The mission of the Arrow Education Foundation is to "provide resources to genuinely enhance opportunities for students in the WatertownSchool District".

The Foundation awards grants for creative and innovative educational projects and programs, which are beyond the scope of the regular school budget. 

Eligibility

All WatertownPublicSchool District pre-kindergarten to 12 staff are eligible to receive grant funds.  Grant awards must benefit public education to students. 

Grant Development

Grants are awarded for creative and innovative educational projects.  The project may be for a classroom, a department, an individual student, a group of students or WSD staff, a grade level, a school, several schools, or the total WatertownSchool District.  Applicants may be one or more teachers, a group of teachers/staff, a teacher-parent group, or another WSD employee group.

Enrichment Grant funds will be available in the following areas:

• Athletic, focusing on enhancing athletic enrichment activities.  Awards will be granted to coaches and HPE educators.

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  Arts & Culture, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities in arts and culture.

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  Elementary Education (K – 6), focusing on projects that enhance elementary educational opportunities.

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  Forensics/Speech, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for forensics/speech students, and/or providing individuals with financial need the opportunity to participate in forensics or obtain advanced skill training.

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  Gifted Education, focusing on projects and activities that enhance opportunities for students in the gifted and talented education programs.

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  Health and Physical Education, focusing on enhancing health and physical education activities for students; encouraging and rewarding teaching excellence and innovation; and providing state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and instruction.

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  Industrial Technology, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for industrial technology students.

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  Literacy, focusing on enhancing student literacy.

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  Math and Science Education, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for math and science students

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  Middle School Education, focusing on enhancing Watertown Middle School educational activities; encouraging and rewarding teaching excellence and innovation in middle school curriculum areas; and providing state-of-the-art equipment, technology and/or instruction to middle school students.  Awards will be granted to WatertownMiddle School Staff.

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  Teacher Experience, focusing on advanced professional opportunities for WSD staff that will enhance departmental expertise and student educational opportunities.

Enrichment Grants may be one or more of the following:

• A one time event or experience that offers students a unique experience that would not otherwise be available.

Examples include: a grant to bring artists-in-residence to all elementary schools, sponsoring a Guthrie Theater tour for drama students, sponsoring tickets to a science or museum exhibit, etc. 

• An immediate impact grant that boosts a program or activity to another level.

Examples include:  a summer reading program for all middle school students, or $60,000 in tools to support teachers in better linking curriculum to student learning with laptops at the high school.

• A new or innovative technology tool for a school, grade-level, extra-curricular program or classroom. 

Examples include:   sound equipment to improve on-line streaming of events, professional tools for industrial technology, or cutting edge tools for foreign language learning.

• Educational experiences for students who may not otherwise afford the experience.

 Examples include:  matching fund tuition for gifted-student, music, language or other camps, lessons, or training; or  programs that allow students to learn advanced skills for enhanced employment or tertiary education.  There is an expectation of matching scholarship funds from the participant or another donor.

• Advanced professional opportunities for WSD staff that will enhance departmental expertise and student educational opportunities.

Examples include:  a study trip to an historical, scientific, or any subject-related site resulting in enhanced curriculum tools for the subject area; or participation in professional conference. Not to replace tuition and study options offered by the WSD, state, etc.  There is an expectation of matching funds from the participant or another donor.

• Curriculum or extra-curricular summer and out-of-school experiences for groups of students.

Examples include:  a summer art and culture camp provided by WSD educators, and others.

Grant Writing Assistance

Grant recipients, principals, department heads and program directors may be good resources to assist in writing the grant application.  Technical grant applications need to be discussed with the technology department before being submitted. (See details in a following section.)

Guidelines

• Grants can be from $100 to $5000.

• The full cost of the grant may be funded by the Foundation alone or in partnership with another donor you have identified. You do not need to have another donor to apply.

• One person or several persons may apply for the grant. One of the lead applicants must be a WatertownSchool District employee. List all persons who are applying for the grant.

• Grant applications need to describe the project clearly and specifically.   Use the "Enrichment Grant Criteria for Evaluation of Grant Application" chart on the last page to guide you.   Include graphs, drawings, descriptive materials, catalog pictures and costs of materials. Non-educators as well as educators will assess the application so explanations need to be in common language. Applications are not limited to one page.

• Consult your principal or director and the WSD technology department for technical grants about your grant idea.  This is to avoid duplication and to assure that the project cost can not be funded from the regular school budget or a federal/state program.  Building principals need to indicate, if it is to become necessary, whether their building budget will be able to support replacing of grant sponsored equipment.

• The budgeted costs must be reasonable, allowable, and cost effective for the activity proposed.

Guidelines for a Technology Related Grant Application

Along with the guidelines above, please consult the Technology Director, Deb Fredrickson regarding specific considerations for technology related grant applications. She will answer questions and offer assistance to anyone with a technology-based AEF grant applications.  All recommendations will be made by the director to insure fairness and consistent, accurate advice.

