Staff Grants
What qualifies as a Staff Grant?
The Kennedy PTA grants provide funds to staff/teachers to benefit Kennedy Middle School kids and the community. Application proposals may come from an individual teacher or staff member or a group of Kennedy teachers and staff. Higher priority is given to proposals that offer school-wide access to students; however, staff may also submit proposals that will benefit individual classrooms or grade levels. Staff Grant applications may be submitted for a wide range of projects, activities, books, equipment, or anything that enhances, improves, or nurtures our kids' academic development, social-emotional-attitudinal development, specific skills, or the desire of the students to learn and/or create, consistent with the District’s Academic Performance Standards.
What about funding for professional development for teachers?
Professional Development grants are not necessarily encouraged but will be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to the availability of funds. If approved, typically only the registration fees for the PD training event will be funded. Other costs such as travel, lodging, and/or meals are normally not covered but may be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to availability of funds.
Who may submit a grant application proposal?
Any staff member at Kennedy is eligible to apply for a grant by submitting this form.
How much funding may I apply for?
The typical grant is on the order of a hundred/hundreds of dollars. Larger amounts are also considered with an eye to a proportionally higher benefit to the students.
When is the decision made on my proposal? When will I find out if it has been approved?
If you submit by the cutoff deadline (end-of-month approximately two weeks before the next PTA Board meeting, per the guidelines above), you should get your decision in the week following the PTA Board meeting and will be notified. Sometimes the PTA decides to defer voting until the next monthly meeting while we ask you questions to clarify your proposal. To minimize the risk of delay, please be thorough on the application form in describing what is being purchased and the value to our kids.
When do I receive the funds if my proposal is accepted?
After the PTA Board approves your grant proposal, you will be notified of the approval. You are then free to make the purchases per your proposal and save the receipts so that upon purchase, you can submit the receipts to the PTA Board for reimbursement. Teachers who go ahead and make purchases before they are notified of their approval risk not being reimbursed (sometimes the PTA Board does not approve requests, for various reasons).
What responsibilities do successful applicants have?
You will need to follow through on the project to completion, submit all receipts for reimbursement, and provide an evaluation report at the end of the project regarding the results and to what extent the goals were achieved.
May I see some examples of what successful applicants have used Staff Grants for?
Yes! Please see our Teacher Testimonials!
What should I do if I still have questions?
Please email EVP@kennedymspta.org with your questions. Thank you!
