First Amendment Schools grant

Posted by on March 18, 2005

Call for First Amendment Center Project School applications. Deadline April 29, 2005.

This week, we are proud to announce that the First Amendment Schools (FAS) project is looking for its third class of Project Schools.

<a href="http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/involve/projectprofiles.aspx">http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/involve/projectprofiles.aspx</a>

1. Who Will Be The Next Project Schools?

As many of you recall, FAS selected its inaugural class of Project Schools in May 2002. These schools, representing a wide range of educational profiles, pledged to spend the next three years integrating First Amendment rights and civic responsibilities into the daily lives of their schools. Last fall, FAS selected five new Project Schools, bringing the Project School program to full capacity with fifteen grants operating around the country simultaneously.

Now, as we prepare to ‘graduate’ our first class of schools, we are thrilled to announce our latest call for Project School applications.

<a href="http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/pdf_files/PSgrant_application.PDF">http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/pdf_files/PSgrant_application.PDF</a>

This round will be somewhat different from before. For a variety of reasons, including our analysis of the current schools’ spending habits, this round of schools will receive $10,000 for the 2005-2006 school year. Those grants will be subject to review and renewal in August 2006 and 2007, pending available funds and each school’s progress toward its goals.

As you review the application, which is also available on our Web site (<a href="http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/">http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/</a>), you’ll see that one of the requirements we ask of any potential Project School is to discuss the application with as many different members of the school community as possible. We make this request based on the belief that a First
Amendment School will not be successful unless it can depend on the effort and determination of teachers, administrators, students, parents, school custodians, and other community members. That’s why we aren’t closing the application process until April 29, since those conversations will take time. Perhaps you can be the catalyst for those conversations in your community.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or comments. And thank you all for your continued interest and enthusiasm in working to produce thoughtful, civic-minded and active citizens.

First Amendment Center
<a href="http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/">http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/</a>
1101 Wilson Boulevard | Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: 703.284.2808 | Fax: 703.284.2879