You often hear stories about teachers who are so dedicated to their students that they will spend their own money to purchase classroom items or an experience that their school simply can’t afford. That’s one of the reasons why Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul started a Teacher Grant Program several years ago. The money that’s awarded to teachers helps offset some of the costs for projects that they deem necessary to enrich the lives of their students.
The mechanism is simple: Teachers in the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Richfield, and South St. Paul public school districts apply online for a grant, explaining how the grant will be used. Grants are awarded up to $800. Some of this year’s grant dollars were used for cooking classes, music enrichment, workbooks for students with special needs, community gardens, culturally-specific books, and a host of other projects or needs identified by the teacher applying for the grant. One teacher used the grant to purchase music books. Her students learned several songs and then performed them for their classmates and proud parents. The teacher said that ‘without the grant they would not have had music books.’
Members of Assistance League evaluate each application, with an eye toward those requests that can make a real difference in the lives of students. Preference for the grants is given to innovative projects that:
- Improve student achievement/self-esteem
- Encourage parent/community involvement
- Improve curriculum, including distance learning
In 2021/2022, Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul awarded 91 grants to teachers – impacting the lives of over 13,000 students. This fiscal year (2022/2023), the number of grants awarded climbed to 106 with over 21,000 students benefiting from these grants! The chapter is expected to see even more requests in the coming years and is working toward increasing the amount awarded to $1,000 per grant.
Although the grant doesn’t necessarily cover all the costs associated with a specific project or need, it’s a start. For many teachers, this is a way for them to provide their students with a unique learning experience that – in many cases – goes beyond the traditional classroom. For Assistance League of Minneapolis/St. Paul it’s just one example of how the chapter is helping students become the best versions of themselves.
The deadline for grant applications is mid-October, with grants awarded in November.