Educational Grants

Escuela Key Teachers and Staff: APPLY HERE 

Background and Purpose:

The PTA budget includes support for teachers and staff to apply for Educational Grants for programs, projects, and/or materials to enhance the educational experience of the students at Escuela Key Elementary.   Applications can be made by individual teachers/staff or teaching teams (grade level, subject, etc).  Grants are awarded after approval by the PTA Grants Committee, consisting of parent volunteers and school administration. 

Funding:

The PTA has budgeted a total of $7,000 for Educational Grants in the 2023/2024 school year.  Each grant request is capped at $1,000.  If a staff member receives an individual grant in a given year, that staff member can still apply for a grant as part of a team. The number of grants awarded each review cycle and/or the amount of funds given per grant may vary based on other applications received. Please limit your request to funds to cover your expenses. 

Requirements and Considerations:

Educational Grants are to be used in the current school year and must be used for educational purposes.  

Grants will be awarded based on the following primary considerations:

1. How does the grant fulfill a need or benefit students?

2. How does the grant build on Key’s strategic priorities as outlined in Principal Perdomo’s School Action Plan?

3. Will the goal or project be achievable with the resources and time available?

Additional considerations that may affect funding:

1. How many students will benefit?

2. Is this an innovative project that brings something new to Key students?

3. Will the purchased materials be useful in additional school years? 

Ineligible Expenses: 

1. Materials typically provided by APS, included but not limited to. 

   1. Textbooks or supplies required to implement the curriculum

   2. IT or A/V equipment, peripherals, or software (laptops, keyboards, TVs, monitors, CD players, educational software, printers, toner, paper).   

2. Professional development, teacher training or conferences.  The PTA does provide funding for these activities, but these funds are administered directly by the Escuela Key Administration. Please contact the Principal or Assistant Principal with requests in these categories. 

Grant Application Review Cycles:

The PTA typically has two grant cycles, one for each half of the year. If funds are still available, a third Spring cycle will be added.

• Fall Applications due: October 30, 2023  (grants awarded on or near Nov 20, 2023)

• Currently accepting rolling applications

Application Process:

Please complete the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. You may respond to questions in Spanish if that is more comfortable and efficient for you.

Full details of your plans for grant funds, including an itemized list of expenses, must be included in your application. If you need help creating a budget or talking through ideas, please reach out to your Grade Parents or to the Grade Parent Coordinator at rpcoordinator@keypta.org to help identify a parent(s) who can assist.   

If you have any questions about the program, the application or the review process, please contact the PTA Educational Grants Committee Co-Chairs at grants-committee@keypta.org and ptacalendar@keypta.org.    

Examples of eligible expenses, including examples of  activities/materials that have been funded through educational grants in past years:

1. Books that enhance or enrich the curriculum (e.g., books for classroom libraries, readers for ELL students to take home, etc.)

2. Supplies or equipment for in-class teaching and activities, especially hands-on learning activities (e.g., materials for the winter concert, math problem solving kits, Spanish language games, etc.)

3. Stipends for guest speakers

4. Enrichment programs that are not included in the current PTA budget (e.g., a sewing circle, a sister school program in Nicaragua, custodian costs for a weekend soccer clinic, etc.)  

5. Classroom or learning environment supplies that make the learning environment more pleasant, fit-for-purpose, or welcoming (e.g., bean bag chairs for the Escuela Key Library, book shelves to organize classroom libraries, etc.)

If funded, details about the grant and grantee may be posted on the Key PTA website, Key PTA social media channels, and PTA email distribution list.

All items purchased with grant funding become property of Escuela Key.