Information for Educators

Welcome to the Educators area of the Foundation’s website! The FBE values our system’s teachers and administrators and strives to work in partnership with them to enhance our children’s education.

Information included on this page:
Grant Application Deadlines & Notifications / Applying for a Grant / Funding Criteria / FAQ’s / Grant Application Examples / Program Committee Members

Grant Application Deadlines & Notifications

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Fall: October 18, 2023
Winter: February 14, 2024
Spring: April 10, 2024

AWARD NOTIFICATION
Fall: December 7, 2023
Winter: April 4, 2024
Spring: June 6, 2024

Applying for a Grant

Grant applications may be submitted at any time, but will be reviewed by the Program Committee in the fall, winter and spring. Before applying for an FBE Grant, please contact your Program Committee Member to discuss the project concept and receive helpful feedback and suggestions for a stronger application. Please scroll down to find your PC liaison.

Submit your application using the Grant Application link below. If you wish to print the application before applying or if you are unable to apply online, please click HERE to download a printable Learning Excellence Grant Application and HERE for an ITI printable version. N.B. Applications for an ITI Professional Development Grant must be submitted by a Leadership Council member.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Note: On the next screen, you will have to log in with your Belmont Public School account.

The Grant Application Step by Step

Learning Excellence Grant Application

  • The Project Director will select the “Grant Application” button above to be directed to the FBE’s online application form, which is hosted by the Belmont Public Schools, and log in. In the application, the ‘Project Director 1’ will be considered ‘Primary’ and should complete and submit the application. All FBE correspondence will be sent to the Primary Project Director.

  • Once the Primary Project Director completes and submits the application for consideration, the application will automatically forward to the principal or department head (selected by the Project Director) for review.

  • Once the Principal/Department Head has completed his/her review, the application will automatically forward to the Superintendent’s Office for review.

  • From the Superintendent’s Office, the grant application will be forwarded to the FBE Program Committee. A Program Committee liaison may contact the Project Director for additional information or clarification about the application. The Program Committee will consider the need for the project, the clarity of goals and objectives, the feasibility of proposed plans, the qualifications and directly related experience of the project director(s) and key participants, and the anticipated impact of the project on the Belmont Public Schools.

  • The FBE Executive Committee determines the funding that is available for each Learning Excellence Grant cycle.

  • The FBE Program Committee presents its report to the FBE Board of Directors; the Board of Directors votes to approve the funding of the grant award.

  • The FBE Administrator emails award or regret letters to each applicant on or before the grant cycle announcement date.

  • Please email Michael Gao, VP of Programs, at programs@fbe-belmont.org or the Program Committee liaison for your school or subject area.

  • FBE Grant Guidelines and Requirements:

    Please include your name, contact information, award number and award title in all communications relating to your grant.

    Basic Concepts. The grant proposal submitted to the FBE and the grant award letter from the FBE, establish the basis on which FBE funds are granted. They should be retained by the recipient for reference throughout the life of the grant. The Project Director listed on the grant award is responsible for managing the award and should provide these guidelines to co-directors and PTO enrichment committee volunteers who are assisting with the grant.

    Final Project Article. A Final Project Article is required by the date listed on the award documents. The article will serve as the basis for publicizing your project and for documenting the impact of FBE support has in Belmont Public Schools year over year.

    Project Expiration. FBE funds must be expended prior to the project expiration date unless otherwise extended with the approval of the FBE’s VP of Programs and Treasurer. After the project expiration date, any remaining grant funds for this project will be reverted to the FBE’s general fund to be allocated for other educational efforts to support the Belmont Public Schools.

    Payment of the Award. Your award letter and your Project Summary page indicate whether your award is to be paid by the Belmont Schools or by the FBE. Only expenses consistent with the amounts listed in the "Summary of Funding" (on the Project Summary page) will be approved for payment. It is the Foundation’s policy that the PTO/PTA must not make any grant payments to independent contractors or businesses on the FBE’s behalf.

    Policy Regarding Grant Payments. Please read the FBE "Policy Regarding Payments" for the rules of payment that the FBE uses for payment of grants.

