Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Grant Guidelines: The Adams Cheshire Educational Partnership

The Adams Cheshire Educational Partnership (ACE) is an endowed fund whose purpose is to enhance and enrich the educational experience of the students and teachers in the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District (ACRSD). ACE wants to ensure the highest level of achievement for the students and enhance their capacity to achieve excellence both in school and in the community.

Eligibility

Grants from the Fund will not replace public dollars for the school district. ACE seeks primarily to help cover the direct costs of projects (not salaries). Priority will be given to proposals that rely on volunteer efforts and that show additional means of support.

Possible projects include, but are not limited to: independent study; new programs; extra-curricular activities; individual creative projects, in or outside the classroom; visiting speakers; artists in residence; professional development for teachers; scientific, athletic, or technical equipment; library resources; class field trips.

Berkshire Taconic does not support organizations which in their constitution, by-laws, or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.

Awards

Grants awarded will generally range from $100 to $1,000 with requests up to $10,000 considered for exceptional projects.

Notification

Applicants will be informed of Berkshire Taconic’s decision within two months of the deadline date.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed using the following criteria:

• Excellence: Is the project or service truly of a high quality? Is it the right time for the project? Does it involve qualified individuals/groups?
• Impact: What is the potential impact of the project or service on the school community? This does not mean the number of people involved, but rather the quality of the impact.
• Ability: Is the project well thought out and feasible?

Priority will be given to eligible applications that are aligned with the school's strategic goals:

Strategic Goal #1

We will establish a yearly improvement trend in our overall student learning and academic achievement.

Objective 1: Establish a consistent standard for student placement in classes and courses, K-12, to maximize student learning.

Objective 2: Utilize and refine a consistent evaluation method for grades K-12 that will accurately measure student progress.

Objective 3: Develop broad-based measurable student expectations for all three school levels which include social, civic, and academic skills as well as other identified achievement.

Objective 4: Continually update textbooks, materials, and equipment and conduct teacher training to improve student learning.

Strategic Goal #2

The community will recognize the value of their public schools through their approval of the proposed school district budgets and support the fundraising efforts of the local education foundation.

Objective 1: Develop a comprehensive public relations program that will highlight the district’s operations and accomplishments to all aspects of the community.

Objective 2: Develop an operational and financial data model that can clearly communicate the financial and educational effectiveness of the district to all stakeholders.

Objective 3: Establish a Classroom-Community Engagement Program that will extend the classroom activities out to the community.

Objective 4: Extend the school community beyond today's students, parents and taxpayers by engaging our alumni and stakeholders.

Strategic Goal #3

On a year-to-year basis each of our schools will recruit, develop and retain an instructional staff that exhibits the skills, motivation and dedication to attain high standards of student success.

Strategic Goal #4

Ninety percent of our students’ parents, in each school, will be actively engaged in their child's education in accordance with identified criteria.

Strategic Goal #5

All teachers will be highly qualified and properly certified, teaching in alignment with state and local standards and participating in a process of review and appropriate revision of instructional practices.

Objective 1: All classroom instruction will be in alignment with state and local standards.

Objective 2: Provide routes to licensure for teachers with varied backgrounds.

Strategic Goal #6

Adams-Cheshire Regional School District facilities will have maintenance and capital needs identified and completed by August 2011.

Objective 1: Establish a system that provides a collaboration of town government and schools in developing on-going plans and financial resources to address maintenance and capital needs

Strategic Goal #7

Ninety percent of our community residents will recognize and acknowledge our school system for excellent communication and understanding of each other’s needs and priorities.

Objective 1: To establish lines of communication between the public and school community

Strategic Goal #8

All support services both internal and external to the district will be known, easily accessed and appropriately utilized in an integrated fashion.

Objective 1: Educate stakeholders in accessing and utilizing support services in district.

Strategic Goal #9

Ninety-five percent of our students and staff will report feeling safe and secure in our schools.

Objective 1: All students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free and conducive to learning.

Applications will be reviewed by the ACE Board comprised of community members, parents, teachers, students, the superintendent and the school community. The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Board of Directors will review committee recommendations.

If you have any questions about The Adams Cheshire Educational Partnership, email us at grants@berkshiretaconic.org.