2024-2025 Putting Students First Grant Application

  • APPLICATION GUIDELINES
    Read carefully to fully understand guidelines and expectations.
    To download and print this form, please click here.


    Award Range:
    Up to $1,00 per project. The number of initiatives funded will depend upon available funds.

    Key Criteria & Eligible Projects:
    Review and award of project funds will be based on the project’s anticipated need of supplies, resources, and opportunities/experiences to fulfill classroom needs and to impact student’s educational readiness. The project funds should have a clear alignment with BCPS goals, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Contributing to a Brighter Future and the school’s progress plan, with clear measurable objectives, and overall impact and potential for successful use and/or implementation.

    The 2024-2025 projects funds should be used to support the student(s) served by the educator(s) within their classroom/grade level/department and/or disciplinary area, organization/club or schoolhouse.

    Grant funds can be used to:
    • Purchase classroom resources such as books to enhance classroom libraries or individual student literacy needs.
    • Purchase basic but necessary materials and supplies to meet the academic, health and wellness, social-emotional and/or therapeutic needs of a classroom or student(s).
    • Purchase classroom resources such as audio visual/technology supplies to impact the delivery of instruction, must be aligned with the district’s specifications.
    • Plan a classroom opportunity/experience such as but not limited to field trips to enhance learning.
    • Pursue innovative professional development or new teaching initiative such as hosting a presenter or an assembly, must be aligned with the district’s specifications.


    Projects must be conducted and supervised by BCPS professional personnel who work directly with students, including teachers, school counselors, media specialists, nurses, etc. Funds may not replace normal funding from tax-based sources. The proposal should describe a quantitative and/or qualitative method to evaluate the success of the project. Funds may cover travel, participation in events/activities, consulting fees, and speaker honorariums. Funds may not cover personnel or any related expenses for BCPS staff, including gift cards and food/beverages. If food is purchased for students, it must align with USDA health regulations.


    Application Deadline:
    On or before Friday, September 27, 2024 by 5 p.m.

    Notification of Recipients:
    Recipients will receive an e-mail notification from the Associate Director on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, and a media release will through a Mission Moment and will also be placed on our website on Friday, October 25, 2024.

    Awarding of Funding:
    Funds will be disbursed to the school/organization for project expenses according to standard Education Foundation practice as stated on on the Request To Disburse Funds From The Foundation Account using the form titled "Request for Reimbursement/ Disbursement from a Foundation Project Fund" also located on that page. Any unexpended funds will revert to the Education Foundation unrestricted fund at the conclusion of the project on Friday, May 23, 2025.
    NOTE: Please do not use personal credit cards or cash when making grant purchases.

    Length of Project:
    Projects should be implemented during the 2024-2025 school year with all projects to be completed on or before Friday, May 23, 2025 , including the request to reimburse/disburse from the foundation project account.

    Applicant Eligibility:
    Applicants must be BCPS professional personnel. In the case of team-based proposals, a project coordinator must be designated to assume overall administrative responsibility for the instructional initiative grant application, submission of disbursement requests, and any other requested information or reports. Simultaneous funding of projects from the same applicant or benefitting the same classroom, department, or team will not occur.

    Proposal Review:
    Proposals will be competitively reviewed by the Programs and Allocations Committee of the Education Foundation. BCPS curriculum and instruction and/or business services professionals may be consulted as part of the proposal review for the purpose of compliance and alignment.

    Initiative Summary:
    A project summary is due to the Education Foundation upon the conclusion of the initiative no later than Friday, May 23, 2025. A grant recipient who does not submit a summary will not be eligible for future funding consideration until the summary has been received.

  • Application Cover Sheet

  • (Must be BCPS professional personnel)
  • NOTE: Application must be completed and submitted electronically on or before Friday, September 27, 2024, by 5 p.m. This cover sheet will not be included as part of the actual selection process by the Programs and Allocations Committee. Consideration of your request will be based entirely on the following proposal.

  • Application Project Description

    (Please select one of the following)
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • (May include funds from other sources)

  • Application Project Description

    Directions: Respond clearly and specifically to each of the statements/questions below, limiting to a maximum of (2) typed pages.
  • Respond clearly and specifically to the statement/question, and limit to a maximum of 1000 characters
  • Respond clearly and specifically to the statement/question, and limit to a maximum of 1000 characters
  • Respond clearly and specifically to the statement/question, and limit to a maximum of 1000 characters
  • Respond clearly and specifically to the statement/question, and limit to a maximum of 1000 characters
  • ItemDescriptionExpenseSource 
    Include specific information on materials of instruction, equipment, services, and any other fees, charges, and/or payments. If applicable, list funds/resources that will be required to implement this project beyond this grant request. Identify the anticipated source of funds for each expense. Proposed budgets can be revised upon request through the Foundation headquarters. Please list grant in the source column for expenses to be covered by receipt of this Education Foundation award.
  • NOTE: Copies of all original invoices and proof of payments will need to be attached to the Request for Reimbursement/ Disbursement from a Foundation Project Fund (See Attached – Page 6) and returned to The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., by the end of the 2024-2025 school year in which the initiative is implemented. All reimbursements need to be submitted on or before Friday, May 23, 2025.

  • Request for Disbursement of Funds provided in link below


  • Request to Disburse Funds From The Foundation Account

  • Self Check-List for Completion of Application

    See link provided for Putting Students First Grant Rubric for the assessing of the grant.

  • Link to: RUBRIC for Putting Students First Grant Application