The Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation is accepting Public School Proud Grant applications. Educators from all grade levels who are employed by the Sioux Falls School District can apply for up to $10,000 to purchase creative, innovative, and inventive materials that will enhance and enrich the learning environment. Applications for the 2020-2021 school year are due on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 5 p.m. Please email Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us for the grant application.

Examples of materials the Education Foundation has funded include: robotics kits, drones, light tables, podcasting equipment, social emotional learning tools, adapted musical instruments for students with special needs, scientific sensors, garden growing kits, virtual reality headsets, microcomputers, art supplies, Playaways and audio books, web cameras, sensory paths, switch-accessible toys, heart-rate monitors, GPS units, 3D printers and more.

Since 2008, the Education Foundation has awarded more than $550,000 through this program. The smallest grant the Education Foundation awarded was $66, and the largest grants have been at the $10,000 level. This is a competitive process.  Administrators and Grants Committee members evaluate applications blindly. The Education Foundation Board of Directors votes on the final grant allocation.  

The selection panel will consider proposals for:

     • Activities that give students hands-on, immersive opportunities to learn

     • Materials that teach concepts in an innovative or creative way

     • Enhancements to existing curriculum

     • Teaching tools that align with curriculum and teaching standards

     • Materials that support the mission of the SFSD

Individuals requesting more than $3,000 may be asked to give a formal presentation to members of the Grants Committee. Grant proposals may include projects that require the purchase of equipment or software. If installation or maintenance costs will be incurred, staff members need to get administrator approval. Any orders placed on Amazon should link to the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation on Amazon Smile as the nonprofit to benefit from purchase.

Winners are required to attend one of the Education Foundation’s fundraisers, either the State of the School District Breakfast (August of each year) or Public School Proud: Student Showcase (typically during the fall semester). Grant recipients are expected to share what they have learned from this project with other teachers in a professional format during the school year.

Proposals requesting salary, employee travel, conference costs, or reimbursements for items already purchased will not be considered. Teachers can submit one proposal per school year. Substitute teachers are not eligible to apply for this grant.

Please email Allison.Struck@k12.sd.us with any questions about Public School Proud Grants.