GMM Classroom Innovations Grant Application- School Year 24-25

Growing Music in Mass
Classroom Innovations Grant

2024-2025 Rolling Application
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.
Applications are Accepted on a Rolling Basis

Below is a 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
Applicant Information
Primary Applicant Name*

First NameLast Name
Primary Applicant NAfME Membership#*
Primary Applicant NAfME Membership Expiration Date: *

MonthDayYear
Date
Primary Applicant Email Address*
example@example.com
Co-Applicant Name

First NameLast Name
Co-Applicant NAfME Membership#*
Co-Applicant NAfME Membership Expiration Date: *

MonthDayYear
Date
Co-Applicant Email Address*
example@example.com
School Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.
Primary Applicant Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
SCHOOL(s) or SCHOOL DISTRICT(s) where the project will be housed:
School Mailing Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
School Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
MMEA District(s)*

Central DistrictEastern DistrictNortheastern DistrictSoutheastern DistrictWestern District
Grant Proposal Narrative
1) Please describe the proposed project, with an explanation of its goals, purpose, and design as it supports the National and Massachusetts Fine Arts Standards, as well as your district’s curriculum frameworks.*
2) Describe or specify the types of students being serviced by this proposal, and if appropriate, why this population was designated. (FOR EXAMPLE: specific grade/age levels, students on free / reduced lunch, special needs populations.)*
3) Please provide an estimated number of students to be served: *
4) Please describe this project’s sustainability plan beyond the initial year.*
5) Please describe any other resources for which you will be applying or using to support this project. (This may include district funding, local private support, business or corporate partners, or parent groups.)*
6) Please describe the evaluation methods and outcomes that you will be using to measure the success of this program. (Outcomes should be clear and measurable.)*
7) Should additional funding from MMEA donors become available, please describe how those funds would be used to expand or benefit your proposed program.*
8) Conversely, should a grant award be less than requested, please explain the impact that might have on your proposal, and the possible adjustments you might have to make.*
Proposed Budget

Grants from the Growing Music in MASS Fund typically carry an award range from $1,000 to $5,000. [NOTE: Depending on the number and quality of grant applications in a given school year, additional funds may be available, or lesser funding amounts may result.

Please enter the budget fields below.*

	Description	From GMM	From Other Sources
Instructional Stipends
Materials Not Provided (specify)
Fees (specify)
Other Expenses
Other Expenses
Other Expenses

Project Total: *
Please detail other expenses.
Please detail materials unique to the project.
Grant Signatures

We, the undersigned, support and understand the responsibilities implied by the above Growing Music in MASS grant application.
Primary Applicant Signature*

Clear
Co-Applicant Signature

Clear
Co-Applicant Signature

Clear
District or School Administrator Name*
District or School Administrator Signature*

Clear
School Administrator Signature (School Administrator Title (Fine Arts Director, Music Supervisor, or other District Arts Administrator may give approval as a qualified Administrative Signature.)

Clear
Fiscal Agent Information

The following information solidifies who the grant check is to be made payable if awarded a grant.
Fiscal Agent Name*

First NameLast Name
Fiscal Agent Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Fiscal Agent Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Fiscal Agent Email Address*
example@example.com
Fiscal Agent Signature*

Clear
Should be Empty:

Growing Music in Mass

Classroom Innovations Grant

Applicant Information

Grant Proposal Narrative

Proposed Budget

Grant Signatures

Fiscal Agent Information