NWEA

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:

Certain schools and districts serving primarily underrepresented students and/or students facing socioeconomic disadvantage in the pre-K to 12 U.S. system. Educators, including teachers, principals, and education specialists, may apply for awards to their schools/districts. The schools/districts/organizations must be either:

Organizations and activities that are not eligible for funding are: for-profit organizations; religious programs focused on religious activities only (applicants at faith-based schools inclusive of all beliefs and backgrounds are invited to apply); or organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical circumstances, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or in hiring practices.
In addition to the factors noted above, applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

(1) Evidence base: justification of an evidence-based, high quality program focused on facilitating the academic development of students;
(2) Equity mission: alignment with the priority to remove systemic barriers to academic success for economically disadvantaged students and/or students of color;
(3) Cultural relevance: evidence of culturally-relevant fit of the program based on the community/populations served; and
(4) Academic focus: explicitly focused on improving academic opportunities and outcomes for students served.

No purchase is necessary for eligibility. Whether an applicant uses NWEA products and services will not be taken into account in selecting grant recipients.

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION:

(1) school/classroom demographics by racial/ethnic subgroup (in percentages);
(2) additional information about the students served, such as the socio-economic status of the community, how many students are on free and reduced lunch, how many are English language learners or need special education services.

Applicant must provide a program overview/summary which must include a description of the program/activity, including:

(1) the number of students served;
(2) the program mission and goals, how cultural relevance is incorporated into programming, how the program promotes equity;
(3) the program effectives and the evidence/research it is based on;
(4) How the Educators for Equity grant funding will help foster academic growth and remove systemic barriers to opportunities for traditionally underserved students;
(5) the intended program outcomes, specifically how the Applicant will measure success of the program and what academic outcomes the program aims to produce for student participants and how those outcomes will be measured; and
(6) program timeline; the curricula, if applicable (please specify if it is aligned with state standards).

Applicant must describe in detail their grant funding budget and include a narrative describing how the grant funds will be used and the reasons for all materials and resources purchased using grant funds.
Funding is not intended for the primary purpose of purchasing supplies and materials or for professional development.

WHAT NWEA MAY DO WITH THE APPLICATION INFORMATION:

For 501(c)(3) Applicants, NWEA may verify their tax status by obtaining a copy of the IRS Determination Letter, verification in IRS records, and, if the Applicant is not 501(c)(3) qualified but has a fiscal sponsor who is, NWEA may verify the tax status of the fiscal sponsor.
For U.S. organizations other than 501(c)(3), NWEA may investigate the organization, and such investigation shall include collection of information similar to that required to apply for the grant and may include a site visit. Additionally, NWEA shall require the Applicant to make a report on the use of funds, compliance with grant terms, and progress made.
Finally, Applicant grants NWEA permission to copy, reproduce, and use all or a portion of the Applicant's application and reports, video/audio records, photographs, images or written or spoken testimonials for all purposes including advertising, trade, or any commercial purpose throughout the world and in perpetuity without further consent from Applicant and without further compensations. Applicant also grants to NWEA the right to use its name in connection with all uses of the above and waives the right to inspect or approve any use. NWEA may visit the Applicant's premises and review activities with respect to the project and shall permit NWEA to conduct, at NWEA's own expense, an independent financial and/or programmatic audit of the expenditure.

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

Applications are due by June 11, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Application review will take place during the months of June and July 2021.
Awardees will be notified in August 2021.
Grant awards will be sent as a single, one-time payment for the full award amount and will be sent to the grant recipient around October 31, 2021. Awardee shall execute a contract with NWEA as a condition of the receipt of grant funds.

NWEA'S CANCELLATION RIGHTS:

Last updated: March 8, 2020

EDUCATORS FOR EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM