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

KIDS Consortium is pleased to announce a special opportunity for schools and school districts in New England to apply for a professional development scholarship for service-learning. Schools and school districts selected for this award will receive one day of professional development services from KIDS Consortium on service-learning. KIDS Consortium defines 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 professional development 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 staff will work closely with selected schools and districts to tailor the professional development day to meet local needs.

KIDS Consortium anticipates making approximately 10 professional development awards for the 2008-09 school year. Training days will be scheduled between September 2008 and June 2009. We invite applicant schools and districts to propose their ideas for how to best use the day. One option, for example, 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 training staff and materials. 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 May 30, 2008.

KIDS Consortium will notify applicants of our award decisions by June 20, 2008; selected applicants will then work with KIDS Consortium staff over the summer months to select a date for the training and plan the day. 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.

Thank you for your consideration of this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you!