Dow Classroom Innovation Grants

Posted by Philadelphia Education Fund on September 14, 2015

Dow Classroom Innovation Grants 2015-2016

The Philadelphia Math & Science Coalition through the generosity of The Dow Chemical Company is offering grants of up to $1000 to enhance math or science classroom instruction to certified math and science teachers in grades K-12 in Philadelphia District and charter schools.

Grants will be reviewed and awarded in three categories: K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Preference will be given to applications from teachers who did not receive a grant from the Philadelphia Math + Science Coalition during the 2014-2015school year. Awardees from 2014-2015 may apply, but these applications will be considered only after other applications are reviewed. Only one application will be accepted per teacher or team of teachers from a given school.

Please read all instructions carefully. The principal objective of these grants is to encourage teachers to explore innovative ways to modify your classroom instructional methods. Classroom instruction projects must involve science, math, engineering or technology and be inquiry-based or project-based and must have measureable outcomes. Your project may take place during scheduled class time or during a school-approved after school activity. Priority will be given to projects that can be replicated by other teachers. Projects designed solely to acquire materials for classrooms will not be considered.

Deadline for proposals is 5 PM on October 19, 2015. Grants will be reviewed by a panel of educators, mathematicians and scientists.

Evaluation criteria include:
• Inquiry-based or project-based, student-centered classroom proposal
• Strength of STEM content
• Ability to be replicated by other teachers
• Number of students affected
• Project evaluation that includes measureable outcomes
• Evaluation/assessment plan
• Complete, detailed and realistic budget
• Overall quality of project

Grantees will be required to:
• Document their project using digital photos or video (including parent photo release forms) and welcome site visits by Coalition staff during the project.
• Submit a progress report at the midway point of the project timeline. (New for 2015-2016)
• Expend project funds prior to June 6, 2016
• Submit a final written report on their project prior to June 6, 2016
• Submit receipts for expenses by June 6, 2016
• Participate in a workshop for grantees at which grantees will share their projects and experience

Each grant application must be signed by the school principal. All checks will be drawn to the school in which the project will take place and not to individual teachers unless otherwise approved by the school principal.

Obtain the grant application package from Don McKinney at dmckinney@philaedfund.org.