2025-2026 School Year Grant Application

2025-2026 School Year Grant Application
Please fill out this online appplication form to submit your grant request. If you would like to see a PDF of the application it can be found here.
Grant Timeline
January 27, 2025: Grant Applications Open Online

March 7, 2025: Grant Applications Due

Week of March 10 & 17, 2025: Grant committee & applicant interviews conducted

April 28, 2025: Grant Award Winners Announced
Grant Eligibility Criteria
The following criteria must be satisfied prior to application for a school to be eligible for a grant:

·       The School is a diocesan school within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

·       The School is accepting student(s) who would not be able to attend without additional educational support.

·       The School has a degreed Special Education teacher on staff or the School Administrator must validate the existence of appropriate educational support for the student(s).

·       The School can demonstrate the commitment of its Administrator and Pastor to inclusive education.

· In awarded the School will have a fundraiser for FIRE during the 2025-2026 school year and will support FIRE’s annual fundraising events. The school will also be active on the ignite committee throughout the year.

·       The School will distribute at least one general communication provided by the FIRE Office to all parishioners and/or school families to help educate the community on the mission and role of FIRE, as well as the benefits of inclusive education, and will provide the opportunity for a representative of FIRE to speak annually to its parishioners and/or school community.
Grant Instructions
Please electronically via this online form. Applications and documentation are due by March 7, 2025.

There are four forms to include:

1. Online Application

2.      MTSS Pyramid

3.      Letter from the school on what inclusion means to them and what direction the school is taking to grow their current environment.

4.      Letter from priest sharing how he plans to support the school grow their inclusion efforts.

If you have any questions about the application, please contact Erin Schmitz at 319.529.1109
Fundable Items
- Assistance for salaries of Para Educators
- Assistance for salaries of Special Education Teachers
- Professional Development on Inclusive Education
- Learning Materials, Technology, and Equipment
Application Review Process
Application Review Process

A Grant Application must satisfy the Grant Eligibility Criteria for the application to be considered. Eligible Applicants will be invited to discuss their grant application in a meeting. The grant meeting will last approximately 30 minutes. Appointments will be scheduled through the FIRE office upon receipt of the Grant Application. Grant awards will be determined based on compliance with Eligibility Criteria, need for assistance and the availability of Foundation funds. All grant monies received must be used specifically to support children with significant special needs who would not be able to attend the school without the additional support.

Grantees will receive a letter of notification regarding their grant no later than April 28, 2025.

Please note that all grant recipients are required to submit a mid-year report and end of the year report documenting use of grant funds. Any changes in the way grant funds are used that deviate from descriptions outlined in the grant application must be reported to the FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Mid-year report are due in December and end of the year reports are due in May.

Grants are NOT awarded for the following uses: Operating expenses including rent payments, lease payments, and utilities, debt incurred or purchases made prior to IF award notification, travel expenses, participation in capital campaigns, endowment funds, and tuition assistance.

Contact Information
Name of School
Principal
Contact Person
Contact Person Phone
Contact Person Email
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Grades Served & Total Enrollment Number

Total Funding Request
2025-2026 Project Request
Total Project Cost
Please select the category of the funding request.

Assistance for salaries of a ParaprofessionalAssistance for salaries of Special Education TeacherProfessional Development on Inclusive EducationLearning Materials, Technology and Equipment

Itemized Grant Request
Items we are looking for on the first question. Be detailed and specific in your answer.

Assistance for salaries of a paraprofessional. List description of how the persons time will be used, hours per week, total cost including salary & benefits.

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Assistance for salaries of special education teacher. List description of how the persons time will be used, hours per week, total cost including salary & benefits.

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Professional development on inclusive education. List course/training, cost per participant, number of participants, substitute costs, total costs.

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Learning materials, technology and equipment. List item, description, unit cost, number requested and total cost.
Itemized Grant Request - be specific.
If you are applying for funds to be used for a paraprofessional explain how you plan to train them to provide support in an inclusive environment?
What is the intended use of the funds requested?
How will the use of these funds specifically allow the student to attend the Catholic school?
If you do not receive the requested funds, what will be the outcome?
Did you receive funds from any sources, other than general budget during the 2019-2020 school year to support students with disabilities? If yes, please list additional funding sources and amounts received.
Is the funding request identified in an IEP (individual education plan)? If yes, explain why it is not being provided through the IEP.
How will successful use of funds be defined and measured?
Who will benefit from the requested funds? (please no names) List grade, gender, disability/learning need. Then list the educational plan (check all that apply). Educational plans include: IEP, 504, School Dev Acco Plan, ELL, None.
Describe how the requested funds will promote inclusion of students with disabilities within your building.
Do you anticipate a need for professional development on best practices in inclusive education? What topics would most benefit your education team?

Current Services Provided
Services Provided by the Private School
Describe who provides services to students with disabilities within your building. (employed by the private school, ex: certified special education teacher, designated certified teacher)
Describe the instructional model of services within your building. (pull-out, push-in, individual instruction, small group instruction, co-teaching)
Services Provided by the Public School
How many students enrolled in your building are on an IEP? Explain what types of IEP's are being serviced at your school. (instructional, speech, ot, pt)
Describe how the student (s) are served by the local public school. (students transported to the public school, public school teacher sent to the non-public building, etc.)
Describe your working relationship with the public school district.

Additional Documents To Submit
Your Schools MTSS Pyramid

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Letter from your school on what inclusion means to them and what direction the school is taking to grow their current environment.

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Letter from priest sharing how he plans to support the school grow their inclusion efforts.

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Agreement
The foregoing information is accurate, and I agree to promptly notify the FIRE NE Iowa Board of any changes with respect to the information contained herein. I will immediately contact the FIRE NE Iowa Board regarding requests for change in the use of funds. I have attached the requested supporting documents.

On behalf of the above referenced school, I agree and understand that this application must satisfy the Grant Eligibility Criteria in order to be considered.

Consider inputing names a signature of agreement.
School Administrator

First NameLast Name
Pastor

First NameLast Name
Special Educator

First NameLast Name
Should be Empty:

2025-2026 School Year Grant Application

Grant Timeline

Grant Eligibility Criteria

Grant Instructions

Fundable Items

Application Review Process

Contact Information

Total Funding Request

Itemized Grant Request

Current Services Provided

Services Provided by the Private School

Services Provided by the Public School

Additional Documents To Submit

Agreement