Join network colleagues on Thursday, April 9th from 1pm-2pm EST for a webinar on Tinkering and the Intersection of Formal and Informal Learning. 

Grab a 12" x 12" piece of tinfoil and be ready to explore how tinkering ("making") is fast becoming a transformative learning opportunity, a platform to reinforce and measure 21st century skills and a powerful means for collaboration across multiple learning environments.

Hosted by Vermont Afterschool, Inc., the conversation will be led by Kylie Peppler, Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Director of The Creativity Lab at Indiana University; Christy Gallese, Director of Expanded Learning Opportunities, Burlington School District (VT); and Rachel Donegan, Educator, Montshire Museum, Norwich VT.

Webinar Link: http://bit.ly/1FNv2Am

Call-in Information:
1-877-668-4493

Access Code: 640 306 910

Full Description:
Tinkering ("making") is the intersection of science, art and technology. It is about using familiar materials in unfamiliar ways to create and "make" - individually or with others - something that has meaning to the tinkerer. It is a mindset. This working definition of tinkering will be the catalyst for discussing ways formal and informal educators can engage K-12 grade youth in tinkering as a transformative learning experience. In tinkering, youth are celebrate regardless of their "stance" as a tinkerer. 

Through careful observation, both formal and informal educators can capture a child's emerging "transferrable" (21st century) skills while they move through the iterative process of designing something functional, aesthetically pleasing or both! Researcher Kylie Peppler will anchor the webinar with comments from Vermont informal educators working to collaborate with other tinkering-minded educators across school day, afterschool and summer learning.

Get your tinfoil handy and register now!

DESCRIPTION:
Family and Community Engagement is, "an essential strategy in building a pathway to college-and career-readiness in today's competitive global society."

In recognition of this, the United States Department of Education developed a Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships (Framework) to support school districts' efforts to unite families and communities with the common goal of addressing gaps in student achievement.

Accordingly, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is presenting a new funding opportunity, "The Family and Community Engagement Expansion Grant," to assist New Jersey's high-needs districts in their efforts to engage family and staff in partnering to develop college- and career-ready students.

The NJDOE's Family and Community Engagement Expansion Grant provides federal funding under Title I, Part A for selected Title I school districts that are interested in using the Framework to align their existing family and community engagement initiatives and modify or expand them to build the capacity of families and staff to participate in effective partnerships that will ultimately lead to increased student achievement. Each grantee will be awarded up to $250,000 for activities to implement the Framework's Policy and Program goals and achieve the Framework's Staff and Family Partnership Outcomes.

In addition, eligible school district applicants must receive Title I funding and have existing family and community engagement programs that:
 

1. are community-based;
2. have a demonstrated record of effectiveness; and
3. are consistent with the legislative requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) §1118(e).

ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY:
The Family and Community Engagement Expansion Grant is a limited, competitive grant program open to Title I school districts that meet following the criteria: 

• Operate schoolwide Title I programs in 100% of their funded schools;
• Have a minimum district poverty rate of 75%;
• Have at least 40% of Title I served schools designated as "Priority" and/or "Focus" schools;
• Have an existing community-based family and community engagement program.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:
The NJDOE administers discretionary grant programs in strict conformance with procedures designed to ensure accountability and integrity in the use of public funds and, therefore, will not accept late applications.

The responsibility for a timely submission resides with the applicant.

The Application Control Center (ACC) must receive the complete application through the online Electronic Web Enabled Grant (EWEG) system at http://homeroom.state.nj.us no later than 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Without exception, the ACC will not accept, and the Office of Grants Management cannot evaluate for funding consideration, an application after this deadline.

Each eligible applicant must have a logon ID and password to access the system. LEA applicants should contact their district's web (homeroom) administrator who will complete the registration. Please allow 24-48 hours for the registration to be completed.

Questions regarding access to EWEG may be directed to: 

[email protected]
 

• Four $10,000 grants to school districts
• Thirty $2,000 capacity building grants to support school green teams
• Districts are the eligible applicant for the 10K application
• Individual schools are the eligible applicant for the 2K application

Application Deadline: Midnight, Sunday, April 26, 2015 

21st Century Community Learning Centers Program-Year 1/5

Division: Student Services and Career Readiness

Office: Student Support Services

Purpose:

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program Competitive Grant: Cohort 11 is intended to supplement the education of students in grades 4-12, who attend schools eligible for Title I school wide programs or schools where a minimum of 30 percent of students are from low-income families. The program aims to assist students in attaining the skills necessary to meet New Jersey's Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Therefore, all 21st CCLC programs must provide participating students with academic enrichment opportunities that complement the regular school day. The vision for New Jersey's 21st CCLC Program is to develop high quality out-of-school time programs through community learning centers that provide services not just to the child but to the entire family unit.

Currently, New Jersey's 21st CCLC Program is comprised of 48 grantees throughout the state. Grantees include local education agencies (LEAs), non-profit, for-profit, community-based, and faith-based organizations, operating solely or in partnership with other agencies.

Eligibility to apply for this 21st CCLC grant is open to all NJ public or private agencies, LEAs, nonprofit organizations, city or county government agencies, faith based organizations, institutions of higher education and for-profit agencies that are not currently receiving 21st CCLC funding.

The first year of this five year program is September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016.

Eligible Agencies:

NJ public or private agencies, Local education agencies, non-profit organizations, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, Institutions of Highter education and for profit agencies. Limited to that will serve grades four through 12.
 

• Approximate Number of Awards: 5-10
• Grant Program Type: Competitive
• Total Amount Available: $2,500,000
• Application Due Date: 4/30/2015

Click here to view the published NGO Document (.doc)