    Questions: Contact Michael Gao, VP, Programs, programs@fbe-belmont.org, or Andrea Campbell, FBE administrator, administrator@fbe-belmont.org, 617-489-7989.

  • A Final Project Article is required by the date listed on the award documents.

FBE Funding Criteria

The FBE supports innovative projects that supports educational excellence and positively impacts students learning experience in the Belmont Public Schools. 

The FBE considers grants for:

  • Pilot programs, speakers, and educational programs to augment and support new curriculum

  • Equipment or materials that enhance the curriculum and refine teaching techniques

  • District initiatives that would be supported by sending a group of teachers to a conference or professional development course

  • External conferences or workshops for educators that are consistent with the criteria outlined above

  • Please also see ITI Professional Development Grant guidelines below

The FBE supports grants that:

  • Enrich the public school curriculum, support new educational models, and result in richer learning experiences

  • Provide significant benefit to as many students as possible

  • Encourage collaborative efforts between educators

Grant Reports:

  • A Grant Report is to be submitted to the FBE upon your grant’s completion - this is a conditional part of receiving a grant.

  • Video, audio, and written reports are all acceptable forms of grant reports. For written and audio reports, please include photographs/images of your ‘grant in action’


Innovative Teaching Initiative (ITI) Professional Development Grants

Innovative Teaching Initiative Professional Development requests should lead to or enhance innovative teaching practices in the classroom. Requests can include support for:

  • trainings and conferences relating to innovative practices

  • trainings and conferences on utilizing existing technologies, such as SMART Boards, or new tools, such as iPads, to produce innovative classroom instruction

  • curriculum materials related to innovative teaching practices

  • funding for Belmont Public School teachers to work on innovative curriculum and teaching techniques in the summer and/or during vacations

  • funding for Belmont Public School in-district, expert teachers to share their knowledge of innovative and teaching techniques with colleagues, external of their regular teaching duties.

Successful applications will reflect thoughtful planning, help reviewers clearly understand the content and context of the project, and give them the confidence that any Foundation funds awarded will be well spent. They should be clearly related to a high priority issue for the Belmont Public Schools.

FBE Program Committee Members

The FBE Program Committee members serve as a liaison to the applicants (Belmont Public School staff and administrators). In order to achieve a careful and thoughtful review of every grant application, a Program Committee member is assigned to each school and subject area. Every application submitted to the Program Committee for the FBE’s Learning Excellence Grant program is reviewed and ranked for funding. If a teacher or administrator has any questions about an application or the grant process, they should contact the Program Committee liaison for the appropriate school or subject area.

Please email programs@fbe-belmont.org or administrator@fbe-belmont.org to be connected with your liaison.

Vice President, Programs
Michael Gao, programs@fbe-belmont.org

Belmont High School
Hannah E. Fischer

Belmont High School Representative
Anita Liberty

Belmont Middle School
Susan Burgess Cox

Chenery Upper Elementary
Erin Beattie

Burbank Elementary School
Wenhong Liu

Butler Elementary School
Mauro Lance

Wellington Elementary School
Jerrel Jones

Winn Brook Elementary School
Maria Olagunju

English
Christa Bauge

Fine Arts
Natasha Bregel

Foreign Language
Christy Lawrence

Math
Amy Brown

Science
Nichole O’Connell

Social Studies
Angela Chan

Technology
Deidre Siegert 

FAQs

  • The mission of the FBE is to enrich the education provided by the Belmont Public Schools. The FBE hopes to make a positive impact on student educational learning and experiences. There at two types of grants:

    The Learning Excellence Grants Program funds programs or projects that have a broad impact on the school system, ideally affecting an entire grade level, subject strand or district-wide need. Successful grants are those that enrich student learning experiences that align with the curriculum. Examples of past LEGP grants include author visits, visiting speakers for Diversity Day

    The Innovative Teaching Initiative Grants support trainings and conferences relating to innovative practices, curriculum materials related to innovative teaching practices; funding for Belmont Public School teachers to work on innovative curriculum and teaching techniques in the summer and/or during vacations; and funding for Belmont Public School in-district, expert teachers to share their knowledge of innovative and teaching techniques with colleagues, external of their regular teaching duties.

