Koch Green School Grants
KOCH GREEN SCHOOLS GRANTS
CALL FOR PROPOSALS—DEADLINE CLOSED
The Kansas Green Schools Program is pleased to announce the “Koch Green Schools Grants” program for public and private K-12 schools. These grants are available thanks to the generous support of Koch Industries, Inc. A total of $5,000 is available this year through a competitive grant process. These grants are intended to encourage schools to develop creative, innovative, effective environmental projects which improve the environment; make schools a healthier place to learn, play, and work; and save money through reduced use of natural resources. Grant projects must address one or more of the following: indoor or outdoor air quality, solid waste reduction and recycling/composting, and/or water management through an integrated holistic approach emphasizing public health or environment-related issues. All school-based program initiatives must include direct environmental benefits and education as components of their integrated holistic approach. Examples may include:
- Air Quality (anti-idling programs; programs encouraging students to walk or bike to school such as Walking School Bus; monitoring; efforts that improve air quality; public or family outreach to encourage air friendly practices; using alternative cleaning products with desirable health and environmental attributes)
- Energy Efficiency (energy management audits; improved efficiency; conservation and reduction, acquired energy savings; converting schools to Energy Star; reducing or offsetting carbon footprints).
- Renewable Energy (wind; solar; hydropower; other renewable energy projects).
- Green Space (improving school or community green space that is utilized by students; role of green space in improving environmental conditions; employing green infrastructures such as bio-retention cells, outdoor classrooms or Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites-OWLS).
- Waste Reduction/Recycling (conducting waste stream analysis; developing waste reduction and recycling programs; “green or bulk purchasing”; completion of the recycling circle; composting);
- Water Conservation and Water Quality Improvements (implementing water conservation best practices; low-flow toilets and faucets; monitoring; Kansas stream teams; rain or waterspout gardens; xeriscaping at schools and community sites; constructing or using a rain barrel, and ongoing data collection).
Funding may be used to support the purchase of supplies, equipment and resources to be utilized with students as they engage in projects that integrate learning across the curriculum through relevant, hands-on school greening initiatives. Priority will be given to projects that are not currently funded through other Kansas Green School grant opportunities. Providing matching funds is encouraged but not required.
Who Should Apply? Any public or private K-12 school registered on the Kansas Green School Network. Registration is free and available at: www.kansasgreenschools.org
How to Apply? Complete an online application by APRIL 15, 2011
NOTE: You may wish to create your grant applications responses in a document prior to accessing the online application and cut and paste to the online application. A copy of the grant application questions is found in the attachments below.
Grant Amounts Awarded: Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded by May 1, 2011 for the 2011-12 School Year
Projects must be completed no later than May 1, 2012. A final report on the project is due no later than June 15, 2012, at which time the last five percent of the grant funds will be released.
For more information about the grants process, please contact SLaura Downey at ldowney@kacee.org or 785-532-3322.
Grants applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
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Project Description
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Project description does not address either direct environmental benefits and/or education as components of their integrated holistic approach.
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Project description partially addresses either direct environmental benefits and/or education as components of their integrated holistic approach.
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Project description clearly addresses both direct environmental benefits and education as components of their integrated holistic approach.
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Environmental Benefits
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Environmental benefits are not clearly defined and/or appropriate to the project. Overall, this project is not likely to achieve the environmental benefits identified.
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Environmental benefits are defined and are appropriate to the project. Overall, this project is likely to achieve the environmental benefits identified.
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Environmental benefits are well defined and are appropriate to the project. Overall, this project is likely to achieve significant environmental benefits.
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Environmental Education
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Environmental education goals are not well defined, and/or work plan is inappropriate for achieving cohesive integration of high quality, science-based environmental education with green school projects. There is only limited student engagement in EE through the proposed project.
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Environmental education goals are somewhat defined and/or work plan is appropriate for achieving cohesive integration of high quality, science-based environmental education with green school projects. There is limited engagement of students in EE through the proposed project.
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Environmental education goals are clearly defined, and work plan is appropriate for achieving cohesive integration of high quality, science-based environmental education with green school projects. Multiple classrooms are engaged in EE through the proposed project.
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Learning Objectives, Student Involvement and Community Engagement
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Learning objectives for students are missing, not clearly defined and/or are not appropriate for the proposed project. Proposal does not describe highly engaged and involved students in the proposed project completion. School and community resources and engagement are not a part of the proposed project. The project does not have the potential for broader community impact.
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Learning objectives for students are partially defined and appropriate for the proposed project. Proposal describes moderately engaged and involved students in the proposed project completion. School and community resources and engagement are a component of the proposed project. The project has the potential for broader community impact.
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Learning objectives for students are clearly defined and appropriate for the proposed project. Proposal describes highly engaged and involved students in the proposed project completion. School and community resources and engagement are a strong component of the proposed project. The project has the strong potential to have broader community impact.
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Timeline
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Project timeline is not realistic and/or students, school and community are engaged on a very limited basis in green school related activities and learning.
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Project timeline is realistic and/or students, school and community are somewhat engaged in green school related activities and learning.
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Project timeline is appropriate and students, school and community are engaged in ongoing green school related activities and learning.
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Budget
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Budget is not included/complete or is not sufficient/realistic
to achieve project goals outlined in the project description. Budget does not include any additional matching funds.
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Budget is included/complete and is sufficient/realistic
to achieve project goals as outlined in the project description. Budget includes some matching funds.
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Budget is included/complete and is sufficient/realistic
to achieve project goals as outlined in the project description and proposed expenditures will result in a sustainable project that has long term impacts. Budget reflects matching funds that maximize project impact.
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© 2012 Kansas Green Schools
Kansas Green Schools program sponsored by KACEE, KDHE, and Kansas Corporation Commission, State Energy Office. Additional support for Kansas Green Schools provided by Koch Industries, Inc. and The Staples Foundation for Learning
Kansas Green Schools program sponsored by KACEE, KDHE, and Kansas Corporation Commission, State Energy Office. Additional support for Kansas Green Schools provided by Koch Industries, Inc. and The Staples Foundation for Learning