Best Buy Grant Opportunity - Due 9/30

Hi folks!

I hope you are still checking this blog for information. As part of our class you were asked teachers to put together a proposal around technology funding for your classroom. Please make a post and let me know what you received and how you are using it! Also, I hope to see many of you for Part II of this class starting on Wendnesday 9/26/07 at 3:15. Please contact Karen to signup!

If you would like to submit your proposal for a Best Buy Grant it is due September 30th, 2007 http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/teach.asp

Rewarding Schools for Engaging Students
At Best Buy we believe technology can excite and engage students, creating a more valuable educational experience. Through Best Buy Teach Awards we provide gift cards to schools so they can purchase technology for their students.

Highlights:
• Since 2004, the Best Buy Teach Award program has awarded nearly $14 million to over 5,000 K-12 schools.
• This year Best Buy will present awards to more than 1,300 schools
o $2,000 Best Buy Teach Awards for up to 1,300 schools*
o $10,000 will be awarded to up to 50 schools*
o $100,000 will be awarded to 8 school districts*
• K-12 public, private and parochial schools using interactive technology in classrooms are eligible to apply.
• Schools must be within 50 miles of a Best Buy store to apply.
• Educators must apply between July 1 and September 30.
• The 2008 Teach Award Winners will be announced on February 18, 2008.
If you could provide them with specific demographics on their School and District population (see below) they can submit an application online.

** I will ask your district to provide you with the logistical information for the online application.

School Information
School EIN - Federal Tax ID number
School Fax and Phone
School Enrollment

SCHOOL Information
Ethnicity of children in your school (combined total must equal 100%)
% Asian/Pacific Islander* =
% American Indian* =
% Caucasian/White* =
% Hispanic/Latino* =
% African-American/Black* =

What percentage of students in your school qualify for free or reduced lunch?*

What is the average percentage of students in your district who qualify for free or reduced lunch?*

District INFO
DISTRICT EIN - Federal Tax ID number
District Phone and FAX number

WHAT YOU NEED TO WRITE ABOUT .... (I would suggest you do this in word and cut and paste into the application).

Answer 4 questions
Question 1
Please respond to the following question in 2000 characters or less. If you exceed the character limit, highlight excess text to be deleted, then right click and cut or delete the text before editing the remaining response.

Tell us about the program or project you are submitting for a Best Buy Teach Award and describe how your students have used the technology products you identified earlier in creative, fun and hands-on ways to learn the curriculum in the classroom
2000 character limit (about 400 words)

**Note in Word you can do a word count (select the text) go to the tools menu and click on word count.

Question 2
Please respond to the following question in 2000 characters or less. If you exceed the character limit, highlight excess text to be deleted, then right click and cut or delete the text before editing the remaining response.

If you answered earlier that student engagement, comprehension and/or attendance have improved as a result of being able to use technology hands-on in the classroom please describe what the impact has been.
2000 character limit (about 400 words)

Question 3
If your school receives a Teach Award, what will be purchased with the Best Buy Gift Card to improve the program described in this application? Please include a shopping list of specific items you will purchase at Best Buy with quantities and estimated cost per item. Reference www.bestbuy.com for available products and prices. Please note that not all items available on BestBuy.com are available in Best Buy stores. (They could select from Tablet PC’s, Projectors, Digital Camera, Video Cameras, Microscopes, mp3 players/ipod, printers, etc)
You have space to list up to 15 different products or items. When entering cost/item, round to the nearest whole dollar and do not use any decimals, punctuation, or symbols (i.e. 1500 not $1,500.00)
Best Buy Product/Item: Qty: Cost/Item: Total Cost:

Question 4
Please respond to the following question in 4000 characters or less (about 750 words). If you exceed the character limit, highlight excess text to be deleted, then right click and cut or delete the text before editing the remaining response.

How will the products included in the previously listed budget improve the existing program described in this application?

4000 character limit (about 750 words)

If you do apply post a response in the class blog and encourage others to apply.
Maybe your school or distirct will win one of the larger prizes!


Good luck!
Mary Marotta