Kentucky Teacher

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation keeps music alive in schools by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs. Applications are made available by invitation only.

If a school music program meets the criteria below, pre-qualification submissions are being accepted to be considered for the full application process. Because of the large number of schools requesting assistance, a school may be placed on a wait list for several months before review and notification.

• Public, private and charter schools may apply; however, schools must be Title 1 and/or serve a population of at least 65 percent that qualify for the National Lunch Program.
• Schools must have an established instrumental music program (i.e. concert band, marching band, jazz band and/or      orchestra) that takes place during the regular school day and is at least three years old. If your school offers Orff/classroom music only, it is not eligible to apply. Read the full story

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Education grants program supports environmental education projects that enhance the public’s awareness, knowledge and skills to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible actions towards the environment.

EPA will host a webinar/conference call for potential applicants interested in additional information about the application process on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. EDT. For more information, click here.

Those interested may submit questions up to two business days prior to each webinar/call to EEGrants@epa.gov. A consolidated list of the questions will be answered on the calls and/or on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

The deadline for applications for the 2012 EE Regional Model Grants program is Nov. 21. Sign up for e-mail updates.

Macy’s is making the script and score for Yes, Virginia: The Musical free to all schools and will offer a grant program, awarding each of 100 participating schools a $1,000 grant to support productions of the musical. The grants will be awarded to the first 100 qualified schools that complete the application process through Sept. 13.

Visit http://www.yesvirginiamusical.comto submit a grant application and access a script, songs and videos featuring tips from Broadway insiders.

Debuting as an animated special in 2009, Yes, Virginia was inspired by the true story of 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who in 1897 wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper asking if there is a Santa Claus. The Sun’s editor, Francis P. Church responded with a poignantly worded essay on the importance of believing, including the famous lines “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist …”

His response became one of the most famous newspaper editorials of all time and served as the inspiration for Macy’s “Believe” campaign, which supports Make-A-Wish and will celebrate its fifth anniversary this December.

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) has received a $178,000 Landmarks of American History and Culture grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

The funds will be used by KHS to host two weeklong teacher workshops called “Torn Within, Threatened Without: Kentucky and the Border States in Civil War America,” in the summer of 2013.

These workshops will enable teachers to better understand the complexities of the Civil War and what occurred in Kentucky and other border states through the use of primary sources. Participants will gain the experience necessary to use those primary sources, such as documents and Kentucky’s historic sites, in the classroom, creating an artistic, historical and cultural environment. Participants will study and interpret the border states region before, during and after the Civil War, becoming more familiar with the history and culture of the region through interactions with accomplished academics. The workshops also will provide connections between Civil War history and present-day society. Read the full story

The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries announced that 238 school libraries are being awarded $1.1 million in grants for 2012. The schools receive grants of up to $5,000 to expand, update and diversify their library book collections.

Kentucky public schools receiving money from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries include: Fairview High School (Fairview Independent); Henry F. Moss Middle School (Warren County); A.B. Chandler Elementary School (Henderson County); Simons Middle School (Fleming County); Fulton County Elementary/Middle School; Minors Lane Elementary School (Jefferson County); Semple Elementary School (Jefferson County); Rowan County High School; East Calloway Elementary School (Calloway County);

The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend and diversify the book and print collections of America’s school libraries. More information is available at www.laurabushfoundation.org.

The Kentucky Hybrid Diesel/Electric School Buses (Cycle 5) RFA has posted on the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) website. 

The deadline to submit an application is 4 p.m. (EDT), Wednesday, July 11.

KDE has received approximately $12.98 million that will allow school districts to purchase about 213 diesel/electric hybrid school buses. Projects funded through this grant will assist in documenting the effectiveness of this technology for increasing fuel economy without increasing downtime for maintenance.

Kentucky State University’s School of Education has been awarded a grant from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD) to offer high-quality professional development opportunities that focus on the literacy development of students in grades 6-12. More specifically, the grant activities will provide information, resources and instructional strategies related to the teaching and assessment of literacy (Common Core Standards for English/language arts) when working with diverse students.

Grant participants will be expected to:

• complete four to five online course modules
• attend two online webinars
• attend a two-week summer academy (hybrid model consisting online and face-to-face training) in July 2012
• complete an individual literacy project with a diverse student in his/her classroom
• participate in a “fair share” with other CCLD grant participants across the state Read the full story

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has announced that the review process for the 2012 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Education Program RFA is complete. Award listings will be posted to the KDE Competitive Grant Awards site.

KDE appreciates everyone’s participation in the grant process and hope those interested will continue to seek and apply for beneficial grants for districts/schools as they become available.

Awards listed are contingent upon districts/schools meeting all programmatic and budgetary requirements. In addition, awards are contingent upon receipt of final federal award notification.

For information about schools and districts receiving funds, or for budget-related questions, contact Thelma Hawkins at (502) 564-1979. Those wanting score sheets or having questions related to the application process, contact Jason Kendall at (502) 564-2351. All other questions should be addressed to Mary Marshall at (502) 564-3791.

The Kentucky Board of Education has been awarded a $6,000 grant by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) to help the board continue to strengthen and implement policies to foster healthy eating among students and promote school health programs.

The grant will be used during the next two years as the board works with state agencies to create a plan to sustain this work beyond the grant period.

Kentucky was one of four states to receive a grant from NASBE.

“Working with state boards nationwide as they develop policies to help students be healthy and ready to learn is at the core of NASBE’s mission,” said NASBE Executive Director Jim Kohlmoos. “With this grant, we are pleased to support the continuation of the work already taking place in Kentucky.”

In addition to working with NASBE personnel and health and education experts in Kentucky to sustain the health committee created with a prior grant, the state board will continue its work to enhance the state’s process of evaluating schools’ compliance with school health initiatives.

The grants were made possible through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Kentucky Arts Council is offering a new grant to provide transportation funding to help students get from schools to arts events and performances.

The TranspARTation grant is open to any school, public or private, that needs transportation funding to attend activities at the following approved venues:

• Actors Theatre, Louisville
• Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington
• Explorium of Lexington 
• Kentucky Opera, Louisville
• Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, northern Kentucky
• KentuckyLexington Art League
• Lexington Children’s Theatre
• Living Arts and Science Center, Lexington Read the full story