NOAA Planet Stewards

Application Evaluation Rubric

Critical Elements

Element Criteria Evaluation

Focus area Project addresses an issue within one of the four focus areas Y/N

Letters of support All essential letters of support are provided Y/N

Budget Detailed budget included with application Y/N

Evaluation will not proceed to the next step unless all of the previous questions can be answered with a yes.

Main Evaluation

Element Application

section

Inadequate or Incomplete Adequate Excellent

Environmental

issue

24 ● Not tied to local context.

● Does not communicate

the significance of the

issue.

● Does not incorporate

appropriate resources.

● Tied to local context, but

not larger context.

● Communicates the

significance of the issue

and the need for action.

● Incorporates NOAA and

other science resources

● Tied to local context and larger

(regional, national) context.

● Communicates the significance

of the issue and the need for

action.

● Incorporates NOAA and other

science resources

Project idea 25 ● Project activities not ● Project activities are logical ● Project activities are logical and
described clearly.

● Project activities will not

effectively address the

chosen issue.

● Major decisions not

explained; no links

provided.

and clearly described.

● Project will effectively

address the chosen issue.

● Major decisions are

explained.

clearly described.

● Project will effectively address

the chosen issue.

● Major decisions are explained;

links or references are provided

to source material that

contributed to project decisions.

Desired

outcomes

26 ● Outcomes listed are not

tangible, quantifiable, or

related to stewardship

activities.

● Outcomes are not

realistic to expect as a

result of listed project

activities.

● Outcomes listed are

primarily related to

engagement and

education goals.

● Outcomes listed are

tangible, quantifiable, and

related to stewardship

activities.

● Outcomes are realistic to

expect as a result of

project activities.

● Outcomes listed are

stewardship actions, not

engagement and education

goals.

● Outcomes listed are tangible,

quantifiable, and related to

stewardship activities.

● Outcomes are realistic to

expect as a result of project

activities.

● Outcomes listed are

stewardship actions, not

engagement and education

goals.

● Explanation is provided where

necessary to justify the

numbers provided.

● Outcomes will make a

significant or long-lasting

difference to the environmental

issue.

People

involved

27, 31, 34 ● Incomplete list provided

or insufficient details

included. Each person or

group’s role is not clearly

described.

● Letters of support not

included.

● List shows a lack of

● List seems detailed and

complete. Each person or

group’s role is clearly

described.

● Essential letters of support

included.

● List is logical and shows

good preparation.

● List seems detailed and

complete. Each person or

group’s role is clearly

described.

● Essential letters of support

included; letters of support also

provided for major

contributors/partners.
logical thought and

pre-planning.

● List shows a lack of

cooperation and support

from the educator’s

community.

● List shows adequate

cooperation and support

from the educator’s

community.

● List is logical and shows good

preparation.

● List shows considerable

cooperation and support from

the educator’s community.

Applicant has developed

partnerships with additional

educators, external institutions,

and/or multiple schools or

grade bands.

Program

activities

32 ● Incomplete list provided

or insufficient details

included.

● Data collection,

planning, and outreach

activities not included in

list.

● Activities listed will not

achieve desired

outcomes.

● Details on who will

undertake each activity

are not included.

● Timing of activities

shows lack of planning,

or detailed timing is not

included.

● Detailed list provided.

● Stewardship, education,

outreach, and data

collection activities

included in list.

● Activities listed will allow

the project to reach its

desired outcomes.

● Details on who will

undertake each activity are

included.

● Detailed timing of activities

is included and

demonstrates adequate

planning and forethought.

● List provided is extensive,

detailed, and well organized.

Information presented in clear

chronological order.

● Stewardship, education,

outreach, and data collection

activities included in list.

● Activities listed will allow the

project to reach its desired

outcomes.

● Details on who will undertake

each activity are included.

● Detailed timing of activities is

included and demonstrates

considerable planning and

forethought.

Data collection 33 ● Data collection efforts

described in insufficient

detail.

● Timing and method of

data collection efforts

● Specific data collection

efforts listed, including

information on when,

where, and how data will

be collected.

● Specific data collection efforts

listed, including information on

when, where, and how data will

be collected.

● Timing and method of data
will not adequately

measure success of the

project’s stewardship

activities.

● Timing and method of data

collection will adequately

measure success of the

project’s stewardship

activities.

collection will adequately

measure success of the

project’s stewardship activities.

● Data tracking or measurement

software or tools are explained.

STEM career

participation

27, 34 ● Students will not interact

with STEM professionals

or learn about STEM

careers during the

project.

● Students will interact with

STEM professionals and

learn about STEM careers.

● Students will interact with

STEM professionals and learn

about STEM careers.

● Project designed to incorporate

significant interaction with

STEM professionals during

stewardship activities and/or

education activities.

Community

outreach

35 ● Outreach activities not

listed or listed with

insufficient detail.

● Plans provided to engage

local community before,

during, and after the

project.

● Detailed plans provided to

engage local community before,

during, and after the project.

● Communication plans will

create interest in the community

and encourage participation.

Budget 36 ● Basic, but incomplete, list

of project materials and

costs included.

● Budget includes items

not tied to an activity

listed in the relevant

sections of the proposal

or budget includes items

with an unclear purpose.

● Budget includes

expenses that are

ineligible.

● General list of project

materials and costs

included.

● Each item is tied to an

activity listed in the

relevant sections of the

proposal.

● All budget items are

eligible expenses.

● Detailed list of specific products

or tools with exact costs where

possible.

● Each item is tied to an activity

listed in the relevant sections of

the proposal.

● All budget items are eligible

expenses.

● Links provided for specific

items.
Additional Considerations

Element Criteria

Cooperative

Implementation

Additional educators have committed to take responsibility for active implementation of the

stewardship project with the applicant and are noted in the application.

Added Impact The proposed projects will engage multiple classrooms, grade bands, entire schools, or multiple

schools.

Underserved Audiences The applicant will work with Title 1 School(s), students attending these schools, or communities

with individuals which meet this definition as described by the NOAA Office of Education.

Underrepresented

Audiences

The project engages audiences (students/community members) which meet this definition as

described by the NOAA Office of Education.

Key Responsibilities The applicant possesses organizational leadership roles, skills, or engages in other activities that

give them an advantage in completing their project.

In-kind donations The applicant has secured commitments for in-kind donations from project partners for completion

of their project.

Project Persistence The project is designed to continue to benefit the community after completion or designed to be

self-sustaining after the funding period is complete.