About the Grant Program
The Plano ISD Education Foundation was organized in 1993 to help the Plano Independent School District maintain its high standards of excellence. The Plano ISD Education Foundation Grants to Educators are intended to help PISD educators enhance instruction in schools and classrooms across the Plano Independent School District.
Grants fund projects, programs and initiatives that directly or indirectly support the district’s major goal: to enhance student learning, with emphasis on closing the achievement gap and ensuring all students are college-ready.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
 
Grants Eligibility
The maximum grant amount for a single grant to individual teachers, grade levels or school is $1,500. The maximum grant amount for a single grant to a group of schools is $3,000. Individuals making application may only submit one grant per school year, although the lead applicant may serve on a second grant as a team member.
Applicants may only request funding for projects which school or district resources are not available. Applicants may apply for renewal for up to two additional years to the original grant, but funding approval is not guaranteed.
Applications are accepted from an individual PISD teacher, a group of PISD teachers at a campus, a group of teachers or administrators from different PISD campuses, a group of PISD campuses, a PISD Parent Teacher Association, or a PISD central administrator. NOTE: Multi-campus grants from a team of educators are to be submitted to the lead applicant's principal for approval. They will NOT be forwarded to other principals for electronic approval; therefore, all grant team members must have informed their campus principals prior to participation in the grant application, with explanation of the concept and use of funds if awarded.
Grant Awards
Grants to Teachers - maximum $1,500; School Site Grants - maximum $1,500; or Multiple Campus Grants - maximum $1,000 per campus or $3,000 total. Minimum award $200. The size and number of awards each year is determined by the amount of funds available from the Plano ISD Education Foundation. Each application is reviewed by a group of judges representing the Foundation, donors, teachers, parents, and administrators from Plano ISD. After reviewing the applications, the grant review committee may recommend to the Foundation Board of Directors that all or part of the funds be awarded for a grant. It is intended that all awarded funds be used by the close of the school year.
Request for Renewal of Previously-Funded Grants
Previously funded grants are eligible for renewal up to a maximum of three years. Applicants must indicate on the grant application if they are requesting a renewal and how many years have already been funded. Grant renewals are judged with all other grant applications, and renewal funding is not guaranteed.
Evaluation
Year-end evaluations from all award-winning applicants are required. Completed evaluation forms are due electronically to foundation@pisd.edu by June 3, 2011.
Grant Types
Grants are offered in three categories. A single application form is available with a place to select the grant type. Applicants are asked to read the descriptions below to ensure that the correct type of grant is selected on the application form. Once an application is submitted, it cannot be changed.
Grants to Teachers
This application is designed for a project that is being implemented to serve a classroom, club, or small subset of students by a single teacher. In some instances, this application may be appropriate if two or three teachers are working together and will be serving less than a grade level or project team. Funding amounts will range from $200 to $1,500, and applications require the approval of the campus principal.
School Site Grants
This application is designed for projects benefiting whole campus or a significant cross-section of students, such as a grade level or an integrated team. Given the magnitude of this type of project, it is expected that a team of teachers and/or administrators will be leading a project funded through this application. Funding amounts will range from $200 to $1,500, and applications require the approval of the campus principal.
Multiple Campus Grants
This application is designed to encourage collaboration throughout the district. It is appropriate for use by two or more campuses that choose to work together to benefit students on each participating campus. Funding is available up to a maximum of $3,000 per grant. NOTE: Multi-campus grants from a team of educators are to be submitted to the lead applicant's principal for approval. They will NOT be forwarded to other principals for electronic approval; therefore, all grant team members must have informed their campus principals prior to participation in the grant application, with explanation of the concept and use of funds if awarded.
Detailed Instructions for Applicants
For detailed instructions to applicants for 2010-2011 Grants to Educators, click here:
Guide for Applicants
To assist you further, a summary of previous award-winning projects is attached.
2009 Award-winning Recipients
Those considering submitting an application are invited to attend an application Help Session on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. at the PISD Admin. Bldg., Room 311.
