Grant Purpose and Funding Source
Grant Purpose and Funding Source
When outlining a vision for my grant proposal, it took much more thought than I initially anticipated. At first, I thought that I would write a grant for a piece of technology for my classroom. However, since most students have their own devices in my district, I was trying to think of a more functional/new service that could be incorporated. I settled on writing a grant for a program called ReadBasix, a software system that helps assess areas of need for struggling students. I thought that if we could acquire a subscription for this program, our district could build up our Reading Intervention and Integrated Reading programs so they are better used. My funding request applied to many different areas of need and organization, such as professional development, digital strategies, student monitoring, and technology for educational gain. In this, teachers would be able to run subtests and diagnostic reports for individual students to better place them in classes that would address their individual learning needs. In my opinion, my funding request would be put to good use, as reading/literacy skills apply to almost every subject area.
I settled on the American Association of Educators (AAE) grant because it included funds our district would need for software development. In these intervention classes, we focus on using digital platforms, like the Read 180 program, to help instruct students through digital resources and lessons. This would fall under the AAE's "software" element as part of the grant. I would like to implement this software program because it involves digital resources, professional development opportunities, and a gateway to growth opportunities. Targeting these struggles earlier on and providing necessary lessons also would lead to higher state test scores and an increase in graduation rates for the district. This would lead to more productive readers, as the diagnostic program (ReadBasix) would help with reading skills needed for careers and lifestyles beyond the classroom. I think the AAE grant would be a good fit for the software required for these courses because it will support struggling readers and build better education environments.