Research Programs
Agency: Russell Sage Foundation
Deadline: August 15, 2008
The Russell Sage Foundation supports research exclusively in the social sciences. Main Research Programs include the following;
- Future of Work, concerned with the causes and consequences of changes in the quality of low-wage work in advanced economies.
- U.S. Immigration, focused on the entry of immigrant families into the civic and political life of the country, and on immigrant experiences outside the traditional gateway cities.
- Cultural Contact, investigating how well U.S. institutions are managing to respond to the growing diversity of the American population.
- Social Inequality, focused on the social effects of rising economic inequality, with particular attention to the ways in which the U.S. political and educational systems have responded to growing economic disparities.
The Foundation’s major awards range between $35,000 and $500,000 and mainly provide support for analyzing data and writing up results, but will occasionally consider larger awards for data acquisition projects highly relevant to the Foundation's program goals. Applications for external awards should generally be preceded by a brief letter of inquiry to determine whether the Foundation's present interests and funds permit consideration of a proposal for research. Letters of inquiry concerning research projects should summarize the project's objectives, the work plan, the qualifications of persons engaged in the research, and an estimated budget.
URL: http://www.russellsage.org/programs/
Go To Top
Reminder: Improving Teacher Quality Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund Partnership Grant Program
Agency: Maryland Higher Education Committee
Deadline: September 17, 2008
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has announced the availability of approximately $1 million for projects providing teacher and principal professional development to improve the academic achievement of all students in the core subject areas. For purposes of this program, the federal definition of “core subject areas” is English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography. In Maryland, "arts" includes arts, music, dance, and theatre; "science" includes biology, chemistry, earth/space science, physical science, and physics. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible K-16 partnerships that aim to improve teacher quality; increase the number of highly qualified teachers and principals; and increase the academic achievement of Maryland students.
Eligible partnerships must include at least:
- A Maryland public or private institution of higher education (IHE) and the division of the institution that prepares teachers and principals;
- A Maryland public or private institution of higher education and its school of arts and sciences (defined as an academic unit that offers one or more academic majors in disciplines or content areas corresponding to the academic subjects in which teachers teach);
- A Maryland high-need local education agency (LEA). For purposes of this grant program, LEAs meeting the definition of “high-need” are Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Somerset County.
Applications must show evidence of cooperative planning, both between education and arts and sciences partners and between IHEs and LEAs. This should be apparent from the activities described, but applicants may also note meeting dates or include attendance lists in an appendix that show who attended planning meetings and with what partners each attendee is affiliated. Applicants might wish to describe previous collaboration, including any lessons learned as pertinent.
Professional development that will be funded includes, but is not limited to, activities that:
- Improve and increase teachers’ knowledge of academic subjects and enable teachers to become highly qualified.
- Are an integral part of broad school-wide and district-wide educational improvement plans.
- Give teachers and principals the knowledge and skills to help students meet challenging State academic standards.
- Improve classroom management skills.
- Are sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused and are not one-day or short-terms workshops.
- Advance teacher understanding of effective instruction strategies that are based on scientifically based research.
- Are developed with extensive participation of teachers, principals, parents, and administrators.
Proposed projects should be related to K-12 student content standards, take into consideration teacher certification requirements and other relevant assessments, and support the Maryland Teacher Professional Development Standards.
The deadline for submission of applications is September 17, 2008. Notification will be by October 15, 2008, at which point funded projects may begin. The period of award is eighteen months (October 15, 2008 through April 30, 2010).
This is a reminder announcement to alert interested applicants that MHEC will hold the second technical assistance meetings on May 30, 2008, at The Charles I. Ecker Business Training Center (Gateway Business and Technology Training Center), 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive - Room 3, Columbia, Maryland from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you would like to attend this technical assistance meeting, please RSVP to lliberat@mhec.state.md.us. A staff member of the Office of University Research Services will attend and make notes available.
URL:http://www.mhec.state.md.us/Grants/ITQ/ITQPhase7/RFApages09.doc
Go To Top
