Classroom Grants for Teachers (2020-21)

Table of Contents

• Applying for the Grant
• Application Package
• Eligibility
• Award Notifications and Distribution of Funds
• Awardees Changing Districts

Applying for the Grant

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is excited to accept applications for the Public School Classroom Support grant for the 2020-2021 school year for the focal areas of PreK-12 Social Studies and/or Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching.

All proposals should showcase how the requested funds will be utilized to improve student instruction for PreK-12 Social Studies and/or Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching. To apply, submit all grant proposal documents by October 30, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. 

Guidance for Improving Your Application

This year, the OSDE has produced supplemental guidance to guide the development of applications that promote effective Social Studies instruction and support Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching. These documents are not necessary to review for a successful application but are designed to support individuals and teams in further study to strengthen their proposals and the impact of the funds on their classrooms and students.

• General Guidance and Support - An Introduction to the 2020-21 Oklahoma Public School Classroom Support Grant

• Support for Social Studies - How can I help my students explore and reason about social issues?

• Support for Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching - How can I honor and extend the languages and literacies and practices of my students and communities?

Application Package

1. Proposal Summary - All proposals must use this template to provide a high-level overview of your proposal. Applicant and administration signatures are required. (Download DOCX or create Google Doc copy)

2. Proposal Narrative - The proposal narrative must use this template and be under five pages in length. Three guiding questions are provided. (Download DOCX or create Google Doc copy)

3. Budget Narrative - The proposal budget must use this template. All expenses should include associated costs for shipping, etc. Do not include taxes. (Download DOCX or create Google Doc copy)

• SUBMIT GRANT APPLICATION HERE BY OCT 30 at 5:00 PM

If you have any questions, please contact Vickie Hale at Vickie.Hale@sde.ok.gov.

Eligibility

Oklahoma Public School classroom teachers are eligible to apply which includes a certified educator employed under OCAS Job Class Code 210: “Teacher” or Job Class Code 213: “Resource Teacher.”  

The following limitations may impact eligibility for some applicants:

•  A teacher may submit one application per year for an Individual Classroom Support grant, and may also be included in one shared grant application per year, provided that a teacher has not received a grant award.  
• Teachers may not be awarded both an Individual Classroom Support grant and a Multiple Teacher Classroom Support grant in a single year.  
• A teacher who has been one of the recipients of a shared grant may not apply for another shared grant for a period of two (2) years following the year the shared grant was received.   

Award Notification and Distribution of Funds 

The Oklahoma State Department of Education will provide award and non-award notifications via email the week of November 16, 2020. 

Upon notification of the award, districts are allowed to purchase materials, supplies, and/or equipment outlined in the grant proposal and in accordance with the submitted budget. Once purchased, the awarding teacher’s district will be expected to invoice the Oklahoma State Department of Education for reimbursement of expenditures. Further details about this process will be provided to recipients of the grant.

Awardees Changing Districts

If a teacher applying for the individual teacher grant changes districts between the time of application and awarding of funds, administration at the new district will need to provide a signed letter of assurance that they will support the teacher’s grant request.