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NEA Today, Jan 2008

Deadline Approaching for the NEA Foundation's February Grant Review

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY FEBRUARY 1, 2008, FOR BOTH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GRANTS AND LEARNING & LEADERSHIP GRANTS

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GRANTS provide 55,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging them in critical thinking and problem-solving that deepens their knowledge of standards-based subject matter.

LEARNING & LEADERSHIP GRANTS provide opportunities for teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in highquality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. Recipients will be notified by March 15, 2008. Grants fund activities for 12 months from the award date.

For information, including guidelines and applications, visit www.neafoundation.org or call (202) 822-7840.

A TOUCH OF CLASS

CLASS Grants are the NEA Student Program's answer for building community support for public education and addressing educational and social problems facing communities. CLASS Grants of up to $1,000 have funded local efforts by student chapters to:

HOST a book drive

CONDUCT a fund-raiser for school supplies and materials

OFFER after-school tutoring

WORK with a center for at-risk children

PARTICIPATE in adult-learning programs

SUPPORT Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America Inc.

AND much more!

Go to www.nea.org/student-program/programs/class.html and tell us how your chapter would like to make a difference in the community-you could be the recipient of our next CLASS grant!

Second-semester applications are due by January 31, 2008.

NEA FRIEND OF EDUCATION AWARD

The Friend of Education Award is NEA's highest honor and may be bestowed on an individual or organization whose leadership acts or support have significantly benefited education, education employees, or students on a national scale. This year, the deadline to nominate candidates is March 31, 2008. Nomination letters must include:

NAME of the nominee

NOMINEE'S position and/or organizational affiliation

NOMINEE'S mailing address (or organization mailing address)

NAME of the nominator or affiliate

SIGNATURE of nominator or affiliate officer

NAME of nominator's local affiliate, if applicable

NOMINATOR'S mailing address and telephone number.

If the nominator is an NEA member, send proof of membership (e.g., an NEA Today mailing label with membership number). In 100 words or less, indicate the reason for your nomination and summarize the nominee's qualifications for the award. Nominees will be evaluated based on leadership, acts, and support of education on a national scale. Supporting materials, such as publications or videos, may be submitted along with the nomination information.

Submit all nomination information and materials to:

NEA Friend of Education Award Committee

Attn: Yoianda Taylor, Executive Office

National Education Association

1201 16th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20038

GRANTS RECOGNIZE QUALITY IN SCHOOL-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The American Society for Quality (ASQ) invites educators from across the country who have instituted or will institute a community-focused quality improvement initiative in their K-12 schools to apply for the Community Good Works grant.

The grants support engagement of communities in the success of their schools and provide financial support and ASQ member expertise to help schools and non-profit organizations improve operations and performance by using quality management principles.

Grant applications are now being accepted for the 2007-08 year, and the Community' Good Works initiative seeks to fund up to eight projects that achieve the following:

THEY IMPROVE communities through the use of quality tools and technologies

THEY PROVIDE evidence documenting the efficacy of quality in improving communities

THEY ENGAGE ASQ members in improvement projects

THEY PROVIDE long-term benefit to the community.

There is no deadline to submit applications, however, applications will be accepted as long as program funding is available. To find out more and read about past recipients, visit www.asq.org/communities/good-works/index.html. Note that registration is free, but required, to navigate the site.

CALLING YOUNG ECO-HEROES

Action For Nature (AFN) has created the International Young EcoHero Awards to recognize and reward successful individual environmental initiatives of young people ages 8-16. The program encourages youth to "take personal action to nurture and protect a healthy environment on which all life depends." Winners receive a cash prize and certificate, as well as public recognition at AFN's Web site and elsewhere.

Applications will be judged on originality, difficulty, organization, length of time devoted to the project, influencing/educating others, use of outside resources (e.g., library, experts, media, community leaders), degree of success in reaching goals, and impact on the environment. For full contest requirements and an application, go to www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/index.html. Completed applications must be mailed to Action for Nature by February 28, 2008.