Education Program: Key Elements

KEY ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION PROGRAM PROPOSALS
The Stuart Foundation's Education program encourages organizations to submit proposals for projects that exhibit the following characteristics:

• The project tackles a significant challenge experienced by many educators and students in California and/or Washington.
• The project focuses on improving policies and/or practices that shape the educational experiences of students in school or school-related programs, rather than in programs designed to compensate for inadequate schooling.
• The proposed grant will support work that could not be done under existing circumstances. Funding will provide the opportunity to try something new, allow participants to work in new ways, develop new information and knowledge, or disseminate knowledge and tools that will significantly benefit students.
• Project partners demonstrate their commitment to their work with the resources they are prepared to invest.
• Strategies incorporate and reflect learning from related projects and the research base.
• A well-articulated work plan and budget that fits the project's stage of development and allows time to ramp up a new program, make mid-course adjustments as needed, and gather and analyze data on program effectiveness.
• A statement of the project's objectives and anticipated outcomes.
• Details on how progress will be measured and the anticipated impact and outcomes of the program. It is essential to demonstrate how children, youth and families will benefit as a result of the work.
• A plan for sustainability after the grant has ended, including details about how existing public funding streams will be reallocated.