The McPherson Unified School District Community Education Foundation is committed to its mission: “To enhance the basic support of the educational programs and goals of the McPherson Unified School District for the benefit of students.”  By pooling funds given by individual citizens and organizations, the Foundation is able to offer the following grant programs to our educators: Grants to Teachers; Endowment for Experts; School Grants; and Professional Growth and Development. Grants will provide funds above and beyond the district’s operating budget when funds from other sources are unavailable. Grants will be awarded for projects that support the school improvement efforts of the district and for projects that emphasize sound educational practices used to further student achievement. Grants will not be awarded for materials or programs that replace existing materials for district adopted programs.

The Allocations Committee of the Foundation will be in charge of application preparation, dissemination, review and recommendation of funding to the full board for final approval.  Projects will be looked upon favorably if they reflect the outcomes and goals of McPherson USD 418 and if they are written for the benefit of students.  Grants that follow the stated criteria and grant-writing protocol will receive priority in the selection process. To be eligible for a grant, educators must meet the following criteria:

• Be employed by McPherson USD 418;

• Secure their administrator’s approval for the grant project; Director of Instruction approval for professional growth & development grants

• Submit an application responding to all areas on each required form;

• Agree to cooperate with news media for publicity about grant selection and progress of projects;

• Agree to share methods and results of project with colleagues and with Education Foundation board members and/or Board of Education;

• Agree to provide a financial accounting and a written and/or oral report to the Foundation Board at the conclusion of the project.

Grants will be awarded once each year with the application deadline set for the first Friday in October.  No application will be accepted after that date.  Recipients will be announced in early November.

All applicants will be notified concerning the status of their application.  If approved the recipient will receive instructions regarding the expenditure of funds.  Funds must be spent by June 30 of the grant year.

All grant recipients will be required to give a detailed, written and/or oral report to the Foundation Board the following year the grant was awarded. The Foundation Board will then select the most exemplary grants to be presented to the Board of Education.