The Aid for Better Classrooms (ABC) Grants program began in 1991 using community funds to provide supplemental funding for classroom teachers to provide innovative instruction to Austin area school children. During its first three years, the program awarded approximately 60 grants to teachers in the Austin Independent School District. In 1994, the program was expanded to include additional school districts. Since its inception, the ABC Grants program has awarded more than $150,000 in grants to Austin area teachers.
Congratulations to our 2008-2009 ABC Grant Winners! With the generous support of AMD and 3M, The Junior League of Austin awarded $11,000 in grants to 23 recipients for the 2008-2009 academic year. All of these projects are innovative, have real world application, enhance current school curriculum, and have a direct impact on students in participating school districts. Click here for a list of ABC Grant recipients and a description of their projects. 2009-2010 ABC Grant Applications:
The Junior League of Austin is honored to be able to continue the ABC Grants program for the 2009-2010 academic year. Please visit this site in February to download an application and detailed guidelines. Applications for the 2009-2010 academic year will be due in June 2009 and reviewed in August. Applicants will be notified of the League's decision by September 1. 2009. Awardees will receive their checks at a reception and award ceremony in October.
Purpose: ABC grants are awarded to classroom teachers to provide innovative instruction to Austin area school children.
Applicant Eligibility: Any classroom teacher in a Travis or Williamson County School District with a student population of at least 5,000 may apply for a grant. A separate application must be submitted for each project proposal. An applicant may submit more than one application, and two or more applicants may work together on a single project. The applicant's school principal must approve all grant applications with a signature on the application form. No member of The Junior League of Austin is eligible to receive a grant.
Restrictions of Funds Use: The maximum grant amount for each project is $500. Each district submitting a proposal will receive a minimum of one grant. A teacher may receive a maximum to two grants. Funds are available for new projects or for the expansion of existing innovative projects, not for the continuation or maintenance of existing or previously funded projects.Grant checks will be payable directly to the school for the express use of the project. Awarded grants are not transferable between teachers, even within the same school. If an awardee is unable to conduct the project, grant funds will pass from that project to an alternate project selected by the ABC Grants Review Committee.Awardees changing schools may use grant funds to conduct the project at their new school, provided the school is in an eligible district and the project is still age and content appropriate for the new class.Funds are not intended to serve as an alternate funding source for existing programs or for programs currently funded or scheduled to be funded from alternate sources. Projects based solely on the acquisition of a particular kit, computers, games, or books will not be funded. If included in the project, these items may only be a component of the overall project's ability to meet the project objectives and criteria. Expenditures for food must be justified and are not allowed unless they are an integral part of students' instructional program.Funds are not to be used for compensatory time, substitutes for teachers, conferences, travel, hotels, buses or salaries.
Application Evaluation: Applications are evaluated by a panel of at least six Junior League members using a 100 point system and are blind reviewed on the merit of the project, without regard to the teacher, principal, school, or district submitting the application. Applicants are highly encouraged to consider the appropriateness of their project to the review criteria and are strongly encouraged to directly address the criteria when completing the application.
- Administration and Implementation - 15 points Maximum Points - Clear, workable planned implementation of activities that contribute to the project objective(s).
- Is the plan for implementation clear? (1-5 points)
- Does it seem reasonable and likely to be achieved in the course of the remaining seven months of the school year (November - May)? (1-5 points)
- Do the activities clearly relate to the objectives? (1-5 points)
- Realistic and accurate budget. - 10 points
- Can the project be accomplished for the funds requested? (1-5 points)
- Do the line items relate to the activities? (1-5 points)
- Community and Student Impact - 25 points
- Ability to have an impact on a significant number of students (bang for the buck theory). (1-5 points)
- Materials become permanent (an on-going project) and can be used in future years. (1-5 points)
- Active or cooperative participation of the students throughout the life of the project ("hands on"). Are the students likely to be engaged throughout the project? (1-5 points)
- Is the experience passive or active for students? (1-10 points)
- Creativity and Innovation - 60 points - Enhances the curriculum to help students meet or exceed educational goals.
- Does the project build on basic skills? (1-10 points)
- Will students likely experience something outside of the routine class experience? (1-10 points)
- Innovative, creative, and original helping students learn in a new way. Will students be able to look at the subject in a new way? (1-10 points)
- Does the project offer a new or different approach to the subject? (1-10 points)
- Interdisciplinary project, integrating two or more content areas. (1-10 points)
- Real world application or community ties, helping students apply skills and knowledge outside of the classroom or connecting students to the community. Will students be able to develop skills to be used outside the classroom? (1-5 points)
- Does the project offer a new or different approach to the subject? (1-5 points)
