Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate or referral links. It is a way for this site to earn advertising fees by advertising or linking to certain products and/or services.
Today’s post is brought to you by Devin! He’s sharing tips on grant ideas for teachers and resources to help you serve your students better!
—
Teaching grants fund professional development, classroom activities, school supplies and almost anything imaginable that enriches the quality of education. From STEAM project-based learning grants to funding for continuing education, teachers have a lot of grant application and scholarship options available today.
Funds come from a variety of sources, including the federal government and private companies, and there are thousands of education grants for teachers to take advantage of.
Some of the best teachers are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their instruction and engage their students. Here are a few resources and ideas for grants and scholarships, plus why continuing education is important, and how to secure scholarships and grants.
Why Continuing Education Is Important
Teachers are some of the most dedicated and hardworking professionals we know. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we sometimes let our goals of learning new things take a backseat.
Everyone gets busy in their current jobs, but sometimes we need to further our knowledge base to stay current with trends, expand skill sets and learn new technology. Continuing education is a requirement in the teaching profession so we don’t fall behind.
Whether you’re experiencing a roadblock in your career, wanting to complete an advanced degree online because of the flexibility it offers, or simply wanting to boost your resume, there are many ways to pursue continuing education no matter how busy you may get. Don’t be afraid to go back to the classroom, learn new skills, or even pursue a new hobby.
TEACH Grants
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program gives teachers up to $4,000 a year for four years to pursue an undergraduate or master’s degree. The teacher agrees to teach a high-need subject in an elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. It’s a way to help a teacher pay for college.
Getting a graduate degree on a teacher’s salary is no easy feat, but there are ways to manage it. If you’re continuing your education, don’t forget to that you’re entitled to a tax break for work-related education expenses, such as on books, transportation and travel costs, expenses related to research, and lab fees.
How to Get Other Scholarships or Grants
Apply! There are tons of resources out there to find funding, some of which offer free subscriptions. Here are a few:
GetEdFunding is a grant-finding resource that “hosts thousands of education, classroom and teacher grants; awards for outstanding teachers and educators; and funding opportunities from federal, state, regional, and community sources” for public and private schools in pre-K-12.
TeacherPlanet has a section of their website Grants 4 Teachers to search for grants without a subscription. It’s a comprehensive database that covers federal, state, foundation and corporate grants.
The NEA Foundation, a public charity for educators to improve public education for all students, has some resources to help guide you in writing a grant proposal.
Here’s a sampling of available grants for professional development:
NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
Amount: $2,000 to $5,000
Description: “This grant supports the professional development of public school teachers and faculty in public institutions of higher education. Grants may fund professional development experiences, such as summer institutes or action research, mentoring experiences or lesson study. Professional development must improve practice, curriculum and student achievement, and recipients must put professional leadership into practice by sharing what they learn with their colleagues. Grants cannot be used to fund a degree. For specific information, visit the NEA Foundation’s application instructions page.”
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program
Amount: $6,000 monthly stipend, $1,000 monthly living expenses
Description: “This grant provides professional development opportunity for K-12 teachers who have at least five years of experience teaching in STEM subjects. STEM educators participate in 10- or 11-month positions in federal agencies or U.S. congressional offices across the country, during which time they are given the chance to have a direct impact on education programming, policy and reform efforts. After the program, teachers return to the classroom with a deeper understanding of STEM education and experience that will enrich instruction and benefit students. You can learn more about the fellowship application on the Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellowship Program website.”
Community Action Grants (American Association of University Women)
Empowering women and girls in communities is the main objective of these grants. According to the AAUW website, the Community Action Grants are awarded to women and local nonprofits for “innovative programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls.”
Preference is given to projects whose focus is on STEM in K-12 and community college. There are one- and two-year grants available. Applications are accepted from Aug. 1-Jan. 15.
TheGrantHelpers.com says about 20 percent of careers require proficiency in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Add in the A for “arts,” and you get STEAM, which is also making its way into mainstream education.
STEAM Grants
The Krystal Foundation is a nonprofit that offers grants called Squaring is Caring, which is a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) grant program available to teachers, principals, school faculty, PTA groups and K-12 school-affiliated organizations. Krystal is famous for its square-shaped hamburgers, but they also support schools and have doled out $53,000 since creating the Squaring is Caring grants a few years ago.
Another company with a STEAM grant program is Samsung. Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Challenge is geared toward students in grades 6-12 to show how STEAM can be applied to help improve their local communities.
You’ll need to pay attention to the application deadlines for each grant as they vary throughout the year. Applying for grants during the school year may be tougher to manage than doing so throughout the summer months. The time and energy it takes to secure funding for your education while providing innovative programs for your students is always worth it.
—
Devin writes from his garage in Daly City, CA. He stops occasionally to fix his Wi-Fi connection and coach rugby. Follow this pretty cool dude on Twitter.
Leave a Reply