2017-2018 School Matching Grant Program

$15,000 in matching funds available to Polk County Public & Charter schools to increase graduation rates, promote career/technical education, help low performing students, STEM education, improve teaching quality and/or promote literacy This matching grant program is made possible through the Florida Legislature and the Consortium of Florida Education foundations (CFEF). DEADLINE: November 15, 2017 Round 2 Deadline: December 20, 2017

Please note: Schools can apply for an additional $3,000 in Round 2 This grant is designed to be used as an incentive for members of your community to make new donations to your school and have their money matched, dollar for dollar up to $3,000. These grant funds cannot be used as a match for an annual reoccurring gift, fundraiser revenue, PTA funds or any dollars solicited before October 6, 2017. Verification of adherence to these conditions must be authorized by the principal’s signature below.

OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS RECEIVED **Please fill out & sign as required by the State of Florida Legislature

School:

As the authorized agent of the above name school, I (principal) , certify and assure that the sum of $ in private funds will be accepted as a match for the School Matching Grant Program. These funds are not part of an annual gift, fundraiser revenue, or PTA funds, nor were they solicited before October 6, 2017. The matching funds were used as set forth by the Polk Education Foundation, as an incentive for my school to offer local community members the opportunity to donate to our school on the condition they will receive a dollar for dollar match, if this grant is approved. I understand that the funds should not be sent to the Polk Education Foundation until my grant is approved, and at that time, a check(s), made payable to the Polk Education Foundation, must be submitted for the match. (If a donor makes the check payable to the school, the school will have to contact the donor to rewrite the check.) This statement will be attached to my grant application and may be forwarded to the Commissioner of Education or any State Legislator by the Polk Education Foundation or the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations for audit at any time upon request.

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______Principal’s Signature/Date

Criteria for applying:  Any Polk County public or charter elementary, middle or high school who secures an equal amount of matching funds after the date of this application’s distribution can apply. Multiple applications may be submitted per school, but total funds requested should not exceed the school limit of $3000.  Funds from this grant must be used to increase the graduation rates, promote career/technical education, help low performing students, STEM education, improve teaching quality and/or promote literacy. The projects administered with these funds must support Florida’s adoption of Florida Standards and align with your School Improvement Plan. The funds cannot be expended for the construction of facilities or for the support of interscholastic athletics. For acceptable areas of expenditures, please see the budget page of this application.  Applicants must agree to spend all funds and start using the new materials or services supplied by this grant as soon as possible.  Financial documentation (budget and receipts) must be submitted by February 1, 2018 along with any unused funds. No exceptions can be made due to our state funding source.  Final reports must be submitted by April 13, 2018. Details:  Schools must secure the promise of funds to match their request to the Foundation. All monies raised by a school must be obtained from the private sector and not from state or federal tax sources. Because this grant is designed as an incentive to help schools obtain community donations, no PTA/PTSO-generated funds (fundraisers included) or annual reoccurring gifts can be used as match. This is done to help your school solicit new donors by offering a 100% match to them.  A school may apply for up to a $3,000 match. Please “sell” your program effectively as this is a competitive grant. A space is provided for you to indicate if you would accept partial funding.  We encourage you to solicit donations using the match as a benefit, but do not accept or receive funds from a donor who expects a match until your application is approved. When your school is notified of grant approval, you will be required to have your private donor send the match amount in a check made payable to the Polk Education Foundation. One final check will be sent back to your school (donation amount + match amount) and must be handled per PCSB policies for purchases and expenditures.  ALL funds must be secured after the distribution of this application. This means that any funds you have already received during this school year DO NOT count towards this program.  Purchase technology in accordance with PCSB (or charter) technology guidelines. AND inventory and barcode all technology purchased with grant funds. A description of the technology and barcode identification will be required as part of the final report. (This will be audited.) Kits/sets/technology must be barcoded and inventoried at the school site. Failure to comply could result in returning a portion of or all of the grant funds.

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Due to limited courier service:  By 5 pm on November 15, 2017 – a copy of the application (WORD doc) AND a scanned copy (PDF) of the signed completed application via email as attachments to [email protected] AND  By November 29, 2017 – signed original application through the courier to Shannan Combee – Polk Education Foundation – Route E.

