Grant for Geographic Literacy

2011 NCSS Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy Guidelines and Criteria

National Council for the Social Studies honors annually the outstanding performance of teachers, researchers, and other worthy individuals and programs, and has encouraged unique and innovative social studies education projects through its award and grant programs. NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary, and college educators of social studies; teacher educators; researchers; curriculum designers; and curriculum specialists. The Council engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies.

Sponsored by:
* National Council for the Social Studies
* Herff Jones l Nystrom Education Division

Frequency:

• Annual

Award:

• $2,500
• Commemorative gift
• Annual Conference presentation session
• Publicity

Purpose:

To promote geography education in the schools; to enhance the geographic literacy of students at the classroom, district, or statewide level; and to encourage the integration of geography into the social studies curriculum/classroom.

Criteria:

• Sound rationale and appropriate methods for incorporating the study of geography into the social studies curricula.
• Specific plans for enhancing geographic literacy.
• Feasibility of program implementation.
• Number of teachers and students served.
• Potential for program continuation or its effects after initial implementation.
• Incorporation of the National Geography Standards as identified in Geography for Life, the "Fundamental Themes in Geography", and appropriate sections of Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies.

Eligibility:

• Programs, not individuals, individual lessons or units, which will enhance the geographic literacy of students at the classroom, district, or statewide levels. Recipients may be individuals or groups in school districts, public institutions, or universities.
• Proposals from individuals having already received this grant may be considered after three-years from the last time they received this grant.

Proposal Requirements:

• Cover page (See Attachment Below)
• Abstract
  • Double-spaced.
  • 150-200 words (maximum).
  • The program abstract should contain a clear and concise statement of the program's objective, briefly describe or summarize program activities, and identify the populations served
• Proposal - Five pages, double spaced (maximum).
  • Concise rationale statement.
  • Complete program description that highlights specific geography skills and knowledge that will be introduced or reinforced.
  • Number of teachers and students served.
  • Specific criteria for and means of evaluating program effectiveness.
  • Statement of potential program impact after the first year.
  • Specific line-item budget for $2,500 program grant. Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs.
  • Vitae or professional resume - for all key persons involved in the implementation of the grant.
• Publicity Outreach. Please provide the name, contact name, title, and e-mail for:
  • Major local/community newspaper (up to 2)
  • District Superintendent
  • Direct supervisor
• Information Release Statement (on cover page)

Submission Requirements

• Submit all materials to excellence@ncss.org (Submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. EST of the deadline date of the grant in order to receive consideration)
• Materials must be in a single PDF (scanned document) at 400dpi
• Include subject headers for each Proposal Requirement
• No mail in copies will be allowed

Review the contents of your submission carefully! The subcommittee will consider composition, spelling, grammar, etc. in the evaluation process. Application materials that are incomplete or that do not meet the established award criteria requirements will not be considered. The selection subcommittee reserves the right to remove from consideration any application that fails to meet all submission requirements. All Subcommittee Award Selection Decisions Are Final!

Recipient Responsibility:

• The grant recipient maybe contacted to assist in a one hour session at the NCSS Annual Conference in which the recipient shares their successful grant writing process.
• In the year following grant implementation, the grant recipient will be expected to participate in a one hour session at the NCSS Annual Conference, in which the recipient will report on the implementation of the project and offer evidence of its success.

For more information on NCSS Awards and Grants, contact Prema Cordeiro, Program Manager at excellence@ncss.org or 301-588-1800, ext. 106

Deadline Date: March 21, 2011 at 11:59p.m. EST

Send to:
Grant for the Enhancement of Geographic Literacy Subcommittee
at excellence@ncss.org