Small Grants

The Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation, Inc. funds new creative, and innovative projects not funded in the regular MCPS budget through the Small Grants Program. One example, a few years ago an opera was founded at Farmland Elementary School. Students developed the music, sets, and performed the opera. This was so successful that the students were invited to perform on the TV program Night Line. Other schools have copied this innovative idea as part of their curriculum. Grants are awarded only to MCPS school programs.

See what projects have been funded in the past.

How To Apply for a Small Grant

Typed applications must have the approval of the applicant’s principal, director, or supervisor. A proposed budget showing how grant funds will be spent also must be included in the application. Only typed applications received with approval signature and budget information will be considered. Please refer to attached guidelines.

Download Application

Who can apply?

The Small Grant is only awarded to MCPS schools and staff.

How do I apply?

An application form must be completed and signed by the school principal. Grant applications and guidelines are sent to schools and will be available on this web site. The application and guidelines provide clear instructions about the process and the due dates of the completed applications.

When can I apply?

An announcement is placed in The Bulletin about the availability of grants at the beginning of the school year.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline for FY 2012 Small Grants is September 26, 2011.
Awards to be made by October 27, 2011.

Send completed applications via Pony mail to:

MCPS Educational Foundation
c/o the Office of the Chief Operating Officer
Room 149
CESC

Fax to: 301-279-3428.

SMALL GRANT GUIDELINES

TYPED and approved applications will be judged using the following guidelines:

I. Programs should reflect specific areas of need and should include one or more of the following:

Parent involvement
Encouragement of student participation in science/math
Interdisciplinary instruction
At-risk students
Support for the arts
Technological support
Multicultural education

II. Programs should have broad system application or group involvement

III. Programs should be supportive of MCPS priorities and the MCPS strategic plan, Our Call To Action: Pursuit of Escellence

IV. Programs should be innovative

V. Programs with an immediate, identifiable need will receive funding preference

VI. Types of programs considered:

Supplements to existing school programs related to above areas
Support for students to participate in academic or arts competitions beyond MCPS

VII. The following restrictions apply:

No grants are awarded for salaries
Grant funds will not be approved for transportation requests unless this is part of a larger project
Grant funds may not be used for child care
Grant funds may not be used for snacks and/or refreshments
Grant funds may not be used for camcorders, digital cameras, personal computers, or related equipment

Requests for more than $1,000 will be rejected unless accompanied by details about how the balance will be funded.

MCPS is purchasing microcomputers and software for instruction so grants usually will not be funded to make such additional purchases. However, one of the major purposes of the program is to encourage innovation and experimentation by individual schools so the ban on the purchase of software with these funds is not absolute. Be creative!

Several schools can join together to submit a grant proposal; however, the total request for funding such a joint proposal should be no greater than $1,000.

VIII. End-of-Year Reports

If a grant is awarded, a final report will be due at the completion of the activity or not later than June 29 of the grant year. Specific use of funds must be identified. Balance of funds not expended must be returned to the Foundation unless excess funds will be used to continue the project in the new year (an accounting of these funds will be required.) Please complete MCPS Form 280-71 or submit a narrative. The final report must include the following information:

Program's title, school name, and the award recipient's names
A narrative of your program and outcomes
Signatures from applicant and applicant's principal, director, or supervisor
Original receipts must be taped onto a white, letter-sized sheet of paper. Write your program title, school name, and award recipients name on the top of the page.

All typed applications must be approved and signed by the applicant’s principal, director, or supervisor. Notification of award will be made to applicant within five weeks of closing date. Grant recipients are responsible for tracking their expenditures as not to exceed the amount allotted.

Case Study: Updating Maps and Globes

Viers Mill Elementary School
2006-2007 Small Grant

At Viers Mill Elementary School, Barbara Hlavka, media specialist, was awarded a Small Grant in 2006 to refurbish the school’s seriously outdated map and globe collection. The purpose of this project was to update these materials beginning with one fourth grade and one fifth grade classroom with the most ESOL and special needs students.

Teachers noted the globes were popular among students. Students would independently use the globe to locate various countries around the world and took special pride in locating their own countries of origin.

These materials made it easier to make concepts more tangible for students. For example, relief globes allow students see the mountain ranges projecting from the earth’s surface. A physical globe demonstrates the depths of the ocean floor.

From the youngest to the oldest students, these vivid globes were a constant source of attraction, interaction and learning. The educators at Viers Mill Elementary will continue to find ways to bring these same benefits to other classrooms that are still lacking current materials.

Case Study: Creating an Original Opera

Beverly Farms Elementary School
2006-07 Small Grant

A small grant was awarded to the Beverly Farms Elementary School for 2006-2007 for the “Creating Original Opera” program. Throughout the program, thirty-two fifth grade students of various racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as varied abilities and skill levels were responsible for developing a theme, thesis, and characters for their own original opera.

For three hours each week, students participated in writing, composing music, constructing sets, building lights, designing costumes, acting, applying makeup, blocking and movement, and managing the student company. In May, the opera was performed twice for the student body and twice for the community.

Through the “Creating Original Opera” process, the students learned several different life skills such as taking responsibility, solving problems, organizational techniques, and ways to communicate effectively.

Case Study: Solar Car Project at Walter Johnson

Walter Johnson High School
2004-2005 Small Grant

The solar car project at Walter Johnson High School is in full swing. The fundraising phase was completed in early December, with the team raising over $5,000 in cash as well as procuring three solar panels from BP Solar. Numerous professionals in various engineering fields have also graciously donated their time to help these students reach their goal.

A tremendous amount of time and effort went into our design phase, which quickly turned into our construction phase earlier this month. The plan now is to produce a prototype vehicle and our final racing vehicle. The prototype vehicle "The Wildcat" should be ready for testing by early March. The final racing vehicle will be completed by early May. None of this would have been possible without the early support from the Educational Foundation.