New England School/District Scholarships for Professional Development/Consulting on our Model of Service-Learning

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, and Vermont

WITH SUPPORT FROM LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA, KIDS Consortium is pleased to announce a special opportunity for schools and school districts in New England to apply for a scholarship for up to one day of professional development/consulting for service-learning. Training days will be scheduled from August-December, 2009. We anticipate making approximately 10 awards. (Application Deadline is June 30, 2009)

We define service-learning as a teaching strategy through which K-12 students identify, research and address real community challenges, using knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.

The basic objectives of the day are to help faculty members:

• understand the difference between the KIDS model of service-learning and other community-oriented educational experiences
• understand the importance of community partners
• learn about a variety of service-learning projects and see the benefits of service-learning
• learn the steps in a KIDS service-learning project

KIDS Education Consultants will work closely with selected applicants to tailor the day to meet local needs. We invite applicants to propose their ideas for how to best use the day.

• One option may be to offer a brief overview training for all staff in the morning and then a more in-depth session for selected faculty later in the day.
• Another option might be to offer two half-day sessions at different schools in the district (i.e. one session at an elementary school in the morning and the same session in the afternoon at the middle school).

KIDS Consortium will provide materials and a facilitator. Depending on the applicants request (e.g. number of people to be trained and depth of training), we will offer FREE of charge, a limited number of our award winning KIDS as Planners Guidebook. It may be advantageous to consider purchasing additional guidebooks.

Participating schools and districts are asked to provide appropriate space for the training, snacks/meals as needed, and to cover any expenses related to substitute teachers or other stipends for faculty.

To apply, please fill out an electronic application by June 30, 2009.

We will notify applicants of our decisions by July 15, 2009. Applicants will then work with KIDS Consortium staff over the summer months to select a date and plan the training. Please note that we will give priority to schools and school districts that have NOT received funding from the Learn and Serve America Program (www.learnandserve.gov).

Please contact us with any questions: kap@kidsconsortium.org.