• Digest of Education Statistics 2004

• 2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book Released

• Earn Professional Development Credits through Free Online Courses

• Mini-Grants for Physical Activity and Nutritional Improvement

• Digital Imaging & Visual Learning Grants

• Youth Nutrition & Fitness Grant Program

• Nick’s “Let’s Just Play” Sweepstakes Offers Schools and Nonprofits Money for Play

• Target’s "Take Charge of Education" Donates Dollars Through Charge Cards

• Captain Planet Foundation

• Barnes & Nobles, Inc.

• Time Warner

Olympus America, Inc. & Tool Factory, Inc. sponsor a classroom grants program designed to strengthen education through digital imaging and the power of visual learning.  To apply, go to www.toolfactory.com/olympus_contest/ on the web.

Maximum Award: $3,500

Eligibility: K-12 and special education schools in the US, its territories, and Canada

Deadline:  12/30/2006

http://www.toolfactory.com/

General Mills Foundation Champions Youth Nutrition and Fitness grant program to encourage communities in the United States to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people, ages 2-20.  Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and agencies working with communities that demonstrate the greatest need and likelihood of sustainable impact on young people’s nutrition and activity levels through innovative programs.

Go to www.generalmills.com/corporate/
commitment/champions.aspx to apply.

Maximum Award: $10,000

Eligibility: community-based groups

Deadline: 2/01/2006

http://www.generalmills.com/

Any K-12 public, private, or parochial school with a 501 (c) (3) or 509 (a) (1) tax-exempt status is eligible.  To designate your school for a percentage of your purchases, and learn more about the program, click here for more information or to apply.

Captain Planet Foundation

The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths.  The Foundation’s objective is to encourage innovative programs that empower children and youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities.

Projects must involve children ages 6-18 and promote understanding of environmental issues and help develop planning and problem-solving skills.

Grants range from under $500 to a maximum of $2,500.

Deadlines for submitting online grant applications are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.

Barnes & Nobles, Inc.

Barnes & Noble considers requests for national and local support from non-profit organizations that focus on literacy, the arts or education (K-12).  In addition, Barnes & Noble is committed to literary-based sponsorships and seeks to partner with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts.

Nonprofit organizations located in communities where Barnes & Noble stores are located that support literacy, the arts, or K-12 education is eligible to apply.  For local and regional donations and sponsorships, submit your proposal to the community relations manager or store manager at your local Barnes & Noble store.

Time Warner

Time Warner is committed to developing the next generation of leaders from among diverse and underserved youth.  To achieve this goal, Time Warner funds youth organizations that prepare teens for college, help them build skills in media and communications, raise awareness about the importance of after-school programs, and develop adult leaders for the public schools.

$431 – Kids In Need Teacher Grant Read to Succeed – Winner Regina Reyna at Memorial

Digest of Education Statistics 2004

The National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) has released its 40th issue of the Digest of Education Statistics.  The Digest’s primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from pre-kindergarten through graduate school.  It includes a selection of data from many sources, both government and private, and draws especially on the results of surveys and activities carried out by the NCES.

The publication contains information on a variety of subjects in the field of education statistics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons.  Supplemental information on population trends, attitudes on education, education characteristics of the labor force, government finances, and economic trends provides background for evaluating education data.

The Digest contains seven chapters:  All Levels of Education, Elementary and Secondary Education, Postsecondary Education, Federal Programs for Education and Related Activities, Outcomes of Education, International Comparisons of Education, and Libraries and Educational Technology.

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d04/

Every year for the past 16 years, the Annie C. Casey Foundation has published its KIDS COUNT Data Book.  The publication examines child well-being indicators.  This year’s data shows a downward trend in child welling with five out of the 10 indicators worsening since 2000.  More children are living in poverty, more babies have low birth weight, and infant mortality increased for the first time in 40 years.  Last year, the indicators showed 8 of the 10 had improved from 1996 to 2002.

All indicators were not dismal.  KIDS COUNT 2005 found that the high school dropout rate fell significantly between 2000 and 2003, the teen birth rate is declining, and the percentage of children living in single-parent families has stabilized.

The three states ranking highest on the child-being indicators are New Hampshire, Vermont, and Minnesota.  Ranking lowest are the three states most severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina: Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/databook

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) offers thirty-two free Teacher-to-Teacher online professional development sessions.  Topics include reading, writing, math, science, history, differentiated instruction, standards-based assessment, data, inclusion, and NCLB basics.  Many states allow teachers to meet their professional development requirements by completing these anytime anywhere workshops.  Go to www.paec.org/teacher2teacher/map.html to see what your state’s requirements are.

http://www.paec.org/teacher2teacher/

School Health Index Mini-grants for Physical Activity and Nutrition Improvements. The CDC Foundation and their Division of Adolescent and School Health have announced funding for elementary schools in 39 states to improve the health of school children by increasing physical activity and nutrition programs.  Most mini-grants will range from $1,000-$5,000, but not award will exceed $10,000.  Find full details at www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHI/grants.htm.  The deadline for the letter of intent is due November 14, 2005 with the full application due January 17, 2006.

The School Health Index guides school teams through a self-assessment process to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their health and safety policies and programs.  After identifying their areas of improvement, schools complete an action plan that prioritizes activities to improve their school health program.  These mini-grants might, for example, provide funding for building walking trails, increasing time for P.E.; increasing access to healthy snacks, incorporating curriculum around the new food pyramid or offering salad bars.  The majority of these mini-grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000, and no award will exceed $10,000.  To encourage sustainability and institution of school health improvements, schools must propose implementing at least one additional activity that requires no funding.  This activity may address any school health component or health issue and/or may address system issues such as policies or coordination.  Awards will be made early in 2006 and schools must complete the funded activities by December 31, 2006. A Letter of Intent must be submitted by Monday, November 14, 2005.  Applications are due by January 17, 2006.

http://www.cdc.gov/

The Let’s Just Play Giveaway started taking entries in August 2005 and will continue until May 31, 2006.  During each of the 10 months of drawings, independent judges draw enough $5,000 winners from the pool of qualified applicants.

The total value of the prize pool for one month is $100,000; the total prize pool for the whole 10 months is $1 million.

To exhaust the prize poll, which consists of 20 winners divided among four geographical regions.  The potential winners will be chosen from among all qualified entrants.  The total value of the prize pool for one month is $100,000; the total prize pool for the whole 10 months is $1 million.

Entering the sweepstakes is simple.  Click here to access the application and print it out, or simply hand print your name, address, phone number, age, and the top three reasons why your school needs more play.  Mail your entry to the address listed.

Winning schools or organizations must use the prize money for play and/or physical activities.  For the official rules, visit the website and download them, or send a request for the rules with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Nickelodeon
Attn: The Let’s Just Play Giveaway
1515 Broadway, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10036

http://www.nick.com