda, in one of four focal areas: Community Enterprise for STEM Learning; Current Issues Related to STEM Content; Identifying and Cultivating Exceptional Talent; and K-12 STEM Teacher Preparation. In addition, there are three types of Research, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (RETA) project opportunities in this solicitation: research related to sustainability, or policies, or state plans for STEM education; technical assistance for evaluators of MSP projects; and the STEM Education Resource Collaboratory. 

Link to Full Announcement

NSF Publication 12-518

DEADLINE: March 5, 2012

Expected Number of Awards:	22
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$55,000,000
Award Ceiling:	$8,000,000
Award Floor:	$1,200,000
CFDA Number(s):	47.076  --  Education and Human Resources

Gates Foundation College Readiness Compacts

[from Philanthropy News Digest] The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced $40 million in funding for cities that have signed Charter-District Collaboration Compacts.


The funding, which includes both grants and program-related investments, will be awarded to cities where district and charter school leaders have pledged to share best practices, innovations, and resources, with the goal of scaling up existing programs designed to prepare students for college and career success.

Launched last December, the compacts program aims to encourage district and charter partners to work together in a range of areas, including teacher effectiveness, college-ready tools and programs, innovative instructional delivery systems and models, and improved use of student-level data. As a condition of the funding, cities also commit to replicating high-performing traditional and public charter school models and to improving or closing schools that are not serving students well.

To date, fourteen cities — Chicago, Illinois; Spring Branch, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Central Falls, Rhode Island; Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Los Angeles, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York City; Rochester, New York; and Sacramento, California — have signed compact agreements. Additional cities will be announced in the coming weeks.

"These communities are setting examples for mayors, districts, and charter school leaders across the country to work collaboratively, learn from each another, and build upon successful practices," said Vicki L. Phillips, director of education for the College Ready program at the Gates Foundation.

“Gates Foundation Announces Significant Investments Available for Cities Supporting Collaboration, Bold Reform and High-Performing Schools.” Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Press Release 12/06/11.