Education EDGE Classroom Mini-Grants are the Wichita Public Schools' gifting vehicle designed to support school-based licensed teachers in their efforts to provide innovative, quality educational opportunities to students. EDGE Mini-Grants must align with curricular standards and the Every Student Future Ready Strategic Plan goals. 

All school-based, certified staff members employed by the Wichita Public Schools may apply. 

During the 2023-2024 school year, EDGE applicants can request up to $5,000. 

Grant applications open May 5th, 2023 - June 16th, 2023 at 11:59pm.

The grant review process will take place June 19th - July 14th and award announcements will take place in August 2023. 

Education EDGE applications are now online! Only applications submitted via email to edge@usd259.net will be reviewed. Carefully read the application packet and instruction pages, along with all proposal questions, before beginning your application.

A completed application will have all questions answered. Once you have completed the online application, be sure to review your answers before you submit. Only one grant application submission will be accepted. Please do not send more than one submission email as the first one will be the one reviewed. If you need to print multiple pages for the project narrative please do so. 

Be sure to review the rubric to clearly understand the scoring criteria. 

Yes!

Schedule One-on-one sessions with the grants team for specific questions

For additional, customized support, the Grants & Development team is offering EDGE applicants the opportunity to meet with our team for 30-minute sessions by appointment. 

You can sign up for a session here: Book with Us!

• To best prepare for your meeting, we suggest you bring a draft of your proposal, a copy of the Application Instructions packet and a copy of the application questions. 

Funding Consideration will be given to:

• Innovative, high quality, individual classroom initiative that will enhance teaching and learning in any subject area. 
• Projects may include school and community service initiatives.
• Resources, equipment, materials and supplies necessary for successful implementation.

Funding consideration will NOT be given to: 

• Proposals that do not clarify how the program/project aligns with the District Strategic Goals. 
• Proposals that do not align with curriculum standards. 
• Proposals that are not preapproved by building principals 
• Proposals that include budgetary items that are not integral to the implementation of a program. 
• Proposals that request sustained support for a prior year’s EDGE or Koch Mini-Grant. 
• Proposals that include funds for Salaries, stipends, supplemental for any staff, and/or indirect/administrative costs.
• Proposals that include Professional development, workshops or travel expenses.
• Proposals that include funding Scholarships.
• Proposals that include funding for Laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, desktops, tables or other computing devices
• Any projects that request less than $1,000, or request more than $5,000

Yes. A mid-year and end-year report is due in December 2023 and May 2024. You will want to have a plan in place for how you will track the progress of your program/project and what you expect your final outcomes to be.