Guidelines  -  The technology is:

• innovative and new to the district or group (department, classes across the district, classes in a school or the whole school)

• compatible with the school's network

• can be supported technically by the backbone and staff

• fits within the acceptable use agreements

• has been reviewed by technology director

• uses acceptable band width if connected to the Internet. 

Application Process

• Funds available for Enrichment Grants will be announced by the Foundation

• Applications can be made to a specific fund or to any available fund.  The Foundation will determine the funding source for the grant application.

• All technology grant applications should be discussed with the Technology Director (Deb Fredrickson) in the process of writing the application.  Contact information:  deb.fredrickson@k12.sd.us

• Applications are found HERE .

• Applications may be sent electronically to the Foundation at WatertownAEF@k12.sd.us 

• Application may be made anytime before 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.

• Please confirm receipt of your application with the office staff.

• Notification that the application has been awarded or declined will follow in a timely manner.

Upon Receipt of the Grant

• Grantees will inform parents and colleagues about the project and acknowledge the Arrow Education Foundation as donor. 

• Tag Foundation gifts with bookplates or tags.  Please request these from the Foundation office.

• Label materials with WSD asset tags and include in inventory.

• Grantees will be asked to provide information and photos for Foundation public relations purposes.

• All materials purchased with Foundation funds must stay within the district, but may move with the grant recipient from one classroom or school to another.

• Grantees agree to use Foundation funds solely for the purpose requested.

• Grantees will return unused funds to the Foundation within one month after the project period is finished.

Grant Reporting

• Grantees are encouraged to report the success or failure of their project(s) to the AEF Office after the project period is finished.

Selection Process 

A granting committee, comprised of community and Foundation board members, will review the grant applications.  Criteria the board may consider in the review, but not limited to, are as follows:

* Updated February 2018 

Enrichment Grant Criteria

Objectives

Low Performance

At or Below Average

At or Above Average

Exemplary Performance

Earned
Points

Question 1

The grant is creative or innovative and fulfills a need that is beyond the school district budget.

0 points 
The grant is not creative or innovative.

1 point 
The grant is creative, but does not relate to the curriculum/program.

2 points 
The grant is creative or innovative and relates to the curriculum/program. 
General curriculum standard are included

3 points 
The grant is highly creative or innovative and enhances the curriculum/program in a new and creative way.
Specific curriculum standards are included.
There is possibility for replication and sustainability across the curriculum.

Question 2

The grant has a high impact on

• many students or

• students with qualified need or

• qualified educators learning.

The project uses researched methods and instructional best practices.

0 points 
The grant does not impact student/educator learning.

1 point 
The grant does impact students learning, although few

• students or

• students with qualified need or

• qualified educators are involved in the project.

2 points 
The grant involves

• many students or

• students with  qualified need or

• qualified educator and impacts students learning

Some research supports this project.

3 points 
The grant shows a high impact on

• students

• students with qualified need or

• qualified educators learning and will make a difference in students attaining curriculum/program goals.

Solid research supports this innovation.
The grantee is willing to share the success of student/educator learning.

Question 3

The grant project has a strong evaluation component related to the content standards and student/educator learning.

0 points 
The project cannot be evaluated for student/educator learning.

1 point 
The project has an evaluation component, but little evidence that student/educator learning will take place.

2 points 
The evaluation component is met adequately for student/educator success.

3 points 
There is a strong evaluation component to measure the project's success. There is evidence that the evaluation will be carried out.

Question 4

The grant clearly lists the requested materials and the costs for the project. The amount requested falls within the funding guidelines.

0 points 
The grant does not list the materials and costs for the project.

1 point 
The grant does not list researched materials and costs but a non-specific materials list and approximate amount.

2 points 
The grant materials have been adequately described. 

The cost falls within the funding guidelines and is fairly accurate.
The attached materials are not sufficient to understand what is needed. 

3 points 
The grant materials and cost has been thoroughly researched and documented.
The cost falls within the funding guidelines and are accurate.
Supplementary materials, such as vendor pictures and descriptions, research articles, letters of support, etc., provide a clear explanation of the grant requirements and support for the project. 

Question 5

Technology Related Criteria

The technology is innovative and new to the district or school.  It is compatible with the school's network, can be supported technically by the backbone and staff, fits within the acceptable use agreements, has been reviewed by technology department, and uses acceptable band width if connected to the Internet. 

 0 points 
The requested technology does not meet the requirements for technological innovation or the technology department requirements.

 1 point 
The technology is new to the grant applicant(s) but not to the district; the technology will be high maintenance by technology staff or will use a good deal of bandwidth.

2 points 
The technology is innovative but will be high maintenance for technology staff or will be difficult financially to develop across a building or the District.

3 points 
The technology is innovative, meets the criteria of the Grant process, and meets all requests of the technology department.