    Please note that the FBE is unable to fund furniture, textbooks, travel, lodging or pilot programs on a recurring basis.

  • Staff members of the Belmont Public Schools may apply as Project Directors for and receive grant funding from the FBE. In rare instances, a parent or a member of parent teacher organization may collaborate and help draft the application for a grant, however, the final grant must be submitted online by a member of the teaching or administrative staff of the Belmont Public Schools.

  • • The FBE supports grants of many sizes. While the $5,000 cap was eliminated in 2015, smaller grants typically benefit a classroom or a grade in an elementary school while larger grants awards may benefit a larger number of students or a grade/subject area.

    •. Funding is subject to availability, as well as a comparison of other grants during the cycle. Based on funding, partial grants may be awarded. It is permissible to resubmit grants to the FBE that have been previously denied for various reasons.

  • • Any prior FBE Grant Award recipient interested in applying for a new grant must ensure that any outstanding project articles have been submitted to the FBE before s/he may apply for a new Grant.

    • Before applying for any LEGP Grants, grant applicants/project directors must contact the FBE Program Committee Liaison for their school or curriculum area to discuss the project concept before submitting the application for consideration. Once submitted, the application will automatically be forwarded to the principal or department head (selected by the Project Director) for review and approval. Once the Principal/Department Head has completed their review, the application will then be forwarded to the Superintendent’s Office for review.

    • Before applying for any ITI Grant, grant applicants should contact their Committee liaison to discuss the project concept and receive helpful feedback and suggestions for a stronger application. Applications for an ITI Professional Development Grant must be submitted by a Leadership Council member.

  • The FBE from time to time may accept repeat grants, especially in cases where the repeated grant is intended for another grade, another school or builds on the original idea. If you are applying for a repeat grant, be sure that your application form documents the outcome of the original grant and specific benefits that have resulted from it.

  • • There is a three-step grant review process. All grant applications are forwarded to the FBE Program Committee. A Program Committee liaison may contact the Project Director for additional information or clarification about the application. The Program Committee will consider the need for the project, the clarity of goals and objectives, the feasibility of proposed plans, the qualifications and directly related experience of the project director(s) and key participants, and the anticipated impact of the project on the Belmont Public Schools.

    • The FBE Executive Committee determines the funding that is available for each Learning Excellence Grant cycle.

    • The FBE Program Committee presents its report to the FBE Board of Directors; the Board of Directors votes to approve the funding of the grant award.

  • FBE grants are paid either through the Belmont Public Schools or directly from the FBE. The award letter will outline how grants will be paid.

  • Grants may not be approved for a variety of reasons – the teaching philosophy is not in line with the policies of the Belmont Public Schools; the benefits are not clearly evident; the number of students impacted is low; the number of deserving applications is high compared to the funds available in any one grant cycle, etc.

    The FBE attempts to fund grants that serve a variety of purposes and populations, so occasionally a grant may be rejected if several grant applications overlap in subject or target recipient.

    In some cases, the FBE may feel some parts of the rejected grant need to be reworked. The Program Committee will suggest changes and encourage the applicant to apply in the next grant cycle.

  • The Grant award letter will provide the project completion date. At that time, all funds should be spent. If there is a delay in completing the project, the Project Director may submit a request for an extension to complete their project. Requests for extensions should be directed to the VP of Programs.

  • • Click here for a printable version of the application. Before submitting the application online, it is highly recommended that you type out your draft application in a google or word document and then cut and paste your text in the online application.

    • Before submitting a grant application, grant applicants/project directors must contact FBE Committee liaisons must contact the FBE Program Committee Liaison for their school or subject area to discuss any proposed grant project. This process ensures that the Program Committee is aware of your interest and intention to submit a grant.

    • The online application form for LEGP and ITI Grants can be found here.

  • programs@fbe-belmont.org