Purpose: These grants support new and innovative programs not typically funded, that need start-up funding, or that need additional resources to make them work effectively. These programs can be based in pre-school, elementary, middle, and high school levels, or they may apply to music education pre-practicum preparation.
1) Classroom Innovations block grants, through the Growing Music in MASS Foundation, will award grants depending on funding, each typically in the range of $1,000 to 5,000, to individual schools or school districts in Massachusetts.
2) Successful grant applicants will present a workable plan, outlined here, to provide support for students in a classroom setting to explore new musical ideas, concepts, and techniques that build instructional goals and measure their success. Teachers working at all levels of music education are encouraged to apply for these grants. Examples of the types of projects for consideration might include:
- Specific non-traditional instruments and ensembles (for example: folk or culturally inspired instruction).
- Composition-based or improvisation-based instruction that inspires creativity
- New or expanded use of technology-based instruction
- Student learning centers and individualized Instruction
- Instructional programs with a focus on the Special Learner (as distinctly different from modifications and adaptations of regular instruction)
- Integrated learning units where music is a lead or primary discipline
3) It is the hope of the supervising committee that MMEA members will be creative in designing their proposals, and that funded proposals will serve as ongoing models for other teachers and districts to consider.
4) At the conclusion of the grant’s time frame – typically the school year in which the programs are funded, the recipients will submit an evaluation of the program’s participation, successes, and possibilities for future sustainability and/or expansion.
Eligibility, Criteria and Procedures:
A) Only NAfME / MMEA current members whose memberships remain active throughout the term of the grant, are eligible to apply for a GMM grant on behalf of a school, school district or collaborative program. All members applying must have a direct formal relationship with the targeted school or program.
B) NAfME / MMEA members teaching in any established public, private, charter, or home school are eligible to apply. MMEA members may choose to partner with a neighboring community or instructional entity in a compatible proposal.
C) Grant proposals may come from any level. The committee particularly encourages proposals from Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and High School levels.
D) Grant proposals must be complete and include all needed signatures and be submitted by the specified deadline date. Incomplete or late grant proposals may not be considered.
E) Grant proposals may be evaluated by the district in which a submitting school or school district is located to ensure the district supports the proposal’s concept.
F) If a Grant proposal is selected, MMEA will provide grant funds directly to the recipient’s specified school or program’s fiscal agent for distribution as indicated on the Grant Proposal Application. In addition to the school, such entities might include a school’s PTA, PTC, or Music Booster organization. Grant stipulations include the following:
- Grant funds will NOT be transferred directly to an individual MMEA member or an individual private teacher.
- Grant funds will NOT be used to pay stipends for curriculum development, the writing of lesson plans, the development of assessment tools and strategies, or other normally assigned teacher tasks.
Grant funds will NOT be used merely as a supplement to a district’s or school’s regular operating budget items, such as equipment replacement, or updating texts and instructional materials.
Typical Timeline for the Administration of Grants
- June 30th-- Deadline for submitting Classroom Innovations grant proposals
- July to August – Grants awarded, recipients notified
- March of instructional year - Grant recipient recognition ceremony at the All-State Conference General Assembly
- May / June of instructional year – Grant recipients will report results of their grant to the GMM Board