Thank you for your interest in the LEF grants program. LEF grants are designed to provide funding for classroom projects which increase learning opportunities for students and reward the creative initiative of teachers.

Lafayette Education Foundation grants are made possible by generous support of the community. LEF’s mission is to promote and support excellence in education. One of the ways in which we accomplish this is by channeling available funds directly to the classroom for worthy, creative and innovative projects to assist children in achieving their full potential.

The information you include in this application form will provide the Grant Review Panel with the data it needs to make a decision regarding the funding of your project.

Applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis by a Grant Review Panel comprised of community, business and education volunteers. No current employee of the LPSS will serve on the panel. The Executive Director and Programs Director of the Lafayette Education Foundation will coordinate the grants process, but will serve only as non-voting advisers to the review panel.

The budget request may include materials needed to accomplish the project, consultants who are necessary for the successful implementation of the project, staff development directly related to the purpose of the project, equipment and/or field trips only if an integral component of the project. Substitute pay, teacher salaries, out-of-state travel, and/or lodging will not be funded (conference fees CAN be funded). Projects cannot displace or replace programs funded through the LPSS General Fund, the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) or State General Fund.

GRANTS ARE AWARDED BASED UPON THE ACADEMIC MERIT OF THE PROJECT. ALL PROPOSALS MUST BE THE ORIGINAL PRODUCT OF THE APPLICANT(S) REQUESTING FUNDING. “GHOST WRITING” OR “ASSIGNING” GRANT PROJECTS TO INDIVIDUALS NOT PERSONALLY INVOLVED IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, AND APPLICANT(S) WILL BE INELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE FUNDING.

Who is eligible?
Any Lafayette Parish public school classroom teacher, librarian, guidance counselor, social worker, arts education or other education professional directly involved in Pre-K–12th grade classroom instruction is eligible to apply. All projects must conform to approved state and parish curriculum guidelines.

May I submit more than one application?
There is a limit of two (2) applications per teacher. Two applications for LEF Classroom Grants Program may not be submitted simultaneously for the same project as duplicate applications for funding for one school year.

Who is eligible?
Any Lafayette Parish public school may apply for a School Impact Grant, even if the school received one the previous school year. The grant must affect a grade level, curriculum area or entire school. All projects must conform to approved state and parish curriculum guidelines.

May a school submit more than one application?
No, only one School Impact application can be submitted per school year. A team must consist of AT LEAST 4 MEMBERS, all active in implementing the grant project.

Applications are anonymous. Applications will be disqualified if they include applicant’s name or school reference in any section other than the Basic Information page.

In writing your grant application, please consider the following evaluation criteria used by the grant review panel in determining funding.

To what extent is the project creative and innovative? (20 points)

Based on stated learning goals, is the project realistic and measurable? (10 points)

To what extent are the methods, needed materials, resource personnel, schedule of activities, budget, and completion date of the project appropriate for project success? (5 points)

To what extent is there reason to believe that the project will be sustained beyond the grant funding period? (5 points)

What is the likelihood that this project can be repeated in other classrooms or schools? (5 points)

What is the approximate number of pupils affected by this project? (5 points)

The selection criteria have been weighted to maximize creativity, innovation, and education value. Total maximum score is 50.

TIP: Ask a teacher and a non-educator to read your grant application and score it based on these criteria.