Math Enrichment Competitive Grant Program Description

Today's jobs demand workers with advanced education and skills. Competition has taken on a global perspective and 21^st century jobs require a solid foundation in math.

Middle school is an especially important time to make sure students have the foundation they need.

The DTE Energy Foundation's Math Enrichment grants are designed to improve mathematics instruction, identify and showcase best practices and, subsequently, enhance student achievement.

Program overview | Eligibility | Project criteria

Program overview

The DTE Energy Foundation Math Enrichment Program supports improved student achievement in mathematics through funding for enhanced and/or innovative mathematics teaching and learning at the middle school level.

Grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 based on the competitive merit and budget of the project and are awarded for a 24-month period.

The program launched in 2007 and will be offered every other year, giving educators two years to expend the funds and allow for measurement of results. The DTE Energy Foundation may suspend, change, revoke or terminate this plan at any time.

Program goals:

Sustain effective, high-quality mathematics teaching and learning that focuses on increasing student concept understanding related to the Michigan Department of Education Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs* ) for middle school mathematics
Increase student competence and interest in use of technology for mathematics learning,
Increase student interest, engagement and learning of mathematical content knowledge using innovative, creative, research-based mathematics teaching methods and/or materials
Increase use of innovative, creative and data-informed student assessment directly related to GLCE for middle school mathematics for more effective continual diagnosis and intervention
Higher student achievement as indicated by improved MEAP scores or a similar test of mathematics achievement
Identify and showcase success and best practices

Projects may involve:

Increased student exposure to curricula and/or instruction that is innovative or creative, and based on scientific research, aligned with Michigan Dept. of Education academic content standards
Improved or enhanced student assessment and instruction through the use of data and assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice and the development of appropriate next steps in instruction
Increased student competence and interest in using technology for mathematics learning

Program timeline:

August 2007	Application Submittal
September 2007	Grants Announced/Funds distributed
Sept. – Oct., 2007	MEAP test administered
January 2008	Baseline math scores obtained
Feb – June, 2008	Project implementation in classrooms
June 2008	Midterm project assessment
September 2008	2^nd year project implementation continues
Sept. – Oct, 2008	MEAP test administered
January 2009	MEAP results obtained
Feb. – June, 2009	Continue project implementation in classrooms
June 2009	Project ends/results submitted & evaluated
Summer 2009	Recognition event
Fall 2009	Best practices forum
Spring 2009	New applications accepted

Eligibility

Public, non-public and charter schools are eligible
Middle school grades (5^th , 6^th and 7^th)
School location/district must be within the DTE Energy service territory
Minimum of 100 students must participate in the project (Smaller schools may need to collaborate with other schools within their local district to qualify)
All applications must be authorized by the senior representative of the school or district demonstrated by a signature on the application cover sheet
Teachers, principals and school district administrators may apply
Grant recipients must be willing to participate in a best practice forum
Each project will be required to provide student MEAP scores or another equivalent mathematics assessment (stripped of identifying features) for at least two time periods, baseline and post program. Pre-, mid- and post- program scores using other mathematics assessments (criterion-referenced tests, classroom assessment) are also required for evaluation purposes.
Applications which demonstrate the most need as defined by MEAP scores (or another equivalent mathematics assessment), which are lower than the state average or insufficient annual yearly progress, will be given additional consideration

Project criteria

Projects must meet the following criteria:

Applicant may only submit an application for one project
Award funds cannot supplant other on-going mathematics initiatives, but may enhance or contribute to an existing effort
Project must focus on mathematics instruction at the middle school (5^th, 6^th and 7^th grades) level and clearly demonstrate how it is linked to The DTE Energy Foundation Math Enrichment Program goals
The proposal must clearly articulate how the funding for this program will integrate with on-going mathematics initiatives or school improvement goals
Project must be replicable
Grant recipients may be asked to present their project and findings at local or national conferences and/or at an event hosted by the DTE Energy Foundation. In addition, grant recipients must be willing to have their results disseminated to the field via publication or other avenues
Project results must be disseminated to the field through presentation at local or national conferences and/or publication(s). In addition, grantees must present their project key components and findings at an event hosted by the DTE Energy Foundation.
Project must be aligned to with the Michigan GLCEs*
If the project involves teacher professional development, it must be aligned with the new Michigan professional development vision and standards*.

* To view and print this information, you need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.