Once you are notified of application approval, your matching funds check/s will be required. Please make sure checks are MADE PAYABLE TO THE POLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION and also marked in the memo with your school’s name so you receive credit. A thank you note addressed “Dear Donor” for us to share with our sponsors will be due at the same time we receive your match check(s). General Information:

School Name Principal’s Name Phone Number School Route

Program Contact Name Contact E-mail

Total students enrolled at your school

Number of low performing students*? (Choose one or more content areas that apply) *low-performing is defined as scoring below a L3 on statewide assessments OR for whom persistent achievement gaps exist. **Source of data refers to the data used to determine low-performing students Content area: Science Source of data**: (FCAT, FAIR, Discovery, etc.)

Content area: Math Source of data**: (FCAT, FAIR, Discovery, etc.)

Content area: Reading Source of data**: (FCAT, FAIR, Discovery, etc.)

Content area: Other Source of data**: (FCAT, FAIR, Discovery, etc.)

Projected number of students impacted by this program? Projected number of students from whom you will collect data? Grade levels targeted How many teachers will participate?

2016-2017 School Grade If no school grade is available, please explain.

Funds will be used for: (This is the area(s) you will report on) Literacy Increasing Graduation Rates Career/Technical Low Performing Students STEM Education (Science – Technology – Engineering – Math) Teaching Quality

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Please name the donor(s) of your matching funds (you can have more than one donor contributing to the match) **Remember- No checks will be accepted from a PTA/PTSO; no funds already received can be used (required)

Please identify the match amount applying for: (Amount not to exceed $3,000)

YES “Our school would accept partial funding and continue with this service on NO a smaller scale and budget.”

Narrative Portion: Fill in all text boxes for the following questions. If more than one program will benefit, please complete a separate application/budget for each program.

Program Description: Write a detailed description (3-5 paragraphs) of how you will use the funds allotted to increase graduation rates, promote career/technical education, STEM education, improve teaching quality, increase the academic achievement of low performing students and/or promote literacy. You must be able to effectively evaluate and report the success of your program as it relates to one or more of these focus areas.

Describe how this proposal aligns with your School Improvement Plan:

List Florida Standards you are addressing with this project? (Include both the standard and the narrative description)

Need: Describe the need and include how the need for this program was identified.

Evaluation: Describe how you will evaluate the program and be able to provide quantitative and qualitative data in a final report. Schools must use a teacher generated pre/posttest or pre/post survey based on their focus area. Schools may still collect additional data to document success. A copy of the pre/posttest or survey along with data collected will be required as part of the final report. Please check dates for on-going progress monitoring if you plan to use that data in your final report as final reports are due by April 13tht. If your ongoing progress monitoring is after that date, please plan on using an alternative method of showing growth. ***Use the evaluation guidelines at the end of this document as a reference.

Timeline: Provide an estimated timeline for program implementation not to exceed April 13, 2018.

Project Abstract: (60 words or less) Write a brief description of your project including some of the items you plan to purchase and how the related activities will impact your students.

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**NEW** If awarded, how will Polk Education Foundation and Consortium of Florida Education Foundations be recognized? (Newsletter, Website, Marque, Social Media, etc.)

Project Budget: Write a detailed budget (up to $3,000) for expenditures including the cost of the materials and their suppliers’ and/or name of company hosting workshop and all costs associated with professional development. All related professional development and/or materials purchases must align with your project proposal.

Guidelines:  Tablets, software, hardware (such as digital probes, thermometers, sensors, etc.) ****Please note: As a competitive grant, there must be a strong link between technology and increased students achievement.  If the budget for this project exceeds your allotted amount, please explain (under other comments) where the additional funds will come from.  No more than 10% of your total budget should be spent on incentives/food.  Off-site field trips are not permitted with this grant.

Choose one of the following Category of Expenditure for each item of group of items from the drop down box. Category of Item Supplier/Vendor Quantity Price per Total Expenditure Description item Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one 5 2017-2018 School Matching Grant Program

Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Choose one Total

Other Comments: If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] .

Signature Page: If funded, our school agrees to: (Click on box to check)

Use the School Matching Funds Grant for the purposes required by this grant and as described in the Program Description. Approval for any changes from the submitted proposal must be requested of the Polk Education Foundation BEFORE changes are made. Send thank you notes: o Consortium of Florida Education Foundations attention Mary Chance, Executive Director o Polk Education Foundation attention Susan Copeland, Executive Director o Florida Legislators for Polk (Specifics will be provided after checks go out) Send through the courier to Polk Education Foundation – Attention Shannan Combee – Route E by February 1, 2017. (We will send them to donors as a package) Submit financial documentation for each program awarded (including final budget form, receipts, purchase orders, etc.) and a copy of the pre/post assessment by February 1, 2018. Professional Development portions will be handled on an individual basis. Professional Development activities must be completed by March 1, 2018. Submit a minimum of two pictures representing your program on or before April 13, 2018. **Include in the body of the email a statement verifying that all students pictured are allowed to be photographed and published. Purchase technology in accordance with PCSB (or charter) technology guidelines. AND inventory and barcode all technology purchased with grant funds. A description of the technology and barcode identification will be required as part of the final report. (This will be audited.) Kits/sets/technology must be barcoded and inventoried at the school site. Failure to 6 2017-2018 School Matching Grant Program

comply could result in returning a portion of or all of the grant funds. If required, submit an electronic mid-year report in January, 2018. Submit a Final Report and any related publicity for each program by April 13, 2018. If deadlines are not met, your school could be required to return the full funding amount and forfeit participation in future grant opportunities offered through PEF.

Principal’s Name: Date:

Principal’s Signature: ______

Contact’s Name: Date:

Contact’s Signature: ______

****Evaluation guidelines on the following pages. PLEASE keep a copy of this app for your records.

This is a resource for you to identify how you will report. You do not need to mark anything on this page. Evaluation Guidelines (Please include AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for your grant focus area in the Evaluation section of the grant application. This is IN ADDITION to FSA/FCAT data to be collected during the summer) ***Examples are in red

CAREER/TECHNICAL EDUCATION: (Please indicate AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for this priority area.)  Report on improvements in student knowledge, behavior and attitudes toward career and technical education and/or number of students completing program (or progress on completing) certification courses. o Number of project participants who completed and passed career/technical education certification (How: Identify number of students participating and number of students receiving certification. Specify type of certifications received.) o Number of project participants who made progress toward completing career/technical education certification (How: Identify number of students participating and number of students showing progress toward certification. Specify type of certifications received.)

INCREASING GRADUATION RATES: (Please indicate AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for this priority area)  Report on improvements in student graduation rates and/or attitudes toward graduating. o Number of project participants who graduated from high school (How: Identify number of students participating and number of students graduating. Specify time period if applicable.) o Number of project participants who made progress toward graduating high school (How: Identify number of students participating and number of students showing progress toward graduation. Specify time period if applicable.) (Consider improved attendance, behavior and/or course credit attainment as progress towards graduation.) 7 2017-2018 School Matching Grant Program

LITERACY: (Please indicate AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for this priority area.)  Report on improvements in and/or attitudes toward reading/writing skills. o Number of project participants who improved in a standardized reading skills test(s) (How: Using comparative data from acceptable assessments: pre/posttest, on-going progress monitoring assessments (FAIR) or other approved standardized school-wide assessment.) o Number of project participants who improved in a standardized writing skills test(s) (How: Use comparative data from acceptable assessments: pre/posttest, on-going progress monitoring assessments for writing or other approved standardized school-wide assessment.) o Number of student participants who show increased participation in reading, as measured by check-out or purchase of reading material, e.g., library, book fair, Accelerated Reader, or other program. (How: Use check out data to show increased participation in reading.)

LOW-PERFORMING STUDENTS (Please indicate AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for this priority area.

 Report on improvements in and/or attitudes around student knowledge. o Number of project participants who improved their grade in specific subject area (specify subject area) (How: Use comparative data from targeted content area to show an improved grade – for example, compare the final grade from the first nine weeks to the third nine weeks.) o Number of project participants who improved their overall grade(s) in school (How: Use comparative data to show an improved GPA – for example, compare the GPA from the first nine weeks to the third nine weeks.) o Number of student participants who show improved attendance or reduced behavior incidents at school. (How: Use attendance data or behavior date to show improved attendance or reduced behavios.)

STEM EDUCATION (Please indicate AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for this priority area.)  Report on improvements in student knowledge, behaviors and attitudes toward STEM education and career fields. o Number of project participants who show increased interest in pursuing STEM career (How: Use a teacher generated pre/post survey to document an increased interest in pursuing a STEM career.) o Number of project participants who improved their grade in STEM subject area (specify subject area) (How: Use comparative data from program related STEM content area to show an improved grade – for example, compare the final grade from the first nine weeks to the third nine weeks.)

TEACHING QUALITY (Please indicate AT LEAST ONE of the outcomes below that you plan to measure for this priority area.)  Report on improvements in teacher knowledge, behavior and attitudes towards teaching. o Number of project participants who show improved attitude toward teaching as demonstrated by pre-and post project survey (How: District/school created surveys will be used to document improved attitude toward teaching.)

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