A competitive grant application for schools adopting the PLTW program in Wisconsin, Minnesota, * Illinois and * Iowa

*Iowa High Schools  --- Do not fill out this online application.  Please refer to the note below.  

*Illinois High Schools must include a DCEO attachment ( below ) with their Kern Family Foundation Application

Suggestion: (10 Steps to a Kern Application ) 

1. Download, print and review the "Grant Announcement" and  following resources and examples (below)
2. Print out the "Step-By Step Guide" attachment, and" Budget Guide" to see what information you will need to put together
3. Work out your budget and Online Application information on paper first using the provided worksheets examples and resources.
4. Send off the appropriate attachments for principals and  teachers to complete. 
5. Go to the online application, Register and Login ( Use the the "Step-By Step Guide"  it outlines a specific way to create a login )
6. Use the "Step-By Step Guide" and fill out the online information
7. After making sure the information is correct and you will make no more changes,  click “Final Submit”( as long as you don not press the final submit button you can use the login and password you created to come back to the application at any time)
8. Go to the UPLOAD Files Page (as directed in the application process)
9. Upload the Required attachments ( Principal Narrative, Teacher Narrative, Evaluation Survey Form, Signature Form,Letter of Support, Classroom Lab Depiction, and IF you are and Illinois High School, the DCEO Form)
10. Go to the UPLOADED FILES Page and print out hardcopies of all of your documents including the online application and mail them to the Kern foundation ( below)

 Average time to enter and submit data and upload attachments once all information has been gathered  ---- One hour and thirty minutes.

Iowa High Schools PLEASE NOTE:  A special funding structure based upon a partnership among the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Community Colleges and the Kern Family Foundation has been put in place and requires a separate application process.  Do not  fill out this online application.  For a copy of the Iowa application, please contact Ken Maguire, Educational Consultant, Program Development and Information Systems, Iowa Department of Education - ken.maguire@iowa.gov

Iowa Middle Schools interested in the Gateway to Technology program may apply with the online application to be included in the Kern Family Foundation's competitive grant process.

What a completed Kern grant application looks like…

            1. Online application information completed and submitted

            2. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS :  files to be completed and attached to the online application, (and saved for your own records)

·        Completed narrative questions from the Principal of each school mentioned in the application  (Click to download this form)

·        Completed narrative questions from the Lead PLTW teacher from each school applying (Click to download this form)

·        Evaluation Strategy  Survey Form  (Click to download this form)

·        Signed signature page  (Click to download this form)

·        At least one letter of support from a local community partner, preferably a business leader who has reviewed the application or has been part of the planning process. For Illinois High Schools, this letter must be from the business partner with whom you are jointly completing the application.

·        Digital Pictures or/and a floor plan sketch of your PLTW facilities   (Click to download an example)

            ·         Illinois high schools only: a completed DCEO grant application attachment. Illinois high schools cannot apply to the Kern Foundation without the DCEO attachment. Middle schools can apply without the                DCEO attachment
                    (Click to download this form)

3.      A Printed/Hard Copy of all of the above to be mailed to the foundation offices to:

 Mark Schroll
Program Coordinator
Kern Family Foundation
W305 S4239 Brookhill Road
Waukesha, WI  53189

Resources you will need to review:

 Kern Grant Announcement  (Click to download this announcement)
Describes The Kern Family Foundation’s interest in PLTW, lists how much you are eligible to apply for based on the configuration of your request

 Step-By-Step Guide (Click to download this guide)
This annotated guide depicts each section of the online application.  Combined with the attachments above the "Step-By Step Guide" gives a whole view of what the complete application looks like and will entail.  This guide shows you how to create a login and password,  and input your information about your district contact person, course implementation, district information, teachers names, and budget information.

Blank Online Application Worksheet   (Click to download this resource)
This file is a series of screen shots that create a blank worksheet of the Online portion of the application.  Please print out this form and use the "Step by Step Guide" above to complete your information on paper first.  This worksheet was requested by our users.  They report that completing all of this information on paper first allows quick edits and  dramatically reduces the entire process for completing a grant proposal.

Budget Guide for the Kern Application process (Click to download this resource)
The final portion of the online application is to give an outline budget of how you will use the Kern Family Foundation funding if your grant request is awarded.  This document gives resources, and blank worksheets that resemble what you will see online to work through before actually going to the application.

 Sample budgets
For a description of each of these implementation structures please refer to the “Grant Announcement"  above (Click a title below to download the example)

• A Single High School Program
• Middle School Program(s)
• Multiple High School Programs in the same district
• A Single Middle School AND High School program beginning at the same time
• Rural High School Consortia

 If you need to know what the program equipment costs, see the cost estimate and inventory guides from the PLTW site. Click the links below to access these resources.

• Cost Estimate Guide
• Computer and IT Requirements Guide
• High School Equipment & Supply Inventory Guide
• Middle School Equipment & Supply Inventory Guide

 
TO ACCESS THE ONLINE APPLICATION go to http://www.kffdn.org/PLTW/
Please have the “Step-by-Step Guide” in hand when you do access the site and remember that the Login and Password that you create will need to be used for all information regarding this application and if a grant is awarded, the same login and password will be used for all reporting and communication.

The deadline for submission is November 7, 2008. Applications must be submitted and postmarked by this date.

Please remember:
     This is a competitive process. Applicants should plan for PLTW next year, but an award is NOT guaranteed.

     An important function of this online process is the ability to generate and store copies of the entire application for the user.  We intend that this process provides a documented comprehensive picture of how and why your school wishes to implement PLTW.  This grant application is designed to give grant reviewers a clear and detailed picture of your school’s commitment to implementing a PLTW program. However, much of the information in this application can also be used to share your vision with other possible supporters of the program including other potential funding partners, local businesses, school board members, administrators, staff members, students and parents.

Questions? Please contact Mark Schroll at mschroll@kffdn.org or 262-968-6838 ext. 16.