Funding Source Alert: School District and Independent Foundations
Dateline: 2/2/2006
At a time when support for music and the arts appears to be in decline, music teachers need to be creative when it comes to finding funding. One often untapped source is school district foundations. Aimed at improving the quality of education for students, school district foundations award funds to teachers in the form of grants. To qualify for a grant, a teacher must submit a written proposal or application. The number and amount of awards is determined by the specific district foundation, meaning particular foundations might be able to award grants in full for every proposal received, while others may award funds but not as much as requested. There is also the distinct possibility that, due to high demand, proposals will have to be rejected.
Every foundation will also have its own set of limitations and guidelines. For instance, the school district foundation in one Illinois music specialist's area offers grant money for teachers twice a year. Teachers can submit a proposal requesting up to $750. The guidelines for the award stipulate that the money be used in ways that support state standards. The following is how the aforementioned teacher successfully used her award to do just that: {...}