Applications are due to lead applicants' principals by close of day, Thursday, September 23, 2010. Approved applications are due to PISD Education Foundation from principal approver by Noon, Thursday, September 30, 2010.
Grantworks Application and Approval System
To apply or approve, click here:
2010 Grantworks Application and Approval System
2009 Grants to Educators Program
Plano ISD Education Foundation Grant Patrol Surprised 120 Educators with Monetary Grants for 54 Innovative Instructional Programs
 Thursday, November 12 was a special day for a number of Plano ISD teachers who received a surprise visit by district and community leaders and monetary awards for use in their classrooms or schools.
Plano ISD Education Foundation board members, program sponsors, district staff, and parent leaders will personally deliver $68,000 in monetary awards on November 12, to fund 54 innovative instructional programs. The Park Place Lexus Prize Patrol traveled throughout the 100 square mile district in six cars courtesy of Park Place Lexus.
As part of the surprise visits, each honoree was presented a special badge proclaiming his/her selection as a 2009 grant recipient. Each grant winner’s school was presented a banner for display throughout the year. Some 120 educators were recognized throughout the morning.
The Plano ISD Education Foundation Grants to Educators program is intended to help Plano ISD educators enhance instruction in schools and classrooms across the district. Earlier in the school year, teachers had the opportunity to complete applications for grants for programs for their classes, schools or joint programs at multiple schools. View complete listing of grants.
 Grant Committee Chairman Rick Dunham adds, "Because school districts are limited in funding all instructors’ needs, teachers frequently dip into their own pockets to enhance instruction in their schools and classrooms. The Plano ISD Education Foundation helps to bridge this funding gap. We are proud to offer this competitive grant program to Plano ISD educators every fall. Plano ISD educators make our classrooms exciting places for students to learn."
The Foundation awarded $68,000 in grants this year. Funding for the grants program comes from the following generous sponsors: Park Place Lexus, Plano ISD Council of PTAs, the Andrea-Mennen Foundation and the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation. Since the Foundation’s inception more than $527,000 has been awarded to Plano ISD teachers through the Grants to Educators program.
 Plano ISD Education Foundation Board President Beth Webb said, "The Foundation is pleased to assist our teachers by funding important programs they have planned to enhance student learning in their classrooms. The Grants to Educators program is one of the best ways that private dollars can support outstanding classroom instruction by educators across Plano ISD."
Each Park Place Lexus car had a team of five to seven Grant Patrol volunteers who each visited a selected number of campuses for the surprise presentations. View photos.
Grant Patrol volunteers included PISD Trustee John Muns, Jordan Case representing donor Park Place Lexus, Bart Ridley, Mark Ball, Windon Chau, Beth Webb, Lisa Raskin, Troy Tucker, Rob Sumner; Harvey Fishero, program donors Carole Greisdorf, Rudolph Andrea of the Andrea-Mennen Foundation, and numerous Plano ISD staff members.
This year’s grant program was chaired by Foundation director Rick Dunham. Volunteer judges included Foundation board members Rick Dunham, Robin Joseph-Williams, Kyle Walters, Sue Kay, Windon Chau and Mark Ball; seven community volunteers from the Plano ISD Council of PTAs; Plano ISD Teachers of the Year and Teaching Excellence awardees, and Plano ISD curriculum staff.
The Plano ISD Education Foundation celebrates its sixteenth year of operation, having raised almost $5 million to benefit Plano schools. The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that funds priority programs identified by the school district for which tax dollars are not available. Programs funded by the Foundation enhance student learning; recruit, retain and recognize the very best teachers; or address critical needs of students and families so that all students can be successful.
Grants are also funded through the Plano ISD Education Foundation Parent and Community Honor Roll annual fund drive, the Plano ISD employee campaign, and Ski Plano, an annual winter fundraising event open to the public. This year’s Ski Plano event will be held on January 30, 2010, at Southfork Ranch. For additional information about the Foundation or to make a donation, visit the Foundation Web site at http://foundation.pisd.edu or call (469) 752-8272.
Special Thanks to 2009 Sponsors
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