Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be licensed PreK-12 educators or certified staff members, employed at an accredited PreK-12 public, private, or charter school in the United States.
- Educators must agree to and follow AdoptAClassroom.org’s Terms of Use to apply and receive funds.
- Educators must have an AdoptAClassroom.org Classroom Page and have logged in within 60 days before the application deadline. Log in or register to create your Classroom Page.
- You can read step-by-step instructions for creating a classroom page on our blog. Or watch our quick video tutorial.
- Educators who have had $50 or more in classroom funds expire may be deemed ineligible for Spotlight Fund grants. Learn more about why funds may expire.
- Educators who apply for funds give consent for their application content, name, state, photo, biography, and the name of the school where they teach to be published in communications by AdoptAClassroom.org and/or their partners to promote our mission and/or partnership.
- AdoptAClassroom.org reserves the right to revise application materials for clarity or communication purposes.
Thank You Report Requirements
Spotlight Fund classroom grant recipients will be required to:
- Complete a Thank You Report outlining the grant’s impact on student success. This could be demonstrated by improved student engagement or attendance levels, an increase in grade point averages, and/or several other success metrics.
- Funded educators must also provide original thank-you content, including photos of what they purchased with the grant funds.
Thank you notes from students aren’t required, but are always accepted and appreciated. We encourage you to create a short video, as they are more dynamic and fun for your supporters to view! Check out our tips for teachers on how to create a good video.
Evaluation Criteria
AdoptAClassroom.org will be evaluating applications for the following:
- School need–Does the educator’s school fit AdoptAClassroom.org’s definition of a high-needs school based on the following measures?
- Relatively high percentage of students (80%+) receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
- Relatively high number of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Relatively high number of English-language learners.
- Educator need–Has the applicant received donation(s) on AdoptAClassroom.org worth more than $500 in the previous 12 months?
- School location (to ensure disbursement of funds nationwide).
- Log-in frequency–Has the applicant logged in to their AdoptAClassroom.org account recently? Is their classroom page up to date?
- Number of students impacted–How many students will benefit from the grant? If you have a smaller classroom size but a compelling need for funding, apply and tell us why.
Grading Criteria
1. The educator clearly explains the need for funding to support their initiatives or curriculum and their unique needs. (3 points)
- Educator either provides an example of student needs or the needs of a specific student population they serve.
- Educator’s explanation of need establishes their classroom as disproportionate to an average classroom in the U.S. (number of students impacted, the population of students impacted, community or personal impact, etc).
2. The educator confidently understands the impact of providing meaningful instruction in the area of the fund and demonstrates they are a leader in building equity in education by creating access and opportunity for students. (3 points)
Please see fund-specific criteria below:
- Arts Fund
- Educator clearly describes the impact providing meaningful arts and arts integration instruction (arts in other subjects) can have on students.
- Provides specific examples from their experience.
- Describes specific positive outcomes for students.
- Teacher makes at least one statement that makes a clear connection between their idea and benefits to students’ development in the arts.
- Educator clearly describes the impact providing meaningful arts and arts integration instruction (arts in other subjects) can have on students.
- Inclusive Classroom Fund
- Educator provides at least one example of a specific teaching practice or method that demonstrates how they currently create an inclusive space for students. The example(s) should demonstrate that an equity mindset is ingrained in their teaching practice and that they understand how to adapt their classroom to different needs.
- Educator is able to speak openly, directly, and confidently to at least one population of students of focus in inclusive/equitable education (race, ability, etc). There is no ambiguity about which exact population(s) benefits from current practices. Educator makes at least one statement that ties their project directly to a specific population(s) that would be served and expresses a clear connection to increasing inclusivity or equity for the group/s mentioned.
- Racial Equity Fund
- Educator demonstrates a strong understanding of the impact of racial equity in their classroom that is specific to issues of systemic racism and its impact on students and provides examples from their experience.
- Educator demonstrates that they are ready to take on the racism existing within the school, and educator practices demonstrate explicit/measurable impact.
- Educator makes an explicit tie between the project and how it addresses the racism that exists in education.
- Educator shares specific details about their school, classroom, students, or self as a Black, Indigenous, or Person Of Color (BIPOC) educator as they relate to systemic issues of inequality.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Fund
- Educator clearly describes the impact that providing meaningful STEM instruction can have on students.
- Teacher makes at least one statement that makes a clear connection between their idea and benefits to students’ development in STEM.
- Social-Emotional Wellness (SEW) Fund
- Educator demonstrates a strong understanding of the impact of social-emotional, physical, and/or mind-body wellness in their classroom with a student-first approach.
- Educator demonstrates they are ready to take on student social-emotional wellness in their classroom and school.
- Educator describes practices that demonstrate explicit/measurable impact and provides specific examples and/or cites CASEL principles:
- Foster knowledge, skills, and attitudes across five areas of social and emotional competence: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
- Establish equitable learning environments and coordinate practices across four key settings that support students’ social, emotional, and academic development: classrooms, schools, homes, and communities.
3. Educator articulates a problem that a $750 grant can realistically address and how the grant will make an impactful change in their classroom or for their students. (2 points)
- Educator lists specific items or has clearly thought through the price and quantity of what they need; list seems realistic to purchase with the funds.
- Educator explicitly states at least one positive outcome that their plan will result in.
4. Educator clearly demonstrates that they will utilize funds to deliver an impactful and innovative experience for students. (2 points)
- Educator demonstrates a fully developed idea they would like to complete in their school or classroom.
- This idea paints a clear connection to the fund topic; not a generic classroom project or reaching for a connection.
Apply for a Spotlight Fund Grant
Please visit our funding opportunities page for all 2024-25 Spotlight Fund application deadlines. Applications will be linked there when the calls to entry are open, as well as posted on our blog, and emailed directly to our educator newsletter subscribers.