Grants, awards and freebies — Jan. 17, 2013

Learning & Leadership Grants: NEA Learning & Leadership Grants support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of two purposes: grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences such as summer institutes or action research; grants to groups fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: public school teachers in grades K-12; public school education support professionals; or faculty and staff at public higher education institutions.

Deadline: Feb. 1. Contact: The NEA Foundation website

Achievement Grants: The NEA Foundation Student Achievement Grants provide funds to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning and critical reflection. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: practicing U.S. public school teachers, public school education support professionals, or faculty or staff at public higher education institutions.

Deadline: Feb. 1. Contact: The NEA Foundation website

9/11 projects could be worth $500: The 9/11 Tribute Center annually presents awards to teachers who have created exemplary educational projects to help sustain the memory of the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. This year the center will also recognize projects that have used the spirit of volunteerism that followed 9/11 to discuss the recovery effort in our region following Superstorm Sandy. To apply, please include your name, school, school address, grade of students, contact information and project description in an email to education@tributewtc.org.

Deadline: Jan. 25. Contact: The 9/11 Tribute Center website

Summer in the city: Each year the City Gardens Club of New York City pays program fees for a limited number of public school teachers to attend activity-oriented summer workshops at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Horticultural Society of New York, and a residential program on Hog Island, Maine, offered by the National Audubon Society. Scholarships cover the costs of tuition, “P” in-service credit where available, course materials and room and board when applicable. Elementary, middle and high school teachers who teach science in the classroom are eligible.

Deadline: March 19. Contact: Application forms and descriptions of the programs will be available starting Jan. 20 at http://cgcscholarships.org.