- Wichita Public Schools
- KOCH Classroom Grants
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What are KOCH Classroom Grants?
KOCH Classroom Grants are designed to support school-based licensed teachers in their efforts to provide innovative, quality educational opportunities to students. KOCH Classroom Grants must support STEM or Business Entrepreneurship initiatives and must align with curricular standards and the Every Student Future Ready Strategic Plan goals. Applicants can request up to $3,000.
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Who is eligible to apply for a KOCH Classroom Grant?
All licensened teachers employed by the Wichita Public Schools may apply.
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How much funding can be awarded per application request?
During the 2020-2021 school year, EDGE applicants can request up to $3000.
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When can I submit my application?
Grant applications open Friday, October 23 and will close at 11:59PM, Monday, November 30.
The grant review process will take place in December and award announcements will take place mid-January 2021.
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How do I apply?
KOCH Classroom Grant applications are now online! Only applications submitted online will be reviewed. Carefully read the application packet and instruction pages, along with all proposal questions before beginning your application. When the applications open on October 23, you will be able to access the Microsoft Form Application for the grants here:
KOCH CLASSROOM GRANT APPLICATION
Review all proposal questions before beginning your application. This site will not allow you to save your answers to return later.
We suggest you type your answers into the provided Word template or other format and copy and past your answers into the application at one time. A completed application will have all questions answered. Review all information in the application packet before beginning your application.
Once you have completed the online application, be sure to review your answers before you hit sumbit. You will not be able to go back and make changes once the application is submitted.
Be sure that questions requiring the upload of documents [budget and timeline] have the appropriate attachments as well.
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Can I receive help with my application?
Yes! There are TWO ways that you can get support for your application.
1) The Grants & Development team will be hosting a series of optional webinars. The four live "Get Your EDGE" webinars will be held via Microsoft Teams and are scheduled for the following dates:
Thursday, October 29: 7:00am and 4:30pm
Wednesday, November 4: 7:00am and 4:30pm
The webinars are approximately 45 minutes in length and will take you through the proposal process and questions. Each session will end with a question and answer session. A recording of the webinar will be available on this webiste for those who are unable to attend.
The signup will be available in Frontline and linked here soon.
2) One-on-one sessions with the grants team for specific questions
For additional, customized support, the Grants & Development team is offering applicants the opportunity to meet with the District's in-house Grant Writer, Kim Roskam, 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.
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What will KOCH Classroom Grants Fund?
Funding Consideration will be given to
- Innovative, high quality, individual classroom initiative that will enhance teaching and learning in any subject area whether in person or virtual or a hybrid of the two.
- Projects must include STEM or Business Entrepreneurship components
- Resources, equipment, materials, and supplies necessary for successful implementation.
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What WON'T the KOCH Classroom Grants fund?
- Proposals that do not have a STEM/Business Entrepreneurship Focus
- Proposal 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 Classroom 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
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Will I be expected to provide a follow-up report to the Grants & Development Team?
Yes. A mid-year and final-year report is due in May 2021 and December 2021. 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.