S how clear connections to student work. Students should be directly involved in the activities funded, except in the case of some professional development activities for teachers. In such cases, the professional development plan should clearly show how the activities for teachers will directly benefit students. These projects should significantly enhance student learning experiences. With district and school resources available for books, proposals should clearly indicate why Teachers Fund resources are necessary and why alternative sources of support are unavailable or inadequate.
Funding is also available for field trips, provided they are in the context of a broader project.
Field trips must be one component of a well-planned and integrated academic endeavor that includes complementary classroom activities. In addition, funds may be used to compensate experts working with students, such as local artists and musicians, though the project proposals must clearly indicate how these experts will work with teachers to build the capacity to continue such activities after the experts leave. Small Grants may also be used by individual teachers who are seeking professional development. Funding may be used for specific conferences or workshops as long as the proposal clearly shows how the activity for the teacher will benefit students. The majority of our grants fall into the Small Grants category.