Describe: I wrote a grant application for the AMC (Assessing Math Concepts) Anywhere online tracking system. AMC is the intervention I am implementing at Campbell. My school has all the AMC materials needed to implement the intervention; the online tracking system would make it easier to track students’ data, share data among teachers, and target interventions for students. The grant was submitted to an in-house Arlington Public Schools (APS) Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) committee. Earlier this school year I wrote, submitted and had approved a grant to the same committee. Campbell ended up not using the grant money but instead paid for the project from their own resources, which enabled a more complete implementation of the project.
Reflect: I don’t know yet if the grant has been approved. If it does not get approved, I will look for another funding source. If it is approved, I will use the AMC Anywhere system this year as part of my School Improvement Plan. My goal is to see if the system adds enough value to be worth continued use. I’m glad that I thought to resubmit a grant to the APS IAT committee; I don’t usually think outside the box like that. My principal said it’s possible there is still money left in the fund and they will use it to fund this grant. It’s exciting to be leading a decision-making process from the beginning.
Connect: The grant writing activity falls under Standard 6.3, in which candidates demonstrate that they can “assess emerging trends and initiatives in order to adapt school-based leadership strategies.” The whole idea of the intervention fits nicely with the district’s Response to Intervention (RtI) model, which is called Arlington Tiered System of Support (ATSS.) The ATSS training I’ve been to this year has given me ideas for the intervention as well as making me feel like I’m heading in the right direction. For me writing the grant and planning for the trial run of the system also relate well to Standard: 1.2 “create and implement plans to achieve school goals.” As part of the larger intervention, it is my responsibility to decide on a course of action, to try out my idea, then evaluate its effectiveness. At the same time, I realize that I will need feedback from other stakeholders in order to determine the effectiveness of the system, and of the intervention as a whole.
This artifact is